2nd Place Sport Men - Steve Tolley

Bike:Niner EMD/Niner Jet9

2008 Cat: Sport Men - 2009 Cat, if changed:

Favorite Race Style (XC, Enduro, Endurance) and why?
Team Endurance

Favorite Race:
18 Hours on the Farm

How did your favorite race play out?
We placed 5th overall and first in out class if I remember correct, so it went well.

How often do you ride and at what pace per ride?
I managed to ride 5-6 days a week throughout the race season, less during the winter..

Do you think riding everyday is over training?
Riding everyday "can" be over training, you have to have at least one or two easy days.

Do you switch between road ride, mountain biking and running?
I do switch riding types. I began road riding last year as a training technique for MTB racing, I tried to run twice a week at least in the weeks leading up to a multi-sport event.

Do you wear a heartrate monitor and train based upon heart rate numbers?
I train with a Polar CS100 but dont' race with one, and yes I train by heart rate, I use the Chris Carmichal method.

What (if any) supplements do you take during a race?
I used Hammer products most of the time, the gels during a race, during the hot weather I used the Endurolites. FRM supplements during training.

What type of (if any) supplements do you take after a hard ride?
If I have it on hand a 4:1 carb/protein drink after a hard training ride

What got you into mountain biking and then what got you into racing?
I picked up my first mountain bike in 1989, I lived in Ohio and the sport was just catching on there. I had raced BMX as a kid and it didn't seem like much of a jump into MTB, "I was wrong". My first race was the 4th Tidewater Challenge, I got stomped.

Would you consider this a hobby, sport, lifestyle, or occupation? Why do you feel that way?
Sport/Hobby for me anyway. I'd starve if it was my career

What do you like to do with your time away from your race/training calendar?
Fishing/Photography are other passions of mine. However, I found that they both took a back seat this past year to the VORS.

Anything else you would like to share?
I hope MTB racing continues to grow, or at least not die off. I love and hope to continue to compete for some time to come

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