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Hibernia Spring
Bash 2001 Race Interview
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| Date: 4/8/01
Event: Hibernia Name: Andrew McDermott City: Newark State/Province: DE Country: USA Age: 50 CLASS +/or Age group: Master 50+ Category: Sport XC Race Bike: Specialized S-works M4 Tires: Panaracer Fire 1.8 Conditions: SLOPPY! Email: fud@udel.edu |
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Did you do anything special (apart from the whole training lifestyle) to prepare for this race?
I make a point of trying NOT to do anything special or out of the ordinary prior to a race. I eat the same breakfast despite the fact that I may be cranked up and excited in anticipation of racing. If I make any changes to the bike such as a different set of tires I test the changes the day before the race. I don't need surprises prior to the race as there are plenty of things happening during the race to keep the mind and body busy.
Did you achieve your goals for this race?
My goal in this race was to convince myself that I could be competitive in Sport class. I raced two weeks ago at Reston and used the race as a fitness test. The goal in this race was to try and maintain a competitive pace and keep with the lead riders in my class. I've only recently made the transition from Beginner to Sport and find that not only is the extra lap tough but the competition is fierce.
Were you strong from start to finish?
Ken Stadder (I think I've got his name correct) and I both had a strong start and opened a gap on the rest of our class early on the first lap. About half way into the first lap Ken got away from me as we worked through heavy traffic. I focused on not making mistakes in the sloppy sections and then pushing hard on the open road sections. Somewhere on the first lap I saw Ken by the side of the trail fixing a flat and I moved into the lead. The fact that Ken still finished second after repairing a flat in those muddy conditions is pretty astonishing! My lap times were fairly consistent but the third lap was TOUGH! I've got a lot of work to do on endurance conditioning!
Don Morrison and Wissahickon Cyclery did a great job putting together this race and we thank them for their efforts. Was there anything that you observed that could be done better as the series progresses?
I know it is difficult,I know it is time consuming and I know it isn't unusual, but waiting for two or three hours after a race is finished until awards and final times are posted is NO fun. I appreciate the problems of scoring because I've done it three times for the Delaware Trailspinners Fair Hill race. My opinion is that when racers put down $25. to race the product they are purchasing is the scoring. We race to see how we compare against others. Even when you finish 34th. in a field of 35 you want to know your position AND time in an accurate and timely fashion. If we want to keep cross country mountain bike racing healthy then we need to deliver the product the racers pay for. This is in no way meant as a criticism of Don or anybody else but rather as a comment from one racer regarding the single item he consistently sees a need for improvement in at all races. ..........Stepping off the soap box......... Thanks to Don and all his crew for doing an overall excellent job in conditions that are a race promoter's worst nightmare.
When did you put the hammer down?
When the man said GO!
If you ran into these exact trail conditions again, would you do anything differently?
Lease a Hummvee.
Did you have any unusual problems?
Except that pulling gobs of mud and weeds out of the front derailleur and the brakes while riding is a little out of the ordinary I didn't have any really unusual problems.
How would you rate the course?
The course would qualify as easy when dry and challenging but not difficult in the wet.
Were you happy with the way the race was run?
I had a great time.
If you could do the race again - would you do anything differently?
See the Hummvee comment above.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I've got a taste for chocolate..........see you all in Hershey.