Kevin Diamond INTERVIEW - mountainbikeRACER.com

How was your fitness level going into this race?

Good, Have a good base of miles from winter training on the road bike.(about 1600 for the year) I guess smoking a pack a day hurts me some however!
Were you happy with your position going into the singletrack?

Yes, I was in with the front group going into the first wooded section. It also helped that my class was the first group to hit the trail this morning so there was no traffic, and the trails were in the best possible condition.
Were you strong from start to finish?

Yes, I felt good on the bike from start to finish, better after the first lap. It takes me a little while to get warmed up and in the zone.
When did you put the hammer down?

About 2/3 of the way through the first lap I suddenly remembered that I was in a race, not just out for a ride and turned it on. This was my first mountain bike race and I left my killer instinct and competitive natures in my other suit. So today I learned that I need to be more focused on competing, not just participating. Hopefully the needed drive will come with some more experience.
Did you have any unusual problems?

Yes, I tried to take a sneaky line to avoid traffic and a mud bog and ended up going down hard.(Gee, that must be why no one else was taking that line!) Anyhoo when I got up my bike was stuck in high gear(2-8) and I had no shifting in the rear. Turns out that my deraileur cable came out of its cable stop, rendering it useless. Luckily I am a bike shop technician and fixed it up rather quickly...quickly enough to lose about 20 places. Then almost immediately after this incident I fell victim to lemming syndrome and followed a group of riders onto the wrong trail. We went left where we should have gone straight due to slightly sub-par trail marking. (This happened at the fire road that was divided with the pink tape just after the second open field area after starting) This also cost me a few more spots, but I learned to be more attentive for myself and not follow other racers.
Were you happy with the way the race was run?

The race was well run, starts went off on time, registration was quick and easy, energy bars and gels given at sign in were greatly appreciated. Trails were in good shape, mostly well marked and the volunteer help seemed to be ample and helpful. The awards ceremony seemed a little disorganized but beside that it was a great venue. Thanks again to all the people who made it happen, I appreciate all the hard work and hope ya'all managed to make a buck or two.
Did you have any interesting experiences during your race (exchanges with competitors/spectators)?

Not during the race. But I would like to send a big shout out to the guy who gave me the coat hanger to jimmy open the car door after Ronny locked the keys in the truck. I would also like to thank the guy who suggested going through the top of the door frame with the hanger instead of the window. It worked like a charm, if you ever need a favor come see me at Action Wheels in NJ. And finally Dave, thanks for the tools, good boy scout! Good show team Action Wheels!!
Anything you would like to add?

Had a great time at the Hibernia Spring Bash. It was a little cold...just how I like it. And everyone who told me that this is "An easy, roadie course" please think of some more lies to feed me before the next race--it won't help you. Course seemed pretty rocky and tough for me for the most part. This road weenie seriously underestimated the importance of bike handling and mountain biking as training for mountain bike racing. This was the first time I rode a mountain bike in years. Had a blast, can't wait for the next MASS event.

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