The first time I met Justin was in Brian Vernor’s Pure Sweet Hell, so Sunday morning while I was prepping this post I brewed a pot of french press and fired up our copy of the film. The Justin Robinson motor-pacing scene is one of those cinematic moments that is hard to get out of your brain:

Here we go:

1. How old are you?
33

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
Bonny Doon, California. Born, raised, never moved, will be here till I die.

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
19 years, 16 years elite cross

4. What was your first bicycle?
Schwinn green BMX bike

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
Started racing MTB’s in 1990, didn’t touch a road bike until @’96, raced a few partial road seasons from 99-2003, I still race the MTb but haven’t raced on the road in years.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
Surf City Cyclocross 1991, racing my steel Yeti MTB, Cat c men, raced the first half of the series and did well until I sprained my ankle and was very depressed to miss the rest of the season.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
Why Not!

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
Nope, I work full time as a father of two, a husband, and a Water Well Contractor, as well as up-keeping our family 5 acre compound in Bonny Doon.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
Art Major at San Jose State University

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
I have NEVER shaved My legs.

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
Nope, just lots of hair.

12. Pre race rituals?
Pretend like I know how to warm up.

13. Post race meal?
Anything except Beef or Pork

14. How do you wind down after a race?
Go home to my family.

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
Very technical, lots of mud, not too much elevation change, lots of running, lots of snow, lots of ice, freezing cold, really hot, the race of attrition.

16. Espresso or tea?
Tea

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
The community of people that do it, combined with the intense pain of racing, and the relief of crossing the finish line.

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
I guess tubulars (it’s a love hate thing)

19. Write a haiku about CX Nats.
Cold Balls
Frozen in my chamois
Was vasectomy necessary?

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about during your last race?
How I really don’t like the way cheap champagne smells when it is sprayed on you on the middle of a run-up at the beginning of a race and the smell won’t leave until the race is over.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
3 year old and 5 year old at home… not much time for movies these days

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
The Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldier / Willie Nelson, Teatro / Tom Waits, Mule Variations

23. Who is going to win USA Nationals this year?
Some tall skinny Guy.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
Don’t partake anymore.

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
Probably.

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
I got off of it and ran.

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
To race without wrist pain.

28. What result are you most proud of?
The fact that bikes brought my wife and I together and she is the love of my life.

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
Willie K Bullion

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
Nobody else rides as early as I do round these parts

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
It’s culturally excepted as a cool thing to do from a very young age.

32. Are you married? Have any children?
Yep, 2

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Gardening, Pottery, pruning fruit trees, making illegal trails, running, snowboarding, playing with chainsaws, etc.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
All of the above.

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
I just joined Facebook.

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Learn to love adverse weather, If you look fast it does not mean you will go fast… you have to either be really talented or ride your bike a lot or both.

Barry Wicks is one of the most feared riders on the domestic cyclocross circuit.

The Questionnaire:
——————————

1. How old are you?
25 years old.

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I grew up for the first part of my life in Welches Oregon, Near Mt Hood. I moved to the Valley in 8th grade and went to Highschool and College in Corvallis Oregon. Now I live in Santa Cruz California.

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
I Have been racing cross since 1999, as an elite since 2002.

4. What was your first bicycle?
I had an purple fixed gear kids bike, then upgraded to an Orange Banana seat bike before finally getting a Sekai Jammer in 1993.

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
I started racing MTB when I was 13 on my Jammer. The first race I did as a dual slalom. Then I started racing XC and eventually found my way to cross. I did some road racing, but found it boring and annoying.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
Erik Tonkin was telling me about cyclocross at the last MTB race of the year and told me to have a go at it. I built up an old Autsro Damlier Road bike with 27″ wheels and went to the races!

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
I race a full MTB season along with the full cross season. I seem to have the most success in Cross, but I would call myself an off road specialist.

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
I race full time, But work a few hours a week at a local Winery, mostly for the sweet wine hook ups.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
I went to Oregon State and Majored in Exercise and Sports Science

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
I swam in High School, so shaving my legs for the first time was not a cycling related experience. I liked how it felt though so now I do it all the time.

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
Nope.

12. Pre race rituals?
Drink some water, get a smooch from my girlfriend and hit it.

13. Post race meal?
I like eating steaks after a race.

14. How do you wind down after a race?
Usually driving for about 2 hours, packing my bikes and getting on an airplane.

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
Estacada Timber park, or Alpenrose.

Photo by: Ken Conley kwc.org/cycling

16. Espresso or tea?
Tea.

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
Unpretentious, unhindered fun.

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
Tubies.

19. Write a haiku about 2006 CX Nats.
Sun was shining
rode my bike fast in circles
sprained my thumb

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about
during your last race?
Does this skin suit make me look fat?

21. Seen any good movies lately?
Home Movie.

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
Graduation, Kanye West. Elephant, White Stripes. Greatest Hits, Johny Cash.

