Date: March 25, 2000
Event: Fuller VOLVO Eastern Shore Mtn Bike Championship             AMBC
Class: Master 30-39
Category: Expert Men
Length: 18 mi.
Time:
Conditions: Sunny / Overcast last lap - 60s
Bike: Cannondale (Hardtail)
Tires: Continental

Did you do anything special to prepare for this race?

Not necessarily.

In the last two months how many hours a week have you trained?

I raced the Race Across America last year in the United States Coast Guard (we finished 2nd in the team event). The week before Wye Mills my wife and I went to Virginia Beach, Florida. I rode my road bike there in four days. Trying to get some base miles in for the "Race Across America" which is upcoming in June. I covered about 600 miles in four days - we rode from 8 to 10 hours a day averaging 21 miles an hour.

Were you strong from start to finish?

Yeah, I had a decent start. Plus I raced there last year and I got tangled up with the gentlemen in second place - so I knew who had won last year. I followed him around the first lap to see how things would pan out. I have raced with Jeremiah Bishop, Paul Bushey and Chris Eatough. I raced the pro race everywhere but NORBA ( I don't have a pro license in NORBA) so I raced Expert Masters. It's kind of different because the mileage is so much shorter so it's a lot faster for me. It's a lot of fun.

When did you put the hammer down?

I think on the final lap. It was my most difficult lap that I had to contend with.

Did you have any unusual problems?

No, my bike worked fine. My sponsorship this year has been the best ever. I've been racing for 17 years and this is the best sponsorship ever!

Wonderful. A typical east coast course with the tight single-track. The private land issue is always nice because the course is well maintained. It was a lot of fun. A great group of people show up for this event.

Were you happy with the way the race was run?

Yes, minus the awards (how long it took to get that stuff done) it's tough - I understand from traveling all over that things take time but....when you get home that late (I didn't get home until about 10 - it makes for an extra long day.

If you could do the race again, would you do anything differently?

No, because I won. I guess it all panned out for me that day so no, not at all.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I'd just like to compliment everybody on another quality race and hopefully we'll have good weather again next year.