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The life of an athlete: eat, train, sleep

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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.

August 18, 2000
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hi, from the Olympic Training Complex in Colorado Springs, Colorado! Wrapping up two out of three weeks here, getting great training in here with Stephane Girard our Olympic team coach and my personal coach. I am here also with my Olympic teammate Ann Trombley. We are living the life of the athlete: eat, train, sleep, train, eat, sleep. The days are passing quickly with some small windows of time to catch the breath and catch up with e-mail and home life. There is a countdown calendar here for the Games in Sydney. We will be on the plane to Down Under all too soon!

I will get right to your questions:

I got the opportunity to meet you at Deer Valley this weekend and took a picture with you and Travis after the awards. I was wondering your bike size, stem length, height, and inseam. The reason being I would really like to get an STP but I always figured a 17" would be way too big. But in the picture we took it looks like you are only about an inch taller than me. Do you really ride a 17" STP or did they make you a special one?
Eryn Hanna, Helena, Montana

Eryn,
Yes, I really ride a 17-inch STP. I am 5-feet-5 1/2-inches, with an inseam of 31 inches to the floor, stem length 90mm. I would suggest that you go to your nearest Trek dealer, get a preliminary fit and go for a test ride. My legs are not proportionally long, so even if you are shorter than me, your leg length may make up the difference. I think a test ride offers valuable info. Comfort is key. Good luck, and I hope the 17 works for you -- it is a great bike.

When you win a medal in the Olympics, are you going to let former neighbors see it up close? We'll be watching for you. Good luck and ride really, really fast.
Don Ford, Durango, Colorado

Hey Don,
Thanks for the mail. Sure I will come by and show you my medal! We will ride around the block!

When you were racing at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, how hard were you pushing yourself in anticipation of a season that you were pushing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Was it any different from previous years at Redlands?
Obrey Brown, Redlands, California

Obrey,
Redlands is a terrific race for me early season. It gets me back in the groove of racing, and it allows me to check out my fitness in comparison to the other women. I had a couple good stages this year. I was not too concerned to be at my best level of racing back in March. I look forward to 2001 and opening up the year again in Redlands.

What do you think about Paola Pezzo?
Stefano, Pisa, Italy

Stephano,
I think Paola Pezzo has brought a lot of media exposure and attention to the sport of mountain biking. She has expanded the horizons of the sport, and hopefully she has influenced more people, women and men, to ride bikes.

I am an avid mountain biker who looks forward to any semblance of mountain bikes on TV. Why do you think that mountain bike racing hasn't caught on after the 96 Olympics, especially Paola Pezzo's "revealing" win?
David, Augusta, West Virginia

David,
I think the sport of mountain biking has grown since 1996, but more so overseas. There are more Europeans competing and also there are many festivals for non-racers to participate. There are so many sports in the United States that it is hard to always be the front-running sport. But that just means less traffic on the trails and more fun for us!

Television and the general media has made it a point to present athletes in a more scrutinized way so we can "feel" for the athlete. Do you think it will be even more dramatized this year? And how does it make you feel that people will be peering into your life with such scrutiny looking for "the story?"
Jung Kang, Newport News, Virginia

Jung,
I do not know if the media will be more dramatic this year. I can understand the media wanting to connect with the athletes. And there are some amazing stories of determination and grit among the athletes on the Olympic teams. At this point I do not feel people are peering into my life, and I think it is possible to give a story and not expose "the personal not for public consumption side". Thanks for cheering for us in Sydney.

Thanks for all your questions. It's time to go eat some lunch! And get ready for the next training session.

Cheers,

-- Ruthie

 

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