Sunday, March 24, 2013

Q&A for the local VeloClub

I was asked to answer some questions for a column in the 3 RiversVeloSport Club monthly newsletter. I thought I'd share it here as well. 

How did you get started?
I began cycling with my dad seven years ago. The riding we did was mostly on the river greenway, urban exploring around town, and the occasional jaunt into the corn fields for a longer ride. After a bit of time, we linked up with Phil Snider and the rest of the “fat tire crew” for the club's Thursday night urban/off-road rides. I eventually joined a local team, began racing, and have become fully immersed in the sport.


What’s a typical week of training like?
My training schedule fluctuates throughout the year depending on the discipline I'm racing at the time. In the spring I'm usually on my road bike putting in longer rides at a lower intensity. After a month or two of less structured training, I begin to decrease the quantity of hours and increase the quality of training, mixing in specific intervals intended to bring me into race form. In the summer I work to build and maintain fitness throughout the remainder of the road season. Late summer/early fall, I transition into cyclocross training which consists of trail riding, cyclocross drills and workouts and, of course, racing!


What do you like about what you do?
I enjoy being able to compete in multiple disciplines, each presenting specific challenges and having their own unique flow. Coming from an off-road background, I was able to develop and hone my skills in Mtb and CX racing. This past year I signed with Bissell-ABG-Giant and raced a full road schedule regionally and nationally. The road has presented me with a fresh new challenge of having to learn the tactics, find my own style of racing, and find new ways to improve.

What is most challenging about what you do?
Some of the challenges I encounter is finding the balance between the multiple cycling disciplines I compete in. I want to do them all well all the time, but there are periods in the season when I have to take a break and it affects me in the short-term... It's important for me to remember my goals for the entire season and beyond!


What advice would you offer someone considering getting into racing?
When I got into cycling, I did it for the enjoyment I got out of riding my bike. I still receive a great level of enjoyment and satisfaction from riding, although it comes from different factors other than just riding. KEEP IT FUN!


What is most rewarding?
More recently I began setting specific goals for myself on and off the bike. I have found this to be incredibly motivating and the results have been very positive. I would highly recommend someone who is looking to improve and track their progress to write down some of their goals, hopes and dreams. It's a simple thing, but it can be very rewarding.


What are your goals/dreams for the future?
My goals are to continue to improve myself and find ways in which I can take my racing career to the next level. I have aspirations to race professionally and I am actively pursuing that dream while also receiving an education at Marian University.


ALSO: I know it's long overdue, but look for a reflection article I wrote for CXMagazine on my Worlds experience to appear in the next couple of weeks!


Thanks for reading!


-Josh Johnson