The North American Cyclocross Trophy - Rider Profiles
Passing the Courvoisier with Giant's Adam Craig
You could say Adam Craig's good at stuff. "Stuff" like Super D and Cross Country mountain biking and "good" as in winning national championships. He's also got a couple of U23 cyclocross star'n'stripes jerseys and apparently was good enough to represent the U.S. at the Beijing Olympics. The debonair Monsieur Craig came to the NACT Colorado weekend prepared for anything and with a giant milk carton costume one can only imagine what "anything" might entail. Add to that his "disgustingly pimp" Giant proto 'cross bike with Shimano's electric shifting among its pimp-tastic features, and Craig had a good showing at the over the Halloween weekend despite some tire issues, finishing fourth in Longmont and tenth in Boulder. Craig and teammates Carl Decker (i.e. the Deckerator) and Kelli Emmett will be in Southampton for the final NACT weekend at the Whitmore's Supercross race and look for the milk carton and can of Spam (Decker) to make their presence felt. For mind-blowing questions and head-scratching answers, the Cowbell Questioner checked in with Adam or Adam P., as he'll now be know. We'd ask him what the "P" stands for, but then we'd be over our ten question limit.
What is your full (legal) name? Adam Mossett Craig. But you can call me Adam P.
If you were a superhero, what would your name be? Orgazmo, duh.
Why 'cross? It's kind of goofy and kind of fun. Road bikes in the mud? Come on…
Hills or flat? HILLS! Provided you can use your "bicycle" to ride up them…
To be or not to be? To Be. Not being would blow.
What's the best thing to eat before a race? Candy. Or eggs. Anything as long as it makes your mouth wet.
On a bike, I look like: the crappiest pedaler ever
True or false: is the force real? I don't know what that is? Does the iPhone have it?
When I grow up, I want to be a: my dad, but without the dad part
Most-played song on your iPod: What iPod? I think it's in my room somewhere… N.E.R.D.'s Lapdance is in a dead heat with the uber-classic Enter Sandman…
Natasha Elliott
Coming off some of the strongest showings of her career with back to back wins at the Great Brewers Gran Prix of Gloucester followed by third place at the Canadian National Championships, the NACT Cowbell Questioner wanted to catch up with Natasha Elliott to ask about her season (going well), her new sponsor (Louis Garneau) and her hockey-player riding style (she's Canadian). Fortunately, the Cowbell Questioner is fluent in Canadian and Natasha's American is pretty darn good. Both Elliott and fiancé Derrick St. John are sponsored by Garneau this season, outfitting the couple from head to toe in pink kits (check out their blog) and providing "an unbelievable amount of support" for the duo. With plans to head over to Europe to race in December and with an eye towards the World Championships in the Czech Republic, Elliott's 2009 season seems to indicate she's on a path to improve her 21st place finish in Hoogerheide last year.
What is your full (legal) name? Natasha Claire Elliott
If you were a superhero, what would your name be? Wonder Woman
Mud or dust? Both, anything but ice.
To be or not to be? To be naughty.
Coolest feature on your bike: Compact flared bars.
Fill in the blank: "Cyclocross courses should always have intense feelings."
What's the best thing to eat before a race? Oats, apple, almond butter and lots of cinnamon.
On a bike, I look like a hockey player and sometimes sound like one in my interviews.
Most-played song on your iPod: Tiesto, I am a Pirate.
After Luna tempted Alison Dunