Interviews

20ish Questions with Jim Dickerson

Name- Jim Dickerson

Jim Dickerson on his way to winning the 1980 Hong Kong International.

Team- Great Divide Brewing

Age- 57
Years Racing- First license in 1975 and raced every year since, with the exception of 1989 when my first daughter was born and we were doing a major construction job on the house.
Category/Age Group- Cat II, masters 55+, but race 45+
Type of Racer/Strengths- TT and all arounder... that means everybody comes around me in a sprint!
FtC resident Since- 1978, but grew up in Loveland
Occupation- Software Engineer for HP
Family- Wife, Dot and two daughters, Janna and Emma

If you’ve ridden in Fort Collins for any amount of time, I can just about guarantee that you’ve been dropped by Jim Dickerson. He’s one of the founding fathers of the local scene. After 3 decades of racing, he’s still going strong. You’ll see him at the Oval, the TTH ride and of course, his baby, Wednesday Night Worlds. In my opinion he’s one of the classiest riders in town as well as one of the strongest especially for 57 years old. He’s raced and trained with everyone from Dave Paranka, Randy Whicker, Eddy Gragus, to Jon Garcia, Alex Hagman and whether he knows it or now, Chad Haga.

How did you get started racing and what was your first race?

JD- I grew up in Loveland and the state rep used to live there, he got my younger brother and myself interested and then I went to college with Rich Gangl who was racing. So in 1975 I got a license and started racing... the Keystone stage race in 1975 was my first sanctioned race... I ended up second.

Word on the streets is that you used to own a bike shop where the Steakout is now, what’s the story behind that?

JD- I managed the Bike Broker for Chuck Wanner (owner) for about 20 years, most of them at the location where the Steakout is now located.
YGR-What happened to that shop and where else was it located?
JD- Originally the Bike Broker was on Mason right across from Lee's, then out to Riverside, and when Chuck bought it he moved to Mountain Ave. We closed the shop in the fall of 1998 and I went back to college for a CS degree.

There’s also a rumor going around that you were one of the original Wednesday Night Worlds riders. Is that true? How/when did that ride get started? How has the ride changed? Who were some of the other original riders?

JD- Bill Lorenze and I both wrenched at the Bike Broker and we would do a hard ride on Wednesdays after work. I don’t really know if we started it but then a larger group would start gathering at the shop after work. Eventually it got large enough that starting in town was not a good option. Back then there was only SCVC in Ft Collins and most everyone would show up... Whicker, Holcombe, Miller, etc. riding as hard as you could and leaving dropped riders left for the buzzards!
YGR- Roughly when was this and who is this “Miller” you speak of?
JD- I am guessing around 1977, we would just name a route and ride it, no set course like rawhide, but always fast... just like now. Brian Miller, one of the "juniors" - Whicker, Holcombe, Miller, and Dave Paranka... all of them very strong.

You’ve been riding in Northern Colorado for like 3 decades. Have certain group rides disappeared that you miss? Has the style of riding changed? Have any routes that you used to do become unrideable because of the population growth in the area? What has changed for the better?

JD- We used to call the 70’s and early 80’s the pot luck days of cycling... you knew all the riders in town and they were the same folks you had the pot luck dinner with on Friday’s. The only group rides were WNW and the Oval, now you can always find a group to ride with (but you don’t know everyone). Routes are constantly changing... some disappearing because they become un-rideable and others popping up as new routes get paved or become rideable. All in all I would say rides and riding has gotten better over the years.

What Northern CO race that no longer exists do you miss most.

JD- Tour of the lakes... a stage race with a Masonville road race, TT to Wellington and a City Park Crit. All great courses with a low key Northern Colorado atmosphere.
YGR- When did that race run and what were the courses?
JD- I think it only ran for a couple of years in the early 80's. The TT was out Highway One to just before Wellington... about 8 miles. I mapped the road race:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/62865976

and crit:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/62866966/

What is your favorite current locale race?

JD- YGR Double Dams

You’ve seen a lot of riders come and go through Fort Collins. Who were you most impressed by?

JD- Randy Whicker and Dave Paranka both could do it all and often did so at my expense! A lot of the young guys riding out of the Fort now also impress me … it is just that I am not around them when the going gets real hard!

Who do you miss training and racing with?

JD- If I could go do a ride with Randy Black, Randy Whicker, John Holcombe, Mike Haney and the old SCVC crew out to Galeton I would have a big smile on my face!

Whats your take on the ACA USAC debacle? You were around for the big break up what was your take then?

