Womenspecific.com: What was the push to start racing?

I had a good friend who was really into racing and he pushed me to get a road bike to get fit for mountain biking before the snow melted. He then dragged me to a few local races and it was so much fun, such a rush, I started going to bigger and bigger races. I’ll keep racing as long as I’m enjoying it as much as I am now. It just seems to get more and more fun the more I learn.

Womenspecific.com: How did you come to your current fit on your bicycle?

I had my shop wobblenaught fit my road bike. Although it cost a little (about $100-150 for a fit) it was most definitely worth it. My shop owner and I spent a few hours taking measurements and coming up with solutions to make my bike fit me like a glove. It’s amazing.

Womenspecific.com: Do you use any women’s specific products?

I have a Terry saddle, the Zero x. It took a lot of tries, so if you’re looking for a saddle, be sure to try many of them. Don’t give up until you find the perfect one.

Womenspecific.com: What is your general nutrition on race day?

I always eat my pre-race meal at least 3 hours before a race, ideally 4. This gives my body plenty of time to digest, store carbs and for my blood sugar to stabilize before I get to the start line. I rely on Hammer Nutrition for everything. For short, anaerobic high intensity races I stick to Hammer Gel and Heed. For anything over 2-2.5 hours I go with Sustained Energy mixed with Heed to give me the protein that I need for longer efforts. Long races (5+ hours) I go with Perpetuem. I never eat solid food before or during races. Too much risk of stomach trouble. I always have a Recoverite drink within 15 minutes of my finish and am sure to have a good meal within 2 hours of the finish. All this leads to ensuring that I recover well for the next day’s race or training ride.

Womenspecific.com: What is the one thing you would say to women who are trying to work through the ranks in mountain bike racing?

Push yourself to race in the big races and in the harder classes. You will by far learn a lot more if you ride with people who are “better” than you. Understand that every race is a learning experience and treat it as so. Be a humble winner and a gracious looser and remember, above all, a positive attitude will get you a lot farther with your competitors, future sponsors and your support people.

Other bike fit options and links:
Serotta Bike Fitting