Nickname: Ecky
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Birthplace: Kirchzarten Germany
Twitter: @robineckmann
Website: www.eckmann-bros.com
Number of years on Cal Giant: First year
Number of years racing: 13 years
Favorite thing about Specialized:
Definitely the lunch ride. It is pretty hard. They go out to ‘race’ and use everything they have in the tank.
Top 3 Race Results:
- 1st Colorado state TT championship
- 3rd team GC Thueringen Rundfahrt
- 4th TTT Thueringen Rundfahrt
Favorite way to eat Cal Giant berries:
Chopped up with sugar and whipped cream (grandma’s recipe)
When did you start shaving your legs? Shaving cream or soap?
I think when I was 14 or 15. That was also the time I met up with Taylor Phinney, so he probably got me started.
I don’t use either shaving cream or soap, just razor straight to skin. All the other stuff is overrated and involves too much work.
Who does the cooking, you or your mom?
My mom. She learned how to cook from my grandma so it’s an easy decision. However, I don’t consider myself a bad cook either.
What kind of race is your specialty?
Stage racing – back to back to back racing
Do you race mountain bikes or cyclocross?
I race cyclocross because I can race that in the winter.
Do you listen to the same kind of music when warming-up for a TT vs a crit vs a road race? What kind is it?
Well I don’t listen music before a crit at all may be some in my hotel from where I crank out my turnpates and dj the heck out (just for fun). But before a tt more of Hip hop, pop, and House music.
Would you choose a romantic dinner with your girlfriend or Go-Kart racing?
Romantic dinner all the way!
Sports car or motorcycle? What kind?
Sports car like a Lamborghini or a McLaren if somebody has a car laying around at home because I would love to take it for a couple spins on the German highways/country roads.
What is your most memorable personal or team result?
When I helped Ruediger Sellig win 1-2 stages and get 4 podium finishes
What are your short-term and long-term cycling goals?
Short term: Pro Tour Team
Long Term: Le Tour de France (including stage finishing on top of Alp d’Huez)
Describe in one word Rand’s blog.
Insane
What is your favorite downloaded app you would recommend to others:
Scramble With Friends (play with me because I need to get better!)
Can you ride a wheelie or do a tabletop?
What’s a tabletop? I think I can do a small wheelie somehow.
Name one item that goes with you whenever you travel that is not your bike.
Scale, DJ turntables and recovery legs
Are you superstitious or believe in good luck charms? If so, explain:
I always have my buddhas with me. One is to bring me luck when you touch his head, one is to give me health and one is to get all the negative stuff out of me when you touch his belly.
Does anyone else in your family race bikes?
My brother and I are teammates. My dad thinks he does when he rides with Yannick and me. He is the lunch ride champ at his work, afterall. My mom used to downhill back in the day, and now she still rides for fun.
Other than cycling, what is your favorite sport?
Nordic skiing, watching football if that is a sport, and yoga.
When I grow up, I want to be a fighter jet pilot.
If you could only eat 5 foods for a month, what would they be?
Milkreis (reis pudding German way), Dampfnudeln (if you don’t know Google it – also from grandma’s cook book), Ragglett (Swiss/ french dish), Burritos, Spaetzle with a good Schitzel on the side (needs to be the southern German way though)