JD- I have always had both licenses but It has been the local aspect of Colorado racing which makes it great... Yvonne and the ACA have done a lot of great things to support local racers and keeping it growing... USAC has its place, but it is much easier for me to support ACA/BRAC.

I’ve heard you keep it in the small ring until you’ve riding 1500 miles in the winter, is that true? Any other training secrets?

Jim Dickerson racing for Life Force Foods (Bob Cooks team) in the early 80s.

JD- Yeah, I am definitely old school in my training habits. I even have the old blue CONI training manual that I look through occasionally. Lots of small ring stuff early to get a nice supple spin, then increase intensity. Oh, and I drink lots of good beer!

You’ve got a PowerTap now. How do you feel about training with power?

JD-I think it is another great tool for the hand bag, but I think you need to use it along with some good common sense and knowing your body.

How has your training changed over the past 30 years?

JD- It is very much the same … just with less miles and intensity than when I was 25. I also incorporate the new tools they have become available but my basic training is very similar.

You do several of the local group rides (Worlds, Oval and TTH). What’s the secret to incorporating them into a successful season?

JD- I think rides like WNW, and the Oval are better than racing, as you are willing to ride till you drop... which is often much more intense than a race where you are more concerned about the finishing place. Because of that I need pay extra attention to rest days and not over do it. I like to have a short conversation with myself before every ride, and figure out what I really need from the ride and then stick to that plan. Riding in a group it is very easy to loose sight of what you need to be doing to improve long term, so figure that out before you start the ride!

You also do a lot of dirt road riding in the winter. What's your favorite dirt ride?

JD- Dead Pig then Park Creek, although I did Pennock Pass with Williams, Newman, Hegdal last fall and had a blast.

What else do you do to say in shape during the winter?

JD-Skate skiing

What state and national titles have you laid claim to?

JD- I shared the National record for Team Pursuit 50+ (although it was broken a couple years ago), I have had multiple state titles in TT, Crit, pursuit and points race. I was BAR in Cat 1’s in the late 70’s and a couple of masters BAR.

What's your proudest career moment

JD-Wining the Hong Kong International Race for the US team in 1980.

Did you do any national racing? If so, tell us a little something something about that. What was your favorite National race.

JD- I have had a couple of top 10 finishes at the National Championships in the late 70’s early 80’s, rode in the 1977, 78, 80 Red Zinger/Coors Classic. Internationally I raced in Hong Kong and then in Pan AM Championships in Medellin COL (an off year in between the PAN AM Games).

What’s your favorite frame of all time?

JD-I had a all chrome Masi track bike, that I always will regret selling.

Favorite local ride.

JD- Rist Canyon Stove Prairie loop

Tell us a little bit about your track racing career.

JD- Actually I haven’t riding a lot of track... just a few States and National championships. When I raced for Spike they had the Pro Track team so they wanted the masters team to also ride the track. That is when I was on the winning Team Pursuit team, and set the national record for old guys.

Ever get into mountain biking or cyclocross?

JD- I brazed up a cross frame in the 70s when you couldn’t find production frames and raced that in the late 70s early 80s... had a couple of top 20 finishes at the Natz. Back then there was a lot more running involved and my knees suggested I quit cross and I listened to them.

Your wife Dot is very active in Fort Collins cycling advocacy. How did that come about? Did Dot ever get into racing? Kids?

JD- When I met Dot she was racing, she was also the Pres of SCVC for a couple of years and started the Buckeye Road race (another Northern CO favorite) she quit racing in the late 80s but has stayed very active with Ft Collins bike Advocacy, on board for Bike Ft Collins and the Ft Collins Velodrome Assoc. and still rides her bike a ton. Both of the girls ride, but like to put their competitive energies elsewhere... Janna plays tennis for her college, and Emma swims and plays tennis for Poudre.

24. Who should I interview next?

JD- How about some young blood... like Skyler?

JD-Now for my YGR plug. After thinking about the interview I realized that YGR has filled the void of the Pot Luck...no, the cycling community doesn't get together every week for a pot luck and some partying, but YGR does a fantastic job of keeping the cycling community connected in Ft Collins. WELL DONE!

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20ish Questions with Chad Haga

Interview conducted by Chris Johnson.

