In The Crosshairs

7. Are you sandbagging? If not, defend yourself.

STEPHEN CUMMINGS: I am reverse sandbagging in that I should probably be racing the B’s.

MATTHEW PARSE: No, I have only won one race in my category and I have been shelled plenty of times. It is time to move up a category if you are consistently beating the field by a minute or more.

GREG FABER: Probably, but this is my first year doing cyclocross. Winner is probably sandbagging too but he’s a beginner as well.

IAN MATHIAS: Yeah, I might be now. I wanted to clinch the MABRA title, and winning this race did that. It’s my second year racing though, and I didn’t do nearly this well last year… so I don’t think I’m being flagrant. I put in for an upgrade, and I think my B-men days are over.

PAUL RADES: No. this is my first year bike racing, and my first ‘cross season. My bike is an entry-level 23 pounder with entry level components. And I’m 36, just in case any haters want to gripe about how I’ve got a “youth” advantage. I’ll deal with naysayers in next season’s 3/4 races.

JOE LILLIBRIDGE: Was I sandbagging? No!! Previous years my results were pretty much all over the board. Check crossresults.com! I was trying to race Road, Mountain, and Cross and was really just burning myself out through all 3 disciplines. Usually by cross I was just going through the motions although I loved racing it. This year I took it easy racing just a couple road and mountain events saving my energies for cross. I acquired a coach at the beginning of summer who is an Elite level rider to get me ready for the 2008 season. Basically I started training 7 days a week by July and really got my eating, sleep, and daily habits together to have a successful season. Lots of hard work and practice … there ya go.

WESTON SCHEMPF: No. There’s no upgrading when you are an elite.

KRISTOPHER AUER: No, neither was the guy who won.

JIM CARLSON: I’m not sandbagging and neither is the winner. I’m in a combined Cat 1,2,3,4 class where my two top competitors are the National Champion in the 55-59 class and a National Champion in the 60-64 class. There’s nowhere else for us to go, unless we want to race against the guys decades younger than us.

LINDSEY HILLESHEIM: This was my first … first. It’s been a steady progression all season in terms of placing and with this race I finally have the points to upgrade. I’ll race with the elite women next year in MABRA.

8. Racing next week? What will you do differently, what will you try to repeat?

KRISTOPHER AUER: Yep and I’ll get there on time.

WESTON SCHEMPF: Yes. As next weekend’s races are more for training, I’ll probably sit in more and watch the race develop rather than going to the front right away. I’ll work on a mid race surge and then build a two lap final acceleration.

JOE LILLIBRIDGE: Yes. Racing the MABRA final race, then the following week the MAC’s final. I’ll race the same, just trying to stay smooth and fast. Will definitely try to repeat the win. That would be a sweet ending to a great season.

PAUL RADES: Yes, I’m racing. Might sit back a little longer and hold an attack til the end.

GREG FABER: Out of town. [Ed. Note: sad face emoticon omitted.]

IAN MATHIAS: I’ll race elite, so my goal is to not get lapped.

MATTHEW PARSE: Taneytown, Capitol Cross. I want to get a better start. I don’t have the speed that some of the other riders have.

STEPHEN CUMMINGS: There is a local cross race in Pittsburgh. I will try to win. Again I will try to be first into the first corner.

LINDSEY HILLESHEIM: I’m racing Taneytown this weekend. I’ll try to repeat the winning part.

JIM CARLSON: Yes, I’m racing next Sunday. I’ll focus on my main race harder this time. At this race, I did my 55+ class, then raced a second (Cat 3,4) race immediately afterward for fitness building. I had that in mind so backed off a bit in my first race. Next week, I’ll put it all out there to stay with those #1 & #2 guys who I’ve been able to ride with before.

9. Do you have a coach? If so, where has coaching helped?

GREG FABER: Yes. Structure, motivation, workout variety and type.

IAN MATHIAS: Not officially, but I’ve had a ton of help from Dan Warnick and Sean Galegher, who own HVB, and Dave Weaver from Alan NA. All three of them have been huge in my development this year. And my girlfriend Stef, who is basically my soigneur every weekend. Other than that just some great training partners and my HVB teammates. Baltimore has some remarkable athletes.

JOE LILLIBRIDGE: Yes. Kris Auer. Kris has basically taken my level of fitness where it needed to be to podium in cross by giving me weekly regimented workouts. Before having Kris as a coach I was doing my own thing which was really just riding and not much consistency.

WESTON SCHEMPF: Yes, Kris Auer of the Athlete Development Group out of Baltimore. He has helped provide me with a consistent schedule and works with me to tweak my fitness level according to my season goals. He has seemingly known how hard to push me when necessary to get me to my peak.

