Date: May 19, 2000
Event: Chevy Trucks NORBA NCS#1 - Big Bear
Class: Senior
Category: Expert
Length: 23 mi
Time: 1:41:19
Bike: MARIN Mount Vision Pro
Tires: Front: Ritchey Rear: Kenda Kosmik

(Pictures from Xcelerate Twilight AMBC - Athens, Ga 2000)

Did you do anything special to prepare for this race?

Not really. Everybody told us that if you show up real late, like just before the race that tends to help you a little more for adjusting to the altitude. So we got there basically just a day before the race. I just rested up a lot and sat around eating basically. We have this new sponsor "Cold Fusion" - it's a frozen popsicle that's kind of like Powerbar. They're real good. We sat around and ate those until we were almost sick.

The race was on Friday....... when did you get into town to start your "altitude training?"

Wednesday around lunch time... then by the time we got up to Big Bear it was later on in the afternoon. We didn't do anything on Wednesday. Thursday we went out and did a long ride.

What was your position at the starting line?

Probably about the third row. They moved the start so.... we didn't actually know where the start was until right before (the race).... it was all right, I got a decent start.

Does the rush of an big event like this make you stronger during the race?

I think it does. It almost makes you go a little too hard. Especially in the beginning. You get pretty amped up at the start and tend to go off a little hard. You've just got to watch your heart rate monitor so that you don't get out of your zone too much. It's exciting. You prepare all year for these big events and when you get there you have to make sure you do things right.

Were you strong from start to finish?

I was surprised I actually felt good the whole time. Everybody was telling me that if I went off too hard and blew up I wouldn't be able to recover up there because of the altitude but I never really had a problem with it. I guess I was just on that day. I happened to have a real good day.

When did you put the hammer down?

There was a single-track climb at the start and everybody was taking it easy because it was real steep so when we hit the long (maybe 15 minute gravel road climb) I think it was there because we were trying to get away from the rest of the crowd (the top few guys). So we went hard on those first few climbs and just maintained it.

Did you know where Eric Keim (K2/NEW SUN) who finished just one place in front of you was?

Actually I was looking for him the whole race because I knew if I was riding with him we'd probably do pretty well. There were a couple of other guys on his team up there and I kept hoping it was him. Every time I caught up with a K2 guy, it wasn't him. I actually never even saw him. He must have just been around each corner in front of me cause he was only about a minute up. I was chasing for him the whole time.

Did you have any unusual problems with the race?

No, I don't think I had any problems really. I was pretty happy.

How do you rate the course?

It was a 23 mile long loop. Probably about 75% fire road with the rest being a double-track, single-track mix. It was a good course. I liked it.
It was pretty challenging, fairly hilly and ended up being a good test for almost everybody. The biggest problem coming from the East was the lack of technical.... there was no real technical sections, it was just straight-up gravel road.... no real technical challenge..... you just ride.

Were you happy with the way the race was run?

Yeah, I think they did a pretty good job. I guess nationals have to be really good. They got the results up quick.... did the awards quick.... really not much to complain about.

If you could do the race again, would you do anything differently?

Probably try and get a little better start. I got stuck in the back in the beginning but other than that I don't think so.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I would like to thank all of our sponsors. I would especially like to thank CDH in Fayetteville, Georgia for making this years team possible!