Name Chad Haga

Team Team Rio Grande

Age 22

Years Racing 5 years on the road, with 4 years of just-for-fun mtb racing as a junior

Type of Racer/Strengths All-arounder that thrives on hard racing, time trialing

FtC resident Since Feb 26, 2011

Occupation Bike racer that does odd jobs and sells stuff for commission on ebay to make rent…

Family (married? Kids? Etc) Someday, but not now

First of all, lets get the official word on pronunciation of that last name: does it rhyme with flag-a, dog-a, or pray-ga? Or none of the above? I hate to spoil the fun, my best nicknames have come from mispronunciations… but for my mom’s peace of mind, it’s pronounced “Hey-ga”. Say it however you like, I’ll respond to them all!

From my perspective, you’re taking Colorado’s race scene by storm this year, coming out of nowhere to dominate first our local training rides and TTs, then scoring some impressive ACA results, including a win at Mead Roubaix, and have since gone on to make an impression on the national amateur scene, including a prologue TT win and a stint in the leader jersey at the Mt Hood Classic. Where are you from and how did you find your way to Fort Collins? I’m from McKinney, a suburb of Dallas, TX. After graduating from Texas A&M in December, I decided to give racing full-time a shot. When my would-be team fell through with sponsor troubles just a week before moving to Washington, I gave a hail-Mary call at Pat McCarty’s recommendation to Scott, Rio’s team director. He had a spot for me, and just a few days later I was in Fort Collins.

What sort of race career ambitions do you have? Do you have a 5 year plan? I’ve joked that my career goal is to have Ligget and Sherwin mispronounce my name on TV. I continue to surprise myself with my progress, so I wouldn’t know where to begin with a 5 year plan. I’ll be happy with opportunities to keep testing myself in bigger races.

How do you tend to train? Are you more of a gadget and numbers geek or a soul rider? I’m somewhere in the middle; I train with power, but use it mainly as a means of tracking progress. I race blind—no heart rate or power data—so it’s important that I don’t obsess over numbers too much.

Do you have a favorite local or regional race yet? Or one you're looking forward to? I’ve heard whisperings of the Rist Hill Climb race, sounds like fun…

What do you think of the Fort Collins scene, in terms of community and training/racing opportunities? It’s a great community of cyclists, everyone is friendly on the road. Training opportunities, I can’t get enough of the mountains! I’m not a big fan of the ACA, limiting the talent that can attend races seems counterproductive….

What's your proudest career moment so far? Wearing the yellow jersey through 3 stages of Mt. Hood has to be the best so far. Someday I’m going to have one at the end of the race, then that will be my proudest moment.

Favorite local grub? Being an unemployed bike racer that gets free burritos at the Rio, it’s hard to go anywhere else! Great food that’s free, sign me up.

Your blog, mymindisracing (chadhaga.blogspot.com), has my favorite cycling blog name. When you blog, who are you usually targeting as an audience? Family and friends who may not know much about cycling? teammates and competitors? Are you ever conscious of giving your competition too much info about your condition or strengths or weaknesses? My best friends from school have known me since I was a cat 4 and are now spending half their work days following my racing. I call my family after every race I do, so it seemed natural to create a blog. I’m not afraid of competitors reading it, it’s no secret: my key tactic is to make the race as mentally and physically tough as possible.

I hear you’re a dedicated pianist, whats your favorite style and piece to play? I play classical music almost entirely, but only music that is fun, loud, and rambunctious (at least in parts). I don’t play background music! My favorite song is Hungarian Rhapsody #2, featured in Bugs Bunny and Tom and Terry cartoons.

Do you find any similarities in the ethic and discipline required to improve as an athlete and as a musician? Do they support each other, or do you find yourself struggling to prioritize? It’s easy to prioritize right now, as I don’t have a piano here (yet…). Like anything that you want to be good at, both cycling and piano require practice to get better. Playing music is a good way to relax between races, I’ve learned.

Any shoutouts or last words? See you at the Rio!

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20ish Questions with Chris Johnson

Name: Chris J Johnson

Team: Echelon Energy

Age: 34

Years Racing: 2010 was my first year with a license, i'd done city
streets, the oval, and Bob Cook prior to that.

Type of Rider: Long Rolling RRs, Stage Races, TTs

Category: 3

FtC Resident Since: 2004

Occupation: AV/telemedicine

Family: married w/ 12 year old stepson

Chris Johnson is relatively new to racing but I'd wager that he's logged
more miles on the bike than most people in town. He commutes 25(?) miles
per day to work nearly everyday of the year and has been doing it for
years.
He's a bicycle advocate, racer and commuter. He talks the talk and walks
the walk. When he needs to take a rest day or taper before a big race, he
rides the bus to work. In 2010 he earned his upgrade to the 3s. I
personally would like to take a second to thank Chris for all his
volunteering in 2010. He helped out several YGR hosted events, the USGP,
the NCCE and probably a ton of other stuff I don't know about.