23. Who is going to win USA Nationals this year?
Me.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
Crutches.

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
No.

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
Installed Lighteners.

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
I want to win Nationals.

28. What result are you most proud of?
USGP #4 in Boulder last year was pretty good. STXC National championships was also pretty good.

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
Erik Tonkin, Geoff Proctor, Sarah Robinson

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
I ride with Brian Vernor fairly often.

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
They aren’t/ They try harder.

32. Are you married? Have any children?
Nope. Kids scare me.

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Photography, Kite Flying, Reading, Music.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
No Idea.

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
An infrequently updated blog at http://www.wicknasty.blogspot.com

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Talk your friends into doing it with you.

1. How old are you?
Born 1974

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I grew up in Struer, Denmark (Bang & Olufsen HQ) – now, I am living in Aarhus (2nd biggest city in Denmark).

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
I have been racing Elite MTB since 1999.

4. What was your first bicycle?
I got my first bicycle when I was 5, but I bought my first real bike in 1995 – a Marin Palisades Trail MTB.

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
I started racing MTB in 1997 – I rode my first road race in 2006.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
I did a cross race on my Breezer Lightning steel bike in 1999. I didn’t get a cross bike until 2001 – then I made it to the national team in two months.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
Yes, but with quite some MTB seniority on the side.

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
Mentally, I live with bicycling full time .. . be it racing, race organizing or cycling club organizing. I have had some jobs on the side like teaching, carpentry etc.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
I’ve studied Political Science for 5 years – and I am about to finish my masters thesis in the spring of 2008.

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
It was sheer peer pressure and there were some bets going on. It felt strange when I wore my pants afterwards… I am not into that scene… To me it is pure vanity and symbolic representation of being into cycling. If I was a roadie, and had a lot of crashes and constantly had a guy touching my legs with oily hands I could see a point of shaving legs – otherwise not.

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
When I crash I get a kind of tattoos… I don’t need any extra body ornaments to feel my body or to put any messages across.

12. Pre race rituals?
The small rituals change from year to year, as I focus on different things. But a morning ride before breakfast is kind of a ritual to mere. I am not superstitious…

13. Post race meal?
Nothing special really, but preferably something with meat.

14. How do you wind down after a race?
I might do a 30 min light spin and eat a protein bar.

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
It has either mud or sand and has both fast and slow, tough technical sections.

16. Espresso or tea?
Espresso for sure. Tea is more for when I have a cold.

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
The variety of the courses – cyclocross is the most diverse type of cycling. But I see mud, rain and fog before me when I close my eyes.

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
Challenge tubulars

19. Write a haiku about 2006 CX Worlds.
I never really understood what a haiku poem is. It is mostly something I’ve heard mentioned in the mass bombardment of US Hollywood culture we get on TV. I can do origami though…

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about during your last race?
I kept saying to my self ‘COME ON, this why you are racing – finish it! The race before I kept on chanting ‘Tim Johnson, Tim Johnson’ when I was running through the sandpit.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
The last one was Oceans 13. It was OK, but nothing more. All time favorites are Blade Runner and 12 Monkeys

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
The most resent artist’s albums I bought were:
Dizzie Rascal (UK Grime Rapper)
Public Enemy (25 years and still rockin’ the joint)
The Bees (neo-Beatles)

23. Who is going to win Worlds this year?
Some fast Belgian guy as usual.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
German safety folly

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
You don’t brake in cross, so why the extra weight?

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
A big guy like me should not play with that.

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
Top 30 in the World, Win the Danish Champs, Top 20 at the Worlds

28. What result are you most proud of?
Cross? The 2007 Danish Champs. Overall in life? Winning the Adventure Race Arctic Team Challenge (www.atc.gl) in East Greenland 2 times.

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
To begin with it was my Czech friends from Hlinsko and LC Kayl in Luxembourg. But recently it has been the people behind my family based Italian team CCV Protek Cyclo Cross Team from Bologna. They made me believe in further development.

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
Back home it is ‘Sofa John’, my sisters boyfriend.

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
Europeans don’t care about style like bunny hopping the barriers. Winning speed is key. And surely there has been – or still is – some cheating going on. There is more hard work and less talk in European racing.
On the other hand the US cross scene is more friendly and embracive – and in general has far more qualities to it. In Europe there is not a cat. 2,3 and 4 or Singlespeed category at the races. There might be fewer spectators in US, but there are more racers over here. So there are actually more people who truly understand the sport.
The perspectives for the future are way better in the US. Here there are qualities that can be built on, potentially making the sport bigger than in Europe. The marketing perspectives are better. There is much more entertainment here. People dressing up, Beer relay, Cowbells etc. People should just start to believe more in themselves and their scene – and not look to Belgium as the holy country.

I came here for all those reasons – and to bring back about 100 UCI points. Last year I have never felt so welcome as I did I stayed in Colorado and raced the Xilinx and the DBC Boulder Cup races. For this season I figured 2 months over here wouldn’t hurt.

