Name: Matt Brown
Birthday: December 25, 1977
Hometown: Emporia, Kansas
Current Residence: Emporia, Kansas
Occupation: Business Owner (High Gear Cyclery, Inc.)
- What bike(s) do you currently own?
- What size of wheels do you prefer 26, 29, or both? Why?
- You’re favorite trail and its location?
- How many years have you been riding? And how many years racing?
- What type of racing is your specialty? (XC, Endurance, CX, Road, ect). Why?
Fisher SuperFly 100
Trek XO 2
Trek 7.5 FX
I ride 29. I was skeptical for several years about getting a 29 inch wheeled bike. Several of my friends kept telling me I needed to try one out. After about two years of hounding me I bought one and never went back. They ride a lot smoother over bumps and rocks, plus they climb better with the extra traction.
Camp Alexander, Emporia Kansas.
Wilson Lake, KS
Ouachita and Womble Trail in Arkansas.
I use to ride bikes all over my neighborhood as a little kid, but I really got into riding back in 1990 when I got my first mountain bike.
Then the following year, 1991, I did my first mountainbike race.
XC and some Endurance lasting 6 hours or less. Races like Ouachita Challenge are just right for me….longer than a typical XC race but close to the same intensity.
6. Do you have any pre-race rituals or preferred meals?
No pre-race rituals. I use to think I had to eat pasta the day before the race and oatmeal the morning of and if I didn’t I wouldn’t do well. After years and years of competing I realized I didn’t always have the option to eat that stuff especially if I was travelling to the event. I found out I did well or not so well regardless of what I ate. Of course I wouldn’t eat a steak the morning of the race. So right now I prefer to eat whatever sounds good 3 hours before my event so that my food has time to settle.
7. During a race what Energy and Fluid Replacement products do you use?
My energy gel of choice is GU. I can handle any flavor but Vanilla Bean is probably my favorite. At times I’ll mix it up and do Hammer Gel for a change. Fluid replacement wise I’ll carry one bottle of water and one bottle of CytoMax. This seems to work best for me.
8. You’re favorite song or band?
No favorites in particular but I do like the following bands. Thousand Foot Krutch, Flyleaf, Underoath, Leeland, Project 86, Disciple, Spoken and More.
9. You’re favorite movie?
Napoleon Dynamite
10. You’re favorite foods?
Mexican Food and Pizza.
11. Any other hobbies besides cycling?
Spending time with my wife.
Reading.
Bible Study.
Concerts
12. Why should someone take up cycling as a new hobby?
Cycling is something you can do the rest of your life, no matter what your age. You may choose to ride for pure recreation and health by just cruising around the neighborhood or you might want to test yourself by pushing your mental and physical limits by charging up a hill near your house or even entering a bicycle race. You can also do it by yourself or with others and there’s nothing like seeing the world on two wheels. For instance I’m sure you’ve driven down your street thousands of times. Next time do it on a bike and I’m sure you’ll notice things you never noticed before.
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