April 25, 2004 - INTERVIEW
Name: Bill Ringler
City: Newark
State/Province: DE
Country: USA
Age: 45
Place: 1st
Category: Beginner
Class or Age Group: Master 45-49
Team: Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers
Race Bike: TREK Fuel 100
Tires: Panaracer Fire XC Pro
Conditions: Rainy, Muddy, Slippery, Slimy… fun!
Email: bringler@infosysinc.com
How was your fitness level going into this race?
The wet winter has kept me off the trails until recently. I've been running
on a Tread Mill, which helps running up some of these hills, but the two
sports compliment each other, they're not a replacement for each other.
Were
you happy with your position going into the singletrack?
Yes. It was hard to determine where I was in relation to my other “Master
I” competitors, since multiple classes took off at the same time.
I went in around 14th, and then once I hit the bottleneck of riders in
the first rock garden, I ran past 7-8 who were waiting to ride through.
From there… it was 15 more miles of grueling terrain.
Were you
strong from start to finish?
I felt fine until I hit the last 4 miles of rocks. I realized at one point,
my rear suspension had accidentally “locked out” from all the
jarring. I re-engaged it but it took its toll on me through the rocks.
I can’t imagine riding a hard tail through this entire course.
When
did you put the hammer down?
During the last 100 yards (down the road). When I could see the end...
I felt the strength to finish strong.
Did you have any unusual problems?
My only unusual problem turned out to be just trying to keep warm after
the end of the race, while I was waiting for my "driver" to get in off
the course. (sorry Joe;) I want to thank the “hotdog vender” who
provided me warmth from the exhaust from the generator he was running
to cook the hot dogs for the rest of the racers.
Were you happy with
the way the race was run?
I wasn't a big fan of the bulk start with all categories going off together..
It made for a long day when tallying up the results. However, the "Coors
Lite" sponsorship (which was a first for me) was a welcome way to pass
the time. Keep that ritual going!
Did you have any interesting experiences
during your race (exchanges with competitors/spectators)?
MB Competitors are a great crew. I was impressed with the level of competition
which I witnessed on the course, especially the women. This was a tough
race and everyone who finished it should be proud of your accomplishments.
Anything
you would like to add?
Looking forward to "The Escape from Granogue"!