32. Are you married? Have any children?
No, but I hope to bag both things within a few years… My girlfriend, Mette is a dentist, so I guess I just need to ride my bike, cook and look after the kids.

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Cooking keeps me racing, but I also enjoy mountain running and randonne ski touring when I have time to do it.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
I would be working in the danish public sector promoting sports and active living.

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
Check my frequently updated homepage www.joachimparbo.dk and say HI in the forum.

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Get dirty and embrace the pain with a smile

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I grew up on the 3rd coast (lake Michigan) in Sheboygan, WI where I still live for a larger percentage of time than anywhere else of the year.

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
I did my first race when I was 15 so I guess that makes about 10 years. I think 2003 was my first Pro mtb. race.

4. What was your first bicycle?
My first bike was a banana yellow 20″ bike my dad and I made it with random parts. The first bike I bought was a huffy. The first bike I raced on was a GT Tequesta with a Rockshox Quadra 5 – it was rad cause it had shox.

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
I raced on and off road for a bunch of years mostly in Wisconsin early on with good success. In 2002 and 2003 I rode with the Saturn Development team all around the country and did like 80 races, but never had any really good results. The team folded at the end of 2003 so I went back to mountain biking and shortly after got hooked up on the Trek program which I have been racing on for 3 years now. In 2004 I did the U23 Pan Am Championships and U23 World championships in Les Gets, France with the U23 National team.

I picked up cross in the fall of 2003 and have expanded my schedule each year since. Early this spring I was able to go to Belgium and race Elite World Championships with the US national team.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
It’s actually pretty funny how I started racing cross. I had been racing mountain bikes pretty successfully for a few years and in 2003 a friend was going to a cross race in Milwaukee. I decided to go along with my mountain bike and I ended up winning the elite race pretty easily. I liked winning so I went back the next weekend and discovered I could win cross races as well as mountain bike races so I kept going all fall. Then I borrowed a real cross bike and went to Portland in 2003 for U23 Nationals and just got throttled by Jesse Anthony and Alan Obeye, it was an eye opening experience racing in the mud, I had never done that before. I think I finished 5th or 6th.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
I’ve had decent results through the last two seasons and even a few really good ones when the conditions fit me. I won the Beacon cross last fall which was a UCI race and also placed 8th at Nationals in 2005 so I’ve probably had some bigger results on the national level racing cross than mountain bikes, but a cross specialist – I’m not sure. I think I can do really well on certain courses and under certain conditions, but I’m still trying to find the consistency that would make me a specialist. I guess more and more I consider myself a cross racer over anything else so maybe I am heading that way?

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
I have basically been racing full time the last 3-4 years although I’m still looking to make an actual salary. I work part-time at a bike shop in Sheboygan were I’ve worked for over 10 years now. I’ve really cut down my hours and the last two years I’ve probably only worked a total of like 200 hours total. I try to keep the bills at a minimum so I can pick up and leave whenever I want and squeak by on prize money. It seems to be working for the most part.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
I went to a technical college near Sheboygan for 3 years and have an associates degree in Electro-mechanical technology. Basically it’s electricity, hydraulics, pneumatics, motors, and electronics used in industry to control robots.

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
I think I was about 12 years old and probably didn’t even need too, but thought it was really cool cause all the pros did. I also rode around in the big chainring all the time cause I thought that was cool too.

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
Zero

12. Pre race rituals?
I have tried to do away with any rituals since it always seems like I’m in a different situation each week which just going with the flow and not always being able to do what you want before a race. when I was younger I would always try and do what I did the week before, but then when it doesn’t work out it’s easy to freak out and think your race is going to be bad since you didn’t eat the right thing at just the right time. I won the iceman one year on toaster waffles and peanut butter cause that’s all there was available. Standard procedure: Eat 3 hours before the start, warmup, munch on a powerbar, eat a gel during staging and race.

13. Post race meal?
Chocolate milk and bagel to get me home, then whatever I can find.

14. How do you wind down after a race?
Lay on the couch and watch a movie, take a walk, take an ice bath.

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
Slippery, either from snow or thin mud. Short climbs, lots of slippery corners and oh yeah, slippery mud.

16. Espresso or tea?
Tea

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
Only those that practice it are good at it.

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
I’ve only ever had clinchers.

19. Write a haiku about 2006 CX Nats.
…

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about during your last race?
I felt really bad at my last race and wanted to quit racing, but I must have forgot that already.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
24 Solo

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
I usually just have my Ipod on shuffle so it could be anything, although I do remember hearing some Fall Out Boy and Green Day.

23. Who is going to win USA CX Nationals this year?
Me

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
Amature.

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
Yes, cross racing is all about breaking.

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
Drilled out a water bottle cage.

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
Progression.

28. What result are you most proud of?
2006 UCI Beacon Cross win

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
…

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
Not really, I mostly ride by myself unfortunately.