KRISTOPHER AUER: Nope on the coaching but I am a coach. [Ed. Note: Wes, Joe, their coach, all on the podium ... Sometimes the marketing brochures just write themselves.]

JIM CARLSON: No, no coach. I just do the basic Joe Friel book method, but I could probably use a coach if I found the right one.

LINDSEY HILLESHEIM: Yes-Alec Donahue at Cycle-Smart, and absolutely it’s helped. I couldn’t have accomplished what I’ve accomplished this season without his training plan, advice on the mental and tactical aspects and his perspective.

10. Is CX your main focus?

STEPHEN CUMMINGS: I am a mediocre cyclist in all facets: Road/MTB/Endurance MTB/cross.

WESTON SCHEMPF: Yes, but I race mountain bikes in the spring/summer for a fitness base.

JOE LILLIBRIDGE: CX is my main focus. I am chomping at the bit by September for Charm City, lots of time on You Tube, etc. watching cross races from all over just ready to go.

PAUL RADES: No. But it might be next season. Way more fun than roads.

JIM CARLSON: Mountain Bike racing is my main focus, but I must admit, Cross is the most fun!

LINDSEY HILLESHEIM: Yes.

11. Got a training/racing/life/stock tip you would like to share?

STEPHEN CUMMINGS: Buying things does not make you any fitter.

MATTHEW PARSE: Eat an egg McMuffin 2 hours before each race.

GREG FABER: Not really, I don’t consider myself much of a reference. Don’t smoke, don’t do drugs. Get a job where you can work at night and train during the day.

IAN MATHIAS: Ride and sleep as much as possible. Stocks? I like XOM, PICO, PMC, CNQ, GE, and TBT for the long haul.

PAUL RADES: Run.

JOE LILLIBRIDGE: My training tip for anyone would be to keep the training manageable. When it gets to be a chore or job to train, that’s no good. Mix it up with some Mountain and Road work. Do some local cross practices with a bike club or group. Most importantly, bring a good Belgian beer for post race refreshment! (Any beer works really though!)

WESTON SCHEMPF: Never stand up in a canoe. Stay hydrated and rest lots during cross season.

KRISTOPHER AUER: pre-ride, but only sometimes.

LINDSEY HILLESHEIM: Find a team that you love–they’ll be your biggest support.

JIM CARLSON: Give yourself enough recovery time between hard workouts, and you’ll probably do better. How much is “enough”? Probably twice what you think it is.

12. Other than race, what do you do?

STEPHEN CUMMINGS: Avoid working on my “fixer upper” house. Blog at thesteevo.blogspot.com. Drive a taxi and work as little as possible.

KRISTOPHER AUER: coach and sales.

WESTON SCHEMPF: I’m a semi-professional Manny=male nanny … Mr. Mom.

JOE LILLIBRIDGE: By day I’m an Electrician, supervising different electrical projects around Baltimore. After that, husband and dad. Family time means a lot to me. Then cycling keeps me pretty busy with the time I have left!

PAUL RADES: Work. Run. Brew beer. Cook.

IAN MATHIAS: Writer for Agora Financial, a financial publisher out of Mt. Vernon.

GREG FABER: Work at Discovery Channel as an engineer.

JIM CARLSON: I’m a professional researcher for a think tank, and I’m a leader in a church group. The Greeks needed to add one more dimension to their saying to make it correct, it should be “A secure soul with a sound mind in a healthy body.” That’s the secret to a thrilling life.

LINDSEY HILLESHEIM: Cook, take pictures, and work as a Staff Scientist for a consulting firm.

14. Give a shout out to somebody.

STEPHEN CUMMINGS: Squadra Coppi has nice people who put on a great race. I hope to see it grow.

KRISTOPHER AUER: C3-Sollay.Com.

WESTON SCHEMPF: Big shouts to C3-Sollay.com and our fantastic sponsors (see our kits at the races) the DCCoD crew, and VisitPA.com-PA’s and the mid Atlantic’s premier mountain bike team.

JOE LILLIBRIDGE: First and foremost my wife Chris and daughter Alyson for putting up with me being gone a day or sometimes all weekend to my cross addiction. Secondly, my coach Kris for helping me achieve an awesome season. Third, thanks to my teammates on LSV, and all the rest of you guys out there for any words of support while I was suffering on the courses through the year!

PAUL RADES: Squadra Coppi for all their fine work on this, and to all the other cyclists who braved the cold to make it a race.

IAN MATHIAS: The Hunt Valley Bikes crew … best shop in town.

GREG FABER: Here’s a shout out to Matthew Koschara, my coach, and Paul my boyfriend whose apartment was destroyed Sunday night when an electrical fire in his building melted water pipes.

LINDSEY HILLESHEIM: The Squadra-Vincere Insieme!

JIM CARLSON: I wonder what Todd’s doing right now