Date: June 10-11, 2000
Event: Toyota 24 Hours of Snowshoe 2000
Class: Men's Teams
Category: Expert
Length: 24 Hours
Time: 0:01:25 - 17 Laps
Bike:
Tires:

1. Why do you enjoy Endurance events?

Endurance events are fun because each event is unique. Everyone that competes in the race has a different experience in that race (mechanicals, flats, body problems, etc.). My teammates and I are comfortable on long rides so long races are just second nature.

2. What is the longest Distance/time you have ever ridden in one day?

Mountain biking I have competed in the Shenandoah Mountain 100 miler. That was the longest race I have ever done, however, last month some friends and I completed a singletrack ridge ride of 80+ miles that took 12 hours.

3. Did you do anything special to prepare for this race?

We didn't know we were racing until a week before the race, so the main preparation was getting people organized to do the race. Also just making sure we had enough food to eat, and parts to keep bikes running.

4. How many laps did you complete yourself?

I completed 5 laps.

5. How much riding time did you get in during the race?

I rode for close to 7 1/2 hours.

6. In the past 2 months how many hours a week have you trained on average?

I play about 12 hours a week, about two-thirds of my playtime is with my bike and the rest is just regular playing.

7. Were you strong from start to finish?

I felt good from start to finish, after the race I was very sleepy for a few days. Everyone on the team was very strong throughout the race, and they rode superbe-ly.

8. Did you have a good support crew?

We had the best support crew. Tim Richardson and Than, kept our bikes clean and running great. Jeff and other kept our bellies full. And the "High priest" Mike Carpenter (from Shenandoah Mountain Touring) and Erin Johnston, kept us informed as to how other teams were doing. Mike and Erin were cheering for us all 24 hours of the race from different parts of the course. Everyone did everything they could to help our team run smoothly.

9. Did your team work well together?

The team was friends before they were teammates, and we all got along really well. Everybody helped each other out throughout the race. Jamie and Joel couldn't keep their hands off each other.

10. What did you eat during the race?

I ate a lot of pancakes and fruit. I ate pork loin sammys and steak and cheeses when I was really hungry. Between Thomas, Jamie and I we ate 42 sausage links. Grease really keeps me going. Lots of pasta and rice too.

11. Did you change clothes, shower, nap during the race?

We all showered, and laid around in between laps. Sleeping is difficult when you are all jacked up from racing, and your teammates keep coming in with reports of how well they rode or how the course is changing. Unlike past years we all wore our own shorts.

12. Did you have any unusual problems during the race?

Nothing really unusual. My light fell off my head on a night lap, and I kept getting it stuck in SOS mode.

13. How would you rate the course?

The course was very technical. It was similar to a lot the riding in the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. I liked it but I also saw a lot of people cursing it. It was a very demanding course, it took tremendous mental an physical stamina to complete 24 hours on it.

14. Were you happy with the way the race was run?

Sure. I thought the race was really well done. I would like to see the return of a four-man and a four-women pro class.

15. If you could do the race again would you do anything differently?

Nope. I think everything went as well as it could have.

16. Anything else to add?

Thanks to Rick Bartels, of Trek Bikes for all the help and love. Also thanks to all of our support crew, Chris Scott, Shenandoah Mountain Touring, and anyone else that helped out.