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
They grow up doing it, it’s more cultural.

32. Are you married? Have any children?
No

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
XC Skiing

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
Taking time off of riding and probably preparing for mountain bike season, skiing.

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
tristanschouten.blogspot.com

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Do lots of intervals and mounting/dismounting practice.

On top of those questions, if you feel like giving me a little background? Where you living now? how long you been on your current team? How was your euro cx experience? What did you take from it? You planning on doing a big cx season again?

I do a lot of couch surfing these days, although home is still Wisconsin. I’ve been with Trek 3 seasons now and am really enjoying the team and the support I get from them. The regional programs are really fun, and I’ve been able to hitch on with the “pro” team at most of the big races I want to do. Euro cross experience was just that, a lifetime experience. I can’t say I raced well or felt that great, mostly I felt like I was getting tossed around without any feeling of going forwards or fast, just tossed. The best part was right before I got lapped near the end the roar of the 50,000 cheering on Vervecken was so loud I got the chills. They came around me on the pavement and I was barely pedaling cause I was watching them race, I was able to spectate from on the course I guess. What’d I take, well, I want to do it again, but I can see I have tons of room to grow before getting competitive over there. If you don’t go full balls out of every corner someones gonna sneak past you and before long you’ll be going backwards fast. It’s a pretty cool feeling though to have that many people pay to watch you race, it actually makes you feel like you’re doing something respectable and not just riding your bike around in an empty field.

What are your goals this season?
To have a strong World Cup, World Championship and National Championship. To make the Olympic Long team.

Going for UCI points for the Olympics?
Yes. The US will either get to send 2 or 3 riders to the Olympics based on how we do as a country this year. That means the top 3 guys in UCI points have to be high up so our country is ranked in the top 5. Then we can send 3 riders.

Planning on a full cx season again?
I will do quite a few US cross races but just until Nationals. I shut it down after that to take a break.

Ever planning on heading over to Europe for some cx racing?
I raced cross in Europe back in 2002. I did a World Cup and the World Championships in Belgium. It was fun but I had my worst MTB season ever after that. We start up on the mountain bike in March so I need to stop and take a break sometime.

1. How old are you?
31

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I grew up in Kingston, NY and I now live in Durango CO.

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
I started racing BMX when I was 5 yrs old and did that until I was 16. I didn’t even start riding mtbs until I was 18. I started racing as an elite when I was 21 or 22, then I took 3 years off to go to school and get a real job. I guess that means I’ve been racing as an elite for 9 years.

4. What was your first bicycle?
Some crappy Huffy I broke in my yard on some tiny rock jump.

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
Like I said, I grew up racing BMX and then switched to the MTB when I was 18. I thought I would race dual slalom and dh but found out I was better at XC.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
I threw a mountain bike together with drop bars and did the Super Cup in Boston back in 1998? I got lapped by Gully and all the other top guys. I sucked.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
No. I enjoy racing cross but I don’t focus on it. It’s funny b/c I don’t put much emphasis on it but I seem to do the best at it.

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
Full time. I think I was maybe home for 10 full weeks all of last year.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
Yes I graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor Degree in Management Information Systems.

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
I was living in NY and everyone thought I was gay because I was shaving my legs. Cycling isn’t very big there so people don’t really get it.

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
Just a bunch of scars.

12. Pre race rituals?
Eat 3-4 hours before hand.

13. Post race meal?
What ever I can get my hands on. I like to have a beer with it too.

14. How do you wind down after a race?
I am usually rushing around after the race trying to get to the airport or airport hotel. Most of the time I don’t settle down until pretty late after the race.

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
Fast and lots of transitions with bunnyhopable barriers. Baltimore in 01.

16. Espresso or tea?
Matte

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
Suffering in the fall and drinking a bunch of beer afterwards.

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
Tubulars

19. Write a haiku about 2006 CX Nats.
…

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about during your last race?
It was the Fontana STXC. I was trying to bridge to Trebon and then the group caught me. I was telling myself not to give up until I cross the line. Don’t settle for just finishing where ever in the group. It worked out well I ended up 2nd. I know when my mind starts to wander I’m not in the moment and my race is probably over.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
Hoping to see Blades of Glory.

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
Do people still listen to albums? I think it was Craig Shumacher “New Shoes”, Jimmy Buffet “License to Chill” and JayZ “Kingdom Come”

23. Who is going to win USA CX Nationals this year?
I want it to be me.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
They look gay. I don’t need more ways to stop, I need more ways to go fast.

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
If I had to.

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
Drill holes in my front derailuer and spend hours on end trying to get my tires Stansed up before Stans worked so well.

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
Make the Olympic team and better my previous performance.

28. What result are you most proud of?
Collegiate National Champion, 1996. The first big race I won.

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
Gully.

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
My brother, Troy Wells. AKA Rudy Bear

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
Drugs.

