20 Questions For A Clydesdale Cyclist

This Q&A was inspired by the questions asked in latest issue of Road Magazine, directed to professional cyclists, but augmented for a layman cyclist like myself.

1. What was your first bicycle and what is your favorite memory of it?
   • My first bike, that was actually mine and not shared, was a gray Huffy BMX with heavy metal mag wheels. It had red pads and a black seat and must have weighed nearly 40 pounds. My favorite memory of it was zipping around the dirt track a few blocks from our house. We used to spend all day out in that field building ramps and racing around and around.
2. What’s your favorite cycling snack?
   • On rides under an hour I don’t eat anything, under two hours I use Gu, and anything longer than that and I’ll grab a Lärabar or Clif bar to add to the Gu. I’ve never made my own riding snack or bar but have wanted to try.
3. Do you usually train solo or with friends?
   • Mostly solo but when I can get out on the weekend I try to rider with my local cycling club. Given how crazy it’s been this year I haven’t managed that yet though.
4. Do you keep your bikes inside the house or in the garage?
   • Since I’m still mostly riding indoors on the trainer (those darn evening workouts) I store it indoors in the basement. Otherwise though it’s in the garage.
5. If you designed a bike, what would the head badge be?
   • I’d have to create some cool mix of my initials with an epicycle circling like a wheel or a crank to mix cycling and astronomy together.
6. Do you shave your legs?
   • No way no how!
7. If you could go on a ride with anyone in the world, past or present, who would it be?
   • The nerd in me says Isaac Asimov or Isaac Newton but the cyclist in me says Miguel Indurain or Eddy Merckx.
8. What goes in your jersey pockets when you ride?
   • Food, phone, and sometimes arm warmers.
9. What is your favorite part of your bike?
   • The titanium frame, it does an amazing job absorbing road vibrations and supporting my clydesdale cycling form. I can’t yet put put my faith in a carbon fiber frame handling the abuse I put this thing through.
10. What is your favorite cycling website?
    • I frequent Cycling Tips and Cycling Fans for race news and articles and then Urban Velo and Bike Snob NYC for humor and alternate news.
11. What is your favorite non-cycling website?
    • I read so many health & fitness blogs I’d have to just say read my blog roll in the sidebar.
12. What musical artist do you currently listen to the most?
    • It’s a tossup between Owl City and The Chemical Brothers.
13. Do you prefer an energy drink or coffee?
    • Coffee for the win, I’m truly and espresso addict.
14. Where is your favorite place to ride?
    • I really loved riding in Wisconsin last year in the HHH and can’t wait for my ride in August for the Dairyland Dare.
15. What ride / race are you most proud of?
    • I’d and have to say my cycling time in the Steelhead Half Ironman Triathlon, 2:41:41 for 56 miles.
16. What’s one ride / race you hope to do before your career is over?
    • I’ve recently updated my Races list up top to include rides and races I’d love to do. The top races I want to do are a Full Ironman and the Leadville Trail 100.
17. As a clydesdale cyclist how do you train differently than a regular cyclist?
    • I don’t know that I train differently but I certainly try to listen to my body more than perhaps a regular cyclist might. I adjust my hands and give my backside a break by shifting my weight around standing up and sitting down and using the hoods from time to time. I’m sure a lot of regular cyclist do the same thing but certainly being heavier means I have more weight and potential stress to reduce than most. Be sure to listen to your body and your heart and make sure to use your gearing to your advantage. Oh yea, and don’t forget to consume enough water to offset your larger expenditures.
18. Bibs or Shorts?
    • Bibs for sure, they feel great and being bigger means they ensure nothing’s hanging out that shouldn’t be.
19. Have you ever felt heavy cycling?
    • I do feel heavier when people pass me on hill climbs or jet away out of the gate. What I find though is that I’m passing a number of those same people several miles down the road as I power through the flats with my powerful legs. There are also times when I’m turning a bigger ring uphill than they can handle which allows me to shoot past them with ease. It’s all about learning the gearing that best fits your heavier body and racing style.
20. What is one piece of advice for an aspiring heavy (clydesdale) cyclist?
    • Don’t stop or be afraid to start riding, no matter your weight. I guarantee you can find a bike, after that it’s all about willpower and desire. Riding your bike is a great low impact yet highly aerobic workout that’s perfect to losing weight and staying healthy your entire life. Also, being heavy doesn’t mean you can’t be competitive because while we are larger our legs are like pistons and allow us to drive with incredible power.

• Ending The Ride Streak And Beginning Circuits
• Looking Back @ 2012
• Shooting For A 23 Day Ride Streak
• My Cycling Ride Streak Update
• How I Fuel For Endurance Events