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20ish Questions with Amanda Miller

Name: Amanda Miller (Nicknames: A-Rae)

Team: Team TIBCO/To the Top

Age: 23

Years Racing: 6

Type of Rider: stage racing

FtC Resident Since: August 2007

Hometown: Mt. Union, Iowa

Tibco pro racer, Amanda Miller is in Melbourne Australia getting ready for the UCI Road World Championships. YGR caught up with the IA native (ok so we didn’t really catch up to her, we emailed her) and asked her few questions. Amanda will be going head to head with the worlds best on Oct. 2^nd.

1. Lets start out with some easy questions… You don’t race locally too often, do you have a favorite local race? The Dead Dog Classic. I've always wanted to do the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic and Steamboat Stage Race, as I've heard t hose are some great races as well.

2. How about your favorite race in the US or Europe? In the U.S. - Cascade Cycling Classic. In Europe - Giro d'Italia Femminile

3. Favorite local climb? Rist Canyon

4. Favorite local ride? Rist Canyon, Stove Prairie, Masonville, Horsetooth

5. Favorite FtC restaurant? Bann Thai, Tres Margaritas, Snooze, the list could go on...you're making me hungry for some American food!

6. Favorite pre and post ride meals? Pre ride - homemade french toast with berries on the side. Post ride - Meredith's special sandwich. Ask her for the recipe.

7. Training partner? I usually ride alone. But I like hitting up some of the local group rides occasionally (TTH Lunch ride and Lee's Wednesday ride). Otherwise, I ride with Meredith Miller once in a while.

8. What result are you most proud of? My most proud personal result is winning the first day at Tulsa Tough this year. I am also proud of being a member on the Giro d'Italia Femminile winning squad in 2010 with Mara Abbott.

9. Give us a quick rundown of how you became a pro cyclist. I started riding in High School to stay in shape for basketball season in the fall. I got hooked on riding a bike, found a job at the local bicycle shop, and started racing. After finishing my 2-years at the community college, I decided to move to Colorado for school (CSU) and training. I raced collegiate for Colorado State. After some results and meeting a lot of influential people, I decided to take the leap. Everything sort of fell in to place from there.

10. What do the people back home think about this? It’s not exactly a normal job for a girl from rural IA. My friends and family back home have been super supportive and understanding. They come to as many races as they can. One of my favorite races is the Snake Alley Criterium in Burlington, Iowa for that reason. It's a home town race and awesome to go back and see everyone.

11. Most people know that being a pro cyclist doesn’t pay that well and being a female pro cyclist pays even worse. Do you have job outside cycling? Currently I do not. Do you know anyone who is hiring extremely part time help?

12. What’s next season looking like for ya? Even busier. I signed with HTC-Columbia and will be spending several months in Europe. Bring on the gelato!

13. You’re in Australia right now for the World Championships, that’s a pretty big deal. What will your role be? Do you have any personal goals? I'm here in a support role. We have a really strong team with lots of cards to play. My personal goal is to learn from this experience.

14. What’s the rest of the week looking like for you? Lots of time spent on the internet, some training, eating lots of food, sleeping, and hopefully getting to see a little bit of Australia with my boyfriend.

15. What brought you to the FtC? School....and cycling. But maybe in the reverse order.

16. Did you have goals of becoming a pro when you moved to CO? Yes

17. I know you’ve done some CX in the past, how bout this year? How about the USGP New Belgium Cup here in Fort Collins. I'll be racing for the Hudz-Subaru CX team this season. Of course I'll be racing the USGP!

18. With the current state of cycling it’s not always easy to find inspiration. Which rider(s) do you look up to? Amber Neben. She is an amazing athlete and person.

19. You’re pretty early in your cycling career but what do you plan to do when you are no longer racing? It would be neat to stay in the sport some how, whether it's coaching or directing. That's what I say now anyway.

20. Do you stay on the bike all winter or do you mix it up with some cross training? Yes. I'll throw in some snow shoeing trips throughout the off-season. But I spend most of my time on the bike.

21. Do you have a coach or do you set up your own training? Yes, Meredith Miller is my coach. And no, we are NOT related.

22. What do you do when you’re not riding your bike? surf the internet, fish, hike, spend time with family, friends, etc.