32. Are you married? Have any children?
Married, 1 dog and 2 cats.

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Golf, dirt jumping, dirt biking.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
Sitting on the beach in Mexico drinking beer and getting fat.

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
You bet, www.toddwells.com

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Have fun with it. It’s a great combo of road and mountain bike. Skills practice is big b/c it seems to me like the road is growing like crazy right now so most people new to cyclocross come from the road. They probably already have great fitness, good leg speed and sprinting ability but might lack bike handling skills.

37. Define this term: triple triangle.
The technology Juli Furtando used to dominate the early days of mountain bike racing.

1. How old are you?
29, but my licence says 30 (ouch)

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
Ottawa, Ontario – born & raised. I split my time between Ottawa, Hamburg and Belgium in January… I’m riding for a Montreal team next summer so I’ll probably be spending some time there. I’m a pro bike racer, I have no home!

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
XC ski racing from 8yrs old, bikes from 13. I’ve been an elite for 8 years now.

4. What was your first bicycle?
Hmmm, first real MTB would’ve been a Giant Butte. Cromo frame, Shimano 200GS, plastic pedals. Yeah, it was fully pimp.

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
MTB 1993 to 2000 as an amateur/elite, MTB 2001-2004 as a pro with Gears Racing, Road and CX 2005-2006 as a pro with Stevens Racing Team in Germany, 2007 pro with Calyon Professional Team in Montreal.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
OBC Cyclocross series c.1991, put on my Bob Woods and Ian Austen. I was a junior and using a 30lb. mountain bike, but nonetheless it was enough to get me attached to racing bikes.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
Now, yes.

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
Yeah I do this full time, but when I’m back in Ottawa I can’t seem to tear myself away from Cyclelogik, so I can often be found there doing a lot of not much and sometimes a bit of something.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
University of Waterloo, B.A.Sc. Mechanical Engineering. Little known fact- the podium at Canadian CX Nats 2004 was populated entirely by engineering graduates – Kabush, Wedge, Reain.

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
I was like 15/16 and was just about to go for a training ride with a friend that had started shaving his, so I had to step up. I cut myself and it hurt. Incidentally, could someone in the NorthWest convince Tonkin to shave his? I have to look at them all the time.

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
Ears are done, but I don’t have the $$ for a tattoo. I will sell advertising space on my body though, so that’s a possibility.

12. Pre race rituals?
I dunno, someone else could probably tell you better than me… I’m just really anal about knowing where the race is and getting there with more than enough time to spare. Bikes have to be in A1 mechanical condition, clothes gotta be clean and coordinated.

13. Post race meal?
Whatever is in my race bag. Usually a nice meat/cheese/pesto sandwich and a cereal bar or two. Then some coffee.

14. How do you wind down after a race?
Short spin away from attention if I’m pissed, otherwise into the showers as fast as I can to get clean and warm. Then a beer or two after I get back to the hotel/house and I’m all set.

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
Varied surfaces, plenty of strange transitions, some off cambers, good balance of speed sections and technique sections. 2 dismounts per lap.

16. Espresso or tea?
Espresso. Do I sound English?

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
Making do with what you got. Equipment, body type, and terrain. Just make it work.

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
Tubulars

19. Write a haiku about 2006 CX Nats.
it was wet and fast
the boys all came out to play
stoked to win the day

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about during your last race?
Try not to embarrass myself in front of the Euro-fans; why does Troy keep pinning it on the road?; hey, is that Powers? He’s way up there today…; Good talk.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
I’m still all up on Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
Real ones? On vinyl? 1) Roots Manuva – Dub Come Save Me, 2) Biz Markie – Goin’ Off, 3) Atmosphere – You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having

23. Who is going to win USA Nationals this year?
For ‘07- Powers is gonna get it done right.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
Brakes?? Why??

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
(see above)

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
I don’t stress about weight, only reliability.

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
Top 30 at CX Worlds, find a decent pair of jeans.

28. What result are you most proud of?
Winning Canadian Champs in ‘06

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
The Ottawa Posse

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
In Hamburg- German Champ Sickmueller, in Ottawa- me.

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
Culture. But the gap is narrowing.

32. Are you married? Have any children?
No…and no. I hope.

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Pretending to know more about music than I really do, quality time with my CL family.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
Good question. I hope I wouldn’t be driving a CAD station all week.

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
crazyfast.blogspot.com

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Find a ninja to learn from. Technique is paramount. Try new things. Think smooth, not speed. Equipment is unimportant.

1. How old are you?
You should never ask a lady her age you know?!!! (25 years old)

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I was born in St Albans, north of London and grew up all over England really. But now I live in the beautiful Belgium, my favourite country in the world!

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
I started racing when I was 14 years old but have only been an elite rider for the last 3 years.

4. What was your first bicycle?
When I was a kid my dad used to have a tandem with my brother on the back and I was on a child seat behind that (does that count?). I used shout at them to go faster!!!

