Date: March 12, 2000
Event: Spring Series #1 AMBC/Gainesville, FL
Class: Master 30+
Category: Expert
Length: 26 mi
Time: 1:59:57 / 13.01 avg sp
Conditions: Sunny - 60 to 70 degrees
Bike: Cannondale F3000
Tires: Front: Bontrager SuperX  Rear: Bontrager SuperX

Did you do anything special to prepare for this race?

No, not really. I came here to use this race as a training race. I planned on only a top ten finish. A win was definitely a cherry on top.

In the last two months how many hours a week have you trained on average?

15 hours.

Were you strong from start to finish?

I don't think I was working very hard until the end. If you talk to Mike Miles - Lake Mary Cycles - (he finished second) he'll tell you the same thing cause we were chatting pretty much during the first lap.

When did you put the hammer down?

I would say I was definitely riding hard the last lap and a half. So, about half way through the forth lap. That was actually because I had seen Mike and a couple of other riders at one point (when I had caught up to this one girl and was chatting with her) and realized that they were about 20 seconds back. So I told her, "OK, it was nice talking to you" - and I started to really crank it and I'd say the fifth lap I was going about as hard as I possibly could.

Did you have any unusual problems with the race?

No, not really. I was a little intimidated by that huge drop off that they call the Widowmaker. I guess the fifth lap I was kind of comfortable going in on it but it was still pretty intimidating throughout the race. I was also a little worried about pinch flatting on some of the rocks because I had got there late and didn't have time to put in my heavy duty tubes.

How do you rate the course?

I'd give it about an 8 1/2. It was technically challenging. You wouldn't say that it favored a mountain biker or a road biker. There were some good sections that were flat where a roadie could get some ground and also some good technical descents where a mountain biker could make some ground. It definitely favored an overall rider. It probably could stand to have a little more climbing in it. That's the only down side that I could see. But what do you expect for Florida?

Yes, Gone Riding Productions - I've done their races for the past couple of years now. Quite a bunch of them. There's been a couple of times where they were a little slackin' on the time, but compare them to the people who are putting on the Georgia Series races - They've got their stuff in the bag. They know what they are doing compared to those guys. I hate to say that, but last year I did a bunch of the Georgia series and it's just ridiculous the time you are in the registration line and the time that you're waiting at the start line to get going, and then after the race for the results to get posted - they were just really slow at running everything. Supposedly they are revamping everything this year and it's going to go a lot smoother, so...

What was your prize for first place?

Cash. Bottle of Champagne.

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

I would show up a little earlier to the venue. We underestimated how long it would take to get to the race. We only had 55 minutes to register, pre-ride the course and eat a little bit of food before the race started. Usually I like to get to an event a couple of hours before hand.

Is there anything you would like to add?

No, not really. I guess that's about it.