In The Crosshairs

4. Pre-race ritual, warm-up, food, etc.?

NOAH BELL: Eat breakfast, ride the course a few times, eat lunch after race.

STEVE FIFE: I always like to arrive at a cross course before the first races of the day to pre-ride and scope out all of the obstacles and barriers. Then, I relax, eat a Clif Bar, and stay hydrated. Warm up includes 20-30 minutes on the trainer, with a few 30 second sprints to get the legs turning over. 2 GUs before the start, and then line up and go.

JAY MORALI: Peanut Butter sandwich…ride the course!!!

JULIE KULIECZA: 1 hour before 3 laps on open course, get on trainer 25 min easy, 5 min t, 3 min rest, 3 min LT, 3 min rest, 1 min VO2 max, and 2-3 sprints, Try not to ride the course right before your race!! You could get a flat and have to scramble for wheels/ pit bike right before you go off.  I saw it happen on Sunday.

Pre race food/ritual: trying not to barf up the gels I eat before the race… they are so effing gross…

LINDSAY BAYER: I do a half-assed warm up around the race venue, eat a Hammer Gel, and perform a ritual animal sacrifice in my car. Works every time.

JAKE THOMPSON: I generally don’t shower the day before the race, I don’t know why, I just don’t.  I also don’t wear deodorant the day of the race.  For food I eat large amounts of food, preferably pasta, the night before and don’t eat much the day of the race.

GUNNAR SHOGREN: Eat breakfast about 2-2.5 hours before hand. Whatever; fried egg sandwich, oatmeal, Nutty Nuggets Raisins & Yogurt, or a donut. Try and get a lap around the course in street clothes. Get all suited up and spend at least 15 minutes on the trainer half- hour before the race, have half a banana 15 minutes before start time, waddle to the line somewhat on time.

KENNETH MORRIS: One lap warm-up at half speed.  A good early breakfast.

CJ CONGROVE: Eat a bagel, poop, do a warm up lap.

5. What is something you saw a newbie do that made you think “I really need to have a friendly word with that guy.” This could have been in a race or in the parking lot or waiting in line to register, etc.

STEVE FIFE: I see people roll to the start line cold all the time, and think it would really be helpful for them to know the benefit of a good warm up.

JULIE KULIECZA: I think I am still a newbie so if someone sees me doing something dumb please tell me.  Pumping tires up to more than 50.  I did say something and they thanked me.

LINDSAY BAYER: I AM that newbie. People are always kindly pointing things out like, “Your number is on backwards,” or “You’re on the wrong type of bicycle” or “You should lay off the brakes in those turns.”

NOAH BELL: A guy ran through the sand pit every lap and on the last lap a guy passed him and he lost a podium spot.

KENNETH MORRIS: I am the newbie!

CJ CONGROVE: I am a noob. I didn’t wear my kit to the podium. Maybe someone needs to have a word with me.

GUNNAR SHOGREN: Didn’t have that thought that day cause I was trying to watch out for my buddy JR and jeer him on. And set up “CougarFest!” Usually I’m not that forward to folks, unless it’s some easy fix. But if someone stops by “CougarFest!,” I usually at least check the tyre pressure. [ed. Note: If you want more information on CougarFest!, you are going to have to ask Gunnar. But we are pretty sure it is not this: www.cougarfest.com/ (SFW).]

6. Are you sandbagging? If not, defend yourself. [If you didn't finish first, was the winner sandbagging???]

LINDSAY BAYER: I started riding last summer and this is my first season of racing cross. There are plenty of people telling me to move up now, but also plenty of people telling me to stay where I am for the season and then move up. I’ve put in for an upgrade so I can race in the next class, but in the meantime, I’m staying where I am in hopes of winning a prize that will top the bright pink kneewarmers I won last week.

GUNNAR SHOGREN: I just turned 46. Racing against 35 year old punks? Ain’t always winning either. Ain’t no sandbagging here.

STEVE FIFE: I’ve been racing cross since 2002, and have only ever won 1 race. I’ve placed in the top 10 several times, but feel that until I win a bunch of races, or the overall in a series, I’m not ready to make the jump to the next category.