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
When I was a kid I did everything, grass track, mountain biking, road and time trialling. I started cross racing when I was at university and didn’t have time to race in the summer so had to do it in the winter instead.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
I rode a national cup race in England first time on a cyclo-cross bike and I got 5th I was very happy and instantly hooked.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
I ride for a UCI pro-team, Global Racing, so I am a cross specialist although ride a full road season and have won the mountain classification jersey in a UCI stage race last year as well as placing top 20 in most lower grade UCI races.

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
I am a qualified physiotherapist, but now a full time cyclist.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
Duh just answered that one then!!! I studied physiotherapy at university, in England it is a degree course (BSC(Hons)Physiotherapy) and got a 2:1 for it.

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
Erm…well I was probably about 12 and all the girls at school were experimenting so I had a go too!!! Although I only had really fine blond hairs on my legs but I wanted to do what the other girls did!! I think I cut myself a lot!!!! Im pretty sure ive perfected the art by now though!!!!

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
Hmmm…..not that I could tell you about!!!! No just kidding! I’ve got my ears and belly button pierced. No tattoes I have seen a lot of old people with them and they don’t look good at that age!!!

12. Pre race rituals?
Erm well actually erm well there is a standard joke in our team that the girls have to get a little pre-race the night before to calm their nerves and Stef our team manager has to do it!!! But it is just a joke!!!

13. Post race meal?
Hmm normally the tastiest food we can get, unless there is a race the next day. Pizza tastes soooo good after a 10 day stage race!!

14. How do you wind down after a race?
I don’t really have a problem relaxing after a race. I will normally watch the mens race so I can see lines on the course that I would never normally think to take. Other than that just sleep!!!!

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
Fast and fun with lots of interesting bits oh and I like sand and mud and well I like lots of different bits!!! Sorry!!!

16. Espresso or tea?
I’m English, naturally one only drinks tea!!!!!!

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
Getting muddy wet and dirty and riding as hard as possible for 40 minutes!

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
Tubulars everytime made by schwalbe!!!

19. Write a haiku about 2005 UK CX Nats.
You see people say that American is not the same language as English and I genuinely think they are right!! I don’t know what a ‘Haiku’ is sorry!!!!

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about during your last race?
Normally the next part of the course, where my competition is etc! Normally I am pretty focused on the race.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
Me and my team mate Gabby Day went to see the Holiday recently at a ladies only night in the local cinema it was really good and they had a big muscley man walking around giving out chocolates it was really funny!!! We also watched Déjà vu, that was good.

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
Erm im actually really bad with music I just listen to the radio a lot, im quite liking Shakiras new song, and James Morrison oh and a Belgium guy called Michel Borsato.

23. Who is going to win UK Nationals this year?
Me or my team mate Gabby Day.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
Waste of time!

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
No if you are braking in a cross race then you are going to loose the race!!!

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
Not really into all that my bikes are increadably light already!!!

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
Well ok arm twisted I want to get on the podium at the worlds.

28. What result are you most proud of?
3rd in the first world cup of the season in Kalmhout.

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
My Husband stef, he is the one person who has always believed in me and I wouldn’t be at this level if it wasn’t for everything he has done, and still does for me over the last 3 years.

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
I train quite a lot with my team mates, Gabby and Emma and some local guys, like Sven Nys and Niels Alberts go on a training ride I also go to!

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
I haven’t ever experienced an American cross but I think maybe if they are faster it is probably related to the level at which the sport has developed over the last 60 years in Europe and the developments they have made to get better than the next man!

32. Are you married? Have any children?
Yes to my team manager Stefan Wyman, have been married for 2 and 1/2 years. And no I don’t get any special treatment, in fact I am quite often made the example of!! No children can only just look after myself!

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Chocolate!!! And drinking coffee with my friends.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
I’d like to think I would be working as a physio on some really good pro team somewhere!!

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
I have my own website: www.helenwyman.com

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Just enjoy it and learn from everyone around you because you will only ever win consistently with experience and it takes years!!!!!

1. How old are you?
Did you ask my weight…it’s 54kg.

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I grew up in Long Island, manhattan, and brooklyn. I now live mostly in belgium (i am writing you from Leuven where I live now.) When I am in the USA, I live in Mill Valley, CA.

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
I started riding and racing in 1995. I upgraded to pro mtb in 1998, elite cx in 1999, and pro road this year for Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam.

4. What was your first bicycle?
Breezer Lightning mountain bike.

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
I raced for Joe Breeze on Team Breezer MTB four years until the team dissolved. Then I discovered cyclo-cross. I was instantly hooked. I started to race on the road to train for cyclo-cross.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
It was a DFL race in san francisco. I liken it to bushwacking with a bike.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
In order to call myself a specialist, i feel that I should master the task. I am not even close. Although currently i am ranked 12th in the World in UCI ranking and 14th in World Cup.