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20ish Questions with Paul Esposti

Name: Paul Esposti (Spoti, The Mailman, The Welsh Tornado)

Team:BCV/Scion & Wales

Age:37

Years Racing:20

Type of Rider:All rounder

FtC Resident Since: 2003

Occupation: Student & Stay at home Dad

Understanding wife: Melisa

Great Kids: Ben and Ewan

Whatever you call him, Paul Esposti is wrapping up his best racing season in a decade. He’s won nearly every 35+ race he’s been in and has placed in the top 5 of nearly every Pro-1-2 race. He spent the early season getting results in the UK and will be spending the next few weeks training there as preparation for the Common Wealth Games in Oct.

1. So where the heck are you from anyway? You talk funny.

Born in Cardiff the capitol of Wales and raised in a town called Beddau.

2. You obviously raced competitively before you came to the US. Tell us a bit about that. Were you a full on pro back then? How did you start racing?

I started on the track at 14 years old then took up road racing seriously at 16. I competed at National Junior level at 17 in the UK. By age 18 I had my 1st cat license and road my first 200Km Pro-Am. I went to France to race at 23 and had the biggest win of my career by age 24 (Paris-Auxerre). I finally cracked after 4 years in France, the mid/late nineties was a challenging time. I turned pro in 1999 in the UK and had a great season only for the team to fold before season was over and stopped racing. Started racing in Colorado again in 2004 and had a great 2005 followed by injury, 2010 has been a good season.

3. You are notorious for being able to come into form quickly. Do you do specific intervals or just get out and ride hard?

I think so many years of riding day after day has helped, I tend to do all my training by myself and will only compete when I feel ready. I'm not a fan of intervals although there are many spikes in my training which replicate hard efforts. I'm a believer of developing the aerobic engine first; I did 89 hours on the bike in march.

4. What's your favorite workout?

A good 4 hour zone 2 ride around the foothills and Carter lake.

5. What’s next season looking like for ya?

I will stay with BCV/Scion they have really helped me to make this opportunity possible.

6. Got any crazy secrets for training when you have a wife and kids?

It's difficult to take time away from the family, especially with young children. When I worked full-time I got up at 5 am to train before work and only rode Wednesday Worlds occasionally. This year with the support of the family and being a student I have been able to train more volume. I believe balance is the key.

7. You took some time away from racing. Why the break and what got you back into it?

I was devastated after losing everything I had worked so hard for in 1999. I found myself wanting to socialize as I had never done that when younger. I got back into racing in 2004 after a friend came to visit from Wales. We did a mountain bike ride over Vail pass together and he trashed me. He told me to buy a bike, I did and then rode the triple bypass 3 weeks later in under 6 hours, I figured it was time I started racing again.

8. So, tell us about these Commonwealth Games. Where are they? Who’s doin’ ‘em. What’s their story?

The Commonwealth Games is the 3rd largest sporting event in the world. It occurs every 4 years and contains multiple disciplines of sport. It includes all former British Empire notions such as; India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and many many more.

9. Favorite local race?

I enjoyed Steamboat the most this season. If Koppenberg was a proper race as in over 150Km then it would be my favorite!

10. Favorite race in the US?

Cascade Classic

11. Favorite local climb?

North Dam

12. Favorite local ride?

All the dams, Mosonville, Eden Valley, Carter lake, Eden Valley, Masonville, and then the dams!!!

13. Favorite FtC restaurant?

The Rio for Mexican, Backcountry for sandwiches, East Moon for Asian.

14. Give us a run down of the biggest races you’ve done.

Commonwealth Games

Tour de l'avenir

Tour de l'ain

Tour de Normandie

Tour of Britain

Milk Ras

Commonowealth Bank Classic (Australia)

Peace Race

15. What’s your best result?

Winner Paris-Auxerre

16. You quit your HVAC job to go back to school. Has that had an effect on your training? (Where are you going to school and what degree are you working on. How much school do you have left?)

I've had more time to recover between training now that I'm in school. I go to Front range and I'm working on an Associates Degree in AutoCAD, I should be done next Fall.

17. Favorite pre and post ride meals?

Pre: Oats, honey, raisins, blueberries, almond butter, made with soy milk.

Post: Cold pizza & chocolate.

18. We’ve got the USGP in town, are you racing any cross?

Most likely not, but will be watching.

19. What other sports have you been involved in?

Athletics & Rugby.

20. When it’s time to hang up the bike, will you stay involved in the sport?

Yes, I really want to develop young riders on the track and progress them on to the road. I would like to coach local riders, let me know?

21. Who has better food America or Wales?

Indian food is better than both, the quality is better in America.

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