JULIE KULIECZA: Sandbagger?  nah…. maybe a little last year, but I will give anyone the benefit of doubt if it is their first year of cross and they are doing really well.

JAY MORALI: This is my first year in cross.  I have done fairly well and will be moving up to 3/4 35+ next year.

KENNETH MORRIS: In most races I have been part of, the winner is several seconds or minutes ahead of the field.  Today was not that bad.  It was just 45 seconds or so.

CJ CONGROVE: No, this was my 4th bike race of any variety.

7. Are you racing next week? What will you do differently, what will you try to repeat?

CJ CONGROVE: Yep, Tech Cross here I come.  5th is my best finish yet, so I’m going to try to repeat more than I change.  Not crashing would probably help.  Maybe not rage so hard on the first lap.

NOAH BELL: Yes. Make my turns more shaper. Ride strong the whole time.

STEVE FIFE: No racing next week. The MABRA Cross Series concludes the next two following weekends. The only victory will be finishing out the series with some more good results.

JAY MORALI: Two weeks. Obviously work on my technique!

JULIE KULIECZA: Yes. Faster through corners, less brakes, stay focused and ride my own race.

LINDSAY BAYER: No, THANK GOD. I have my first weekend off since late September. The following weekend I’ll be racing again and will probably just try to do a better warm up and maybe not get lost in the maze of streets around the race venue.

GUNNAR SHOGREN: Actually, and this is a rare case during this season, we are NOT racing next weekend. Too far and we just don’t want to travel that much this year.

KENNETH MORRIS: In two weeks at Haymarket.  I will try to handle my bike better.

JAKE THOMPSON: I’m not racing this week (next race Squadra Coppi Tacchino). 

9. Is CX your main focus?

GUNNAR SHOGREN: No, racing bikes is my main focus.

LINDSAY BAYER: Not a chance. Cross is an interesting variation of cycling, but I don’t think I could truly love a sport where I regularly get dizzy and crash into tape. Mountain biking is my main focus – the races are longer and less intense and there are trees and deer and squirrels.

STEVE FIFE: I’ve been racing on the road since March, and have had a full season right up until the end of July. I’d love to focus primarily on Cross, but there is so much more fun to be had throughout the year. It is however, one of my favorite things to do all year. It’s over way too soon.

JAY MORALI: It is now!

JULIE KULIECZA: Starting this season it is. It will be my main focus next year as well.

KENNETH MORRIS: No. It is my off-season training tool.

CJ CONGROVE: No, but it is fun.

11. Other than race, what do you do?

JULIE KULIECZA: huh?

STEVE FIFE: Hang out with friends and family.

LINDSAY BAYER: Well, I train, I buy bicycle parts, I read about biking, I plan my racing career, I look at bikes…you get the point. I do have a job that is not bike related, but I like to pretend that doesn’t exist.

JAY MORALI: Sales Manager and father.

JAKE THOMPSON: I do homework, eat and mow the lawn.

KENNETH MORRIS: I work for a local telephone company and ride with my friends from my bike club, Winchester Wheelmen.

GUNNAR SHOGREN: Train. Ride bikes. Computer Plumber. Work on our bikes.

CJ CONGROVE: Race motorcycles, ride mountain bikes, shoot videos, surf, work.

NOAH BELL: PLAY BASKETBALL!

13. Give a shout out to somebody.

NOAH BELL: Caleb Merriam who I’m looking out for in the MABRA championship.

STEVE FIFE: Shout out to all of the promoters who put on these events. Without them, these questions are pointless.

JAY MORALI: Thanks to the Promoter and refs and anyone else who contributed to a great day!

JULIE KULIECZA: Shout outs to the entire ALAN North America Cycling team, for being super supportive and a tight group of people to race with, especially Stu (xoxo).

LINDSAY BAYER: Hi Mom.

KENNETH MORRIS: Shout out to the Winchester Wheelmen Race Team!!!

CJ CONGROVE: All race organizers.

JAKE THOMPSON: My teammate, Nick Battan. 

GUNNAR SHOGREN: Hi Betsy.  Hi MoG & FoG.  (Mother of Gunnar…)