Suzuki 24 Hour Points Series Revisits Olympic Mountain Bike Debut Venue
MTB Founder Fisher to Meet One of America's Fittest Married Couples

CONYERS, Georgia--Atlanta residents Eddie O'Dea and his wife, Namrita, are aiming for the top spots when the Suzuki 24 Hour National Points Series--a nationwide series of 24-hour endurance mountain bike races contested by teams and individuals--heads for round two on May 17 and 18 at Georgia International Horse Park at Conyers: the venue used for the 1996 Olympic Games mountain bike events; the debut of mountain biking as an Olympic sport.

The six-race series, sponsored by Suzuki Automotive, includes a full complement of destination venues for serious mountain bikers who want to be able to say "I've experienced the best courses out there," when they finally hang up their racing shoes. The O'Deas are on the fast track, competing in four of the six races this year, and the Conyers race is right on their doorstep.

For Eddie, the finish line is still a long way away. "You always feel a little extra pressure racing on your home course. I set this out as the race I wanted to win at the start of my 24 career, and I haven't done that yet. This is actually my fifth time racing at Conyers." Eddie O'Dea finished third in the Solo Mens's category at Round One of the series, at Vail Lake Mountain Resort, California, April 26-27.

Namrita O'Dea tells us about the family aspect: "I really like racing with Eddie. I'd much rather both of us be racing than only one of us," explains Namrita. "We're on the course at the same time, and he's faster than me so we see each other out there. It's great seeing him out there- I know we're both going through the same thing. We talk briefly when he passes me, but we're both focused on our own race, and we talk ALL the time off the bike!" Last year at nationals I had a flat and he stopped to help me, that was very sweet," she adds.

As for her aspirations of victory, "That's my goal, that's what I'm going there for. But there are always a few strong women that show up for the Conyers race, so we'll just have to see," says Namrita, who won the Solo Women's category at Vail Lake.

Also attending the event is Mountain Bike pioneer, Gary Fisher, of San Anselmo, Calif. Fisher tasted Olympic glory himself when Italian Paola Pezzo rode one of his bikes to win the first women's gold medal in the discipline back in '96. Fisher is returning to Conyers to experience the course from the saddle for the first time, as a member of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) team. Fisher won't be coasting around as a celebrity guest of the team, however.

"We're planning to keep the Fisher winning tradition alive at Conyers" he says, and described the SORBA team's strategy in a Zen-like, three word motto: "ride, smile and win."

The Suzuki 24-Hours of Conyers begins at Noon Saturday, May 17, and concludes at Noon on Sunday. For complete details on the course, registration information, outdoor expo and events for spectators and the whole family, visit Granny Gear Production's website at www.grannygear.com.

After Conyers, the Suzuki 24 Hour National Point Series moves to the following premium mountain bike destinations: Big Bear, WVa., June 7/8; Killington, Vt., July 26/27; Landahl, Mo., September 20/21; and concludes at Moab, Ut. on Oct. 11 with an event considered by many as the greatest mountain biking race in the world.