April 25, 2004 - INTERVIEW
Name: Ransom Weaver
City: Philadelphia
State/Province: PA
Country: USA
Age: 36
Place: 2nd
Category: Expert
Class or Age Group: Vet I
Team: Guys Bicycles
Race Bike: Cannondale Scalpel
Tires: IRC Mythos/Stan's
Conditions: Muddy! Rainy!
Email: weaver@seas.upenn.edu
How was your fitness level going into this race?
I've been feeling pretty strong and hoping to keep improving after going
well last week at Blue Marsh.
Were you happy with your position going
into the singletrack?
Yes; I led the Vet group up the dirt road and Mike Yozell jumped around
me to lead into the first singletrack. We did lots of running trying
to move through the Seniors.
Were you strong from start to finish?
the winner, Mike Yozell, and I were together for most of the race, and
we kept a pretty steady pace. By about half way we had moved up among
the 6th-7th place Sr 1s and we had a lot of back and forth with them. After
the last water stop I was trying to follow Yozell up a bit of hill, and
chainsuck stopped me dead in my tracks. I was pretty near my limit trying
to hold on to him, and I never made contact again. This was about 20
minutes from the end. I must say; the section of trail between the dirt ridge
road and the start/finish section of trail is the meanest stuff I think you
could ever find. I was really hurting here after having lost Mike, and
dodging the sports makes it extra tough. I was repassed by the Seniors/Pros?
Kline and Keefer in the last bits of track here.
When did you put
the hammer down?
I attacked Mike going up Graves ridge, but his great running ability closed
the gap at the end of the ridge.
Did you have any unusual problems?
I cut the rear tire in the tread about 100 yards from the end of the last
singletrack. With the Stan's sealant it didn't deflate completely and
I rode in on about 10 lbs of pressure.
Were you happy with the way the race
was run?
Yes, indeed!
Did you have any interesting experiences during your race (exchanges
with competitors/spectators)?
I was following a Gettysburg rider (Kline?) through rattlesnake ridge, feeling
quite good about myself and how I was getting through it, but I had forgotten
about the drop that begins the descent off the ridge. The Gettysburg rider
just plunges off leaving me dismounting and picking my way down the slippery
rock, and Mike and I don't see the guy for something like another hour.
Anything
you would like to add?
Thanks to Bill for promoting, Gettysburg for a great race, Bart Passanante
and Cannondale for the Scalpel, and Mike Yozell for company through all
the rain, mud and rocks. Also, its amazing how the brutality of this
race manages to surprise every time.