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
Yes, but since there is no $$ in cycling – especially for women – I have a few jobs. I do PR and freelance writing (journalist/columnist/etc.)

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
Yes. I attended Columbia in NYC – Biology Major.

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
Two days ago to prepare for Koppenbergcross. I heard it is a slip-and-slide course and it’s better to have hairless legs to treat road rash. I’m glad i shaved.

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
I have a pierced belly button, but i took it out once it became trendy.

12. Pre race rituals?
I listen music on my iPod. I love everything from techno to jazz BUT NEVER Country. I also visualize race day from beginning to end – I imagine it exactly how i would like it to play out.

13. Post race meal?
ProBar – raw vegan energy bar. The bar is really well balanced in its nutrient content and is easily digestable. And it’s so tasty that my friends and I make growling noises after every bite!

14. How do you wind down after a race?
A very tall glass of red wine. I’ve been drinking a lot of yellowtail lately.

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
One where I win.

16. Espresso or tea?
French press, italian roast.

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
finesse

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
Tubulars – how else can you run the tires at 12psi?

19. Write a haiku about 2005 CX Nats.
in stormy weather
go-go dancing in the mud
did i fail my bike

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about during your last race?
Oh great, finally a good start – in 5th position. Splat, not anymore. (ran into a woman who crashed in front of me.) OK, 15th. keep calm and knock them off one by one. Darn, I forgot to buy chips for chocolate chip cookies. Stop thinking about cookies!!! OK, just passed another. Oh, cute spectator yelling my name! I wonder if my ass looks fat in this skinsuit? Red and white are not the most flattering colors. Oops, I just rode past a crowd of people and forgot to suck in my gut. Maybe i’ll skip on the cookies.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
They showed a keanu reeves/sandra bullok movie on the plane that was cute. I am most of the way through Dogville starring Nicole Kidman. Very fun!

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened
to?
Bee-gees, diana ross, and elton john. Albums are those big round things, right?

23. Who is going to win USA Nationals this year?
me.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
a personal choice.

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
absolutely not.

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
Raced without a saddle. 2004 nationals.

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
Get a front row callup at worlds.

28. What result are you most proud of?
My first cross race. My coach, elmo, gave me one cyclo-cross lesson on a tiny borrowed bike. A few days later, i took that borrowed bike to PA to race a super cup event. I holeshotted the race and almost made it to the half way mark in first place but ann knapp passed me. It was the most pleasant pass I ever experienced. She congratulated me on a fine ride as she and a bunch of other hotshot gals left me in the dust. I held on for 8th. It’s also cool to have placed top ten in two world cups.

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
My coach elmo. I also got a lot of advice over the years from various racers such as Mark McCormack, Tim Johnson, Carmen D’Alusio, the Jacques-Maynes brothers,
marc Gullickson. The influx of support from friends and family make a big difference as well.

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
When i’m in California, my main training partner is my coach. In belgium, my training partners are Ronny (elite marathon mtb racer) and Sam Mallfliet (top espoir mtb racer).

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
The bicycle is a way of life for them. They are on their bikes all the time. If a kid shows any promise, he or she is nurtured and completely supported. It’s more of a blue collar sport here in europe, so being a pro bike racer gets you out of working the farm or laying bricks!

32. Are you married? Have any children?
No and no. Single and looking. Unfortunately with my hectic schedule, the only time I have for dating is in airports (which is where my last date was. I met him during a layover. It lasted exactly three minutes because he was about to miss his plane!)

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Vegan baking and cooking – but mostly baking.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
Making a ton of money so I can fly my friends around the world to join me on crazy adventures.

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
christinevardaros.com. I also have a blog courtesy of a neo-crosser named Dave Shishkoff who just created it last week. Unfortunately I don’t know the address yet.

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Focus most on looking beautiful and graceful on the bike. The speed will follow.

1. How old are you?
29

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
Grew up in Courtenay, BC… now I split my time between Victoria, BC and Albuquerque,NM

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
Started racing MTB in 92-93, turned senior in 96 and have been racing at the elite level since then. Cyclocross I have done on and off since 97-98.

4. What was your first bicycle?
The first bicycle I picked out was a sweet purple Kona Lava Dome; I rode my parents sweet Norco Bush Pilots for a while before that with some sweet bullhorn handlebar/stem combo.

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
As I said above I started racing MTB’s locally in Grade 9, worked my way up to the National level as a Junior and took up some road racing once I turned Senior. Currently racing for Maxxis International on the MTB and Cross bike and figuring out how to fit in some road racing as well.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
Went down to Seattle for the SuperCross series was back in 97 or 98…can’t remember which year; did it on a MTB with skinny tires and had some fun hopping the barriers.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
No. I can’t be serious enough at this time of year.

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
Full time.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
Yes. UVic…B Mech Eng in 2003 after 8 yrs.

