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Lots of mud, rocks and roots
Posted: Wednesday June 28, 2000 11:35 AM
Ruthie Matthes is No. 6 in the world in the latest International Cycling Union cross country rankings. The 35-year-old American was the UCI World Cup champion in 1992 and the national cross country champion from 1996-98. Matthes currently is training for the Olympic Games in Sydney. Check out Matthes' diary every other week on CNNSI.com.
June 27, 2000
I have recently started mountain biking and I am completely addicted to it.
Besides the racing aspect, what professions are out there in the field of
mountain biking?
Through my experience racing mountain bikes, I've learned that a large support system involved with the race team: team mechanic, team soignuer (massage, race feeding, pre/post-race hydration and food), team manager (takes care of sponsor connections, race reports, travel arrangements, rider needs of sponsor products and more), team director (seeks and manages sponsorship, asses the overall team, hires rider and support staff, decides team race schedule). Then there are all the people involved in setting up the race from media to course preparation and race promotions. I am probably inadvertently missing some very essential jobs out there involved in getting a race going.
Totally removed from the racing aspect, bike tour leaders and support crew make that kind of organization run smoothly. There is also the coaching aspect and people who are active in their local bike clubs. A few entrepreneurs are starting their own mountain bike destination resorts (including Max Jones in Lake Tahoe, Calif.). Jonathan, perhaps you have thought of some creative ways to utilize a mountain bike as a profession? I must mention the large variety of bike festivals held throughout the United States. I was able to participate in the Pedro's Festival three years ago in Randolph, Vt. I enjoyed interacting with a lot of enthusiastic mountain bikers, most of whom had no desire to race but wanted the camaraderie of a group gathering. A lot of fun and low stress! Once my racing career is completes, believe me, I will be thinking of ways to stay involved with a sport that I love being a part of. You've ridden the Olympic course at last year's worlds. What is your strategy for riding the course to a gold medal?
Yes, I rode the Sydney Olympic mountain bike course for a World Cup race last season. It was great to have a preview race. The course has a lot of quick singletrack area, short, steep climbs and a couple of rocky areas. As in any race, the goal is to arrive in top form and rested. I will ride on the trails near my home (Durango, Colo.) that have similar features to the Sydney course. That's all I'll divulge at this point!
What percentage of your training is on the road, as compared to actual
mountain biking?
The percentage of road riding versus mountain bike varies throughout the season. Basically, from January to March, I spend the majority of my time road riding and using the trainer. After the Redlands Classic, we usually head out to the Sea Otter Classic, and that makes a change in training. (A lot depends on the weather. The drier the winter, the more time on the trails.) Once the racing begins, I am usually on the course two days training and have one race day. The other four days are on the road, either as easy recovery days or long endurance days. If I am home, I may spend two-three days a week on the mountain bike. I found that no matter how easy I try to ride on the trails, I put in more effort than on a road bike. After an accumulated training session, I lose leg speed and snap. After the race season is over, I ride the trails more, since that is my favorite kind of training. Last Friday, June 23, was our second 2000 NORBA National Championship Series race in Mount Snow, Vt. What a great crowd and racing! Lots of mud, rocks and roots. A terrific warm up for the next two World Cup races (Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada, July 2) and (Canmore, Alberta, Canada, July 9). Then finally the naming of the 2000 Olympic Team. I can't wait for that news in mid-July. These next two races are opportunities to make automatic qualification to the team (top-four finish), so there should be some exciting racing from the Americans, and we aren't an ocean away from home. To keep posted on myself and the whole Trek/Volkswagen race team, log on to www.trekbikes.com. My teammate Kirk Molday is in the leader's jersey for the NORBA series and is on good form for the Canada races. Travis Brown is back from a broken leg in April and is gearing up for the selection to the Olympic team as well. Make time to ride and bring a long a friend. More to come in two weeks (oh how the time flies). -- Ruthie
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