Hyattsville CX: An Interview With Dave Fuentes

Dave Fuentes (Battley Harley Davidson-Sonoma) is an accomplished road racer that started racing cyclocross last season. He has battled this season in the Masters Elite field taking a second place at Charm City Cyclocross, third place at Kelley Acres ‘Cross, and a win at the Breast Cancer Awareness Cyclocross Challenge. With many of the area’s pro/1/2 men racing in Ohio, Fuentes took the opportunity to test his legs in the elite race at the inaugural Hyattsville CX.

0910_HyattsvilleCX_008
Fuentes attacked the power sections. Photo by J. Steen.

It was clear from the outset that the power output that works to Fuentes’ advantage on the road would translate well on the Hyattsville course. In the early laps only one rider, Adam Driscoll (Adventures for the Cure), was able to keep close as Fuentes put in a string of brutal attacks that depleted the field. The pair stuck together for about 45 of the 60 minute race. But after Driscoll lost his chain, Fuentes established a gap and went into time trial mode to seal the victory.

Following the win and podium presentation, while most racers and spectators made their ways back to their cars, Fuentes and his podium-mates stayed at the venue to escort a group of Special Olympics athletes through the course. The race was able to raise close to $3000 for the Special Olympics organization and it was great to see Dave, Adam Driscoll, Patrick Blair and Chris Consorto take the time to help the cause.

Following the race we caught up with Fuentes to ask him about his day. If you are a hardcore roadie that still hasn’t caught the ‘cross bug, pay special attention to this interview. Here is a guy that is still “learning” the sport of cyclocross (50 psi in the Dugasts??), yet winning races and having a blast. Continue reading “Hyattsville CX: An Interview With Dave Fuentes”

Share

SpectaCross: One and Done? A Chat With Ken Getchell

The SpectaCross cyclocross and speed trials races took place July 31 and August 1 at the New Jersey State Fair. Being the only show in town this time of year, we have lots of good stuff to share. But before getting to rider interviews from this past weekend’s races we are going to start our coverage with the man behind the curtain.

0908_Getchell_001
Ken Getchell

Ken Getchell’s SpectaSport LLC spearheads publicity for several cyclocross race series including MAC, OVCX and MABRA, as well as the Gravity East downhill series. Getchell can also be found as a race announcer for many events on the CX calendar. He has been at the publicity game a long time. Ken started SUPERKARTS!USA (now SKUSA) and was the publicist for future three-time Tour de France champion Greg Lemond’s first race as a professional in Wildwood, New Jersey in 1980.

He had to call on much of that experience to pull off two days of cyclocross in the middle of summer and at a state fair. Now that the dust (or mud) has settled, we caught up with Ken to get his thoughts on the weekend.  Continue reading “SpectaCross: One and Done? A Chat With Ken Getchell”

Share

If The Bike Fits, Race It: A Chat With Beth Mason

Did you finish last cyclocross season with an aching back and the feeling that you were fighting your bike every race? Are you looking forward to repeating that same scenario this season? If not, it may be time to consider a professional bike fitting. While it is not going to strengthen your core or increase your VO2 max, a proper fit should make you more efficient and decrease the discomfort inevitable in our sport.

When it comes to cyclocross, the bike fit conundrum comes with a host of oft-repeated truths that anonymous interweb posters insist we must follow. These include buying a smaller frame, lowering your saddle, moving the saddle forward, moving it back, raising your bars. Are these ‘truths’ correct? Honestly, I don’t know. So I asked somebody who does.

Beth Mason is a licensed physical therapist, certified bike fitter, and Cat 1 road and cyclocross racer. This triple threat of experience provides Beth with a rock solid perspective on common fit issues facing anyone toeing the line at a cyclocross event.  Continue reading “If The Bike Fits, Race It: A Chat With Beth Mason”

Share

Simon Says: An Interview With Simon Burney (Part II)

In Part I of our interview with Simon Burney we talked about coming up in British cycling and what it was like racing cyclocross as a pro back in the day. In Part II, Simon provides some great tips for the upcoming CX season, talks about the state of the sport in North America and Europe, and gives us a sneak peak into his latest venture. Continue reading “Simon Says: An Interview With Simon Burney (Part II)”

Share

Simon Says: An Interview with Simon Burney (Part I)

“Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.”  ~P.J. O’Rourke

After hosting a fun but slightly embarrassing pity party in my last post, I received a comment from Simon Burney commiserating with me over my chronic knee issues. Seems Simon is in a similarly immobile position and was nice enough to pass on some words of encouragement. If you do not know who Simon Burney is, you haven’t been following the sport of cyclocross carefully enough. Simon wrote the book on the sport. Literally. He wrote the book. It is available here. Go buy it now and come back. I’ll wait.

Not wanting to lose a great opportunity to pick the brain of one of the most knowledgeable people in the sport, I asked Simon if he would mind answering some questions. He was gracious enough to comply and did so in spades. When I first asked for an interview, Simon said, “you might want to put a word limit on my responses, I can waffle on about ‘cross for pages.” He may consider it waffling, I consider it knowledge and you should too.  Continue reading “Simon Says: An Interview with Simon Burney (Part I)”

Share