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David “Tinker” Juarez admitted he doesn’t know what he’ll do after his career as a professional mountain biker is over. But for now, the U.S. Olympic Cycling Team member loves to race and enjoys encouraging younger cyclists. 

He and Carmen d’Alusio, former national champion road cyclist, spoke to the Berkeley High School Mountain Bike Team Tuesday afternoon.  

They came to help the team promote the newly formed NorCal High School Bicycle Racing League. 

The league, formed this year by the Berkeley High team and its sponsor, math teacher and cycling enthusiast Matt Fritzinger, has managed to recruit students from 23 high schools.  

The students compete, both individually and as teams, in a series of six races.  

Individual and team race results will be tallied at the end of the season and awards will be given to top competitors. 

The two professional cyclists came to Berkeley High to encourage the team and to share insights learned from nearly 40 years of combined cycling experience.  

Juarez began his career as a BMX racer in 1973, turning professional in 1975.  

Although his career took a downturn in the early ’80s, he said he would ride to stay out of trouble. 

“I was always a troublemaker anyway. The bike kept me out of trouble,” Juarez said.  

He took to mountain biking in 1986, having a natural affinity for dirt and said he was able to grow with the sport.  

D’Alusio started her career in biking after an injury kept her from competing in track during her senior year in college.  

She said she met a group of local cyclists and traveled with them, learning as she went.  

“I already had an athletic background so I had quick successes,” d’Alusio said Tuesday.  

She has competed professionally for 10 years.  

When asked by Berkeley High team member Jan Kaspar about nutrition, d’Alusio said she tries to eat food that “burns clean.” She said she avoids fatty foods and sugars, eating more fruits, veggies and rice.  

Juarez said he has always had a bad habit of eating junk food, a holdover habit from his BMX days, but said he has learned a lot about healthy eating from his teammates.  

Both athletes compete on the team named after its sponsors: Volvo-Cannondale. 

Ian Richards, Berkeley High team captain who helped start the team three years ago, said he hopes to turn professional and asked Juarez how he has managed to continue after 25 years of racing without “burning out.” Juarez said he thinks of racing as his job and always looks for new ways to make it an enjoyable one.  

“I always try to get better, to always have new challenges,” said Juarez. 

When asked what he thought about the NorCal High School Bicycle Racing League, he said he thought it was good to have an alternative to the usual offerings at most high schools such as football or baseball.  

He also said it was great that Berkeley High supports the team financially. “The kids are motivated. It’s a really neat thing.”  

The team’s Web site is www.bhsracing.com.