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
1995 after I returned from Junior Worlds and got heckled; couldn’t do it in highschool because I was a pretty serious basketball player and would of gotten beat up.

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
No.

12. Pre race rituals?
Warm up.

13. Post race meal?
For Cross it is usually some Belgian beer, preferrably Leffe, or maybe a Double Chocolate Porter by Phillips in Victoria.

14. How do you wind down after a race?
See previous…drink beer…maybe fish and chips.

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
Wet but not muddy…twisty…and I feel better than everyone else.

16. Espresso or tea?
Espresso.

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
Lack of seriousness.

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
Clinchers for now.

19. Write a haiku about 2005 CX Nats.
Wasn’t there.

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about
during your last race? This kind of hurts…I should be at home…keep fighting you pansy…ok…how many laps do we still have…I’m tired….mmmm…beer.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
No, but I hear the new Trailer Park Boys is real good. Not sure if it is being released in the states though.

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
I don’t know if I have listened to a complete album in quite a while but last time I was on the plane it was “Taking Back Sunday”, “Built to Spill”, and “Stars”.

23. Who is going to win USA Nationals this year?
I don’t know but I am quitting after the final USGP…suckers.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
Jit levers.

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
Yes

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
I just run what I brung.

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
Try to milk my fitness long enough so it doesn’t really really hurt.

28. What result are you most proud of?
USGP win in Gloucester 2004.

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
Peter Wedge…godfather of Canadian Cross and former teammate.

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
No…all my training is secret.

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
Several reasons…probably the Belgian beef??

32. Are you married? Have any children?
Just got married Oct. 7th….no children yet.

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Sporting activities, relaxing, eating, trying to stay in one place for 3 weeks.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
Getting too fat and out of shape in the fall.

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
online diaries at cyclingnews.com

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Remember to heckle me if you see me at the races.

1. How old are you?
I turned 30 a few days ago!

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I grew up in Northfield, NH and I live in Oudenaarde, Belgium now.

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
I started racing when I was 15 and I have been racing with the elites since 17.

4. What was your first bicycle?
BMX bike magnum

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
I started racing because my brother and best friend did it. Then I won a few races so I thought it was fun. Then Toby Stanton and Frank McCormack took me under their wings and I raced for the National Team for a few years. Then I did a year as a pro on Diamondback mountainbike team, a year on Prime Alliance, a year on a crappy Polish team, 2 years on Colavita and a lot of years now finding my own sponsors for my own 1 man cross team.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
I put some nobby tires on my road bike and rode around in the race to see if I liked it. I did.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
Yes

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
Yes, but I am also a full time dad and I take that seriously. My family comes first. They travel everywhere with me.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
No

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
Blood bath. I cut almost every inch of my legs and the tub looked like saskwatch had just gotten shaved.

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
Absolutely not.

12. Pre race rituals?
Kiss my wife and daughter before the start.

13. Post race meal?
Nothing special. Pick something at a restaurant if i’m on the road and make something when i get home if i’m not.

14. How do you wind down after a race?
I dont really wind down much I guess.

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
They are all perfect. Thats what makes cross cross.

16. Espresso or tea?
Both.

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
Thats too poetic for me. Poems are for school and my wife.

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
Training or racing?

19. Write a haiku about 2005 CX Nats.
Whats a haiku?? how about a short story? I arrived. I ate. I began vomiting and well, other stuff. then my wife began too. called the doctor. spent 4 hours in the ER. slept. kind of. went to the cross race. felt horrible but obligated. rode around. had to throw my shorts away after the race. made it back to the motor home without vomiting…but thats about it. took 4 more days to recover enough to walk 100 meters. went back to belgium. started feeling worse again. had to send body samples to a lab in brussels. had a severe bacterial infection that took a month to kill.

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about
during your last race?
My mind doesnt wander in cross races. i don’t have time.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
Ha ha. Thats funny. I have an overactive almost 2 year old daughter.

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
I dont listen to albums. I listen to the radio or mp3 player thats been downloaded for me!

23. Who is going to win USA Nationals this year?
Me.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount
cross brake levers.
I love them right now since they will be my hope for getting back on my bike earlier.

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
Never tried them so i don’t know.

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
Nothing. I don’t need to.

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
Podium podium podium…in Belgium or at a world cup.

28. What result are you most proud of?
My wife’s victory at the Koppenburg cross 3 years ago because she was horrible on the downhill and wasn’t even going to race it but she kicked butt on the uphill every time and I was proud to see her finish….and then to win!

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
Mario DeClerq

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
Now there will be because my friend from swissland is living here.

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
Because they don’t complain and whine about not having the best this and that or about the weather. They just go out and train. They know how to work hard.

32. Are you married? Have any children?
Yes. 1 daughter and a 2nd child on the way.

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Skiing and playing with my daughter.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
Ski racing or landscaping.

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
I have a website. www.thejonathanpage.com I don’t like blogs. I try to write a journal each week.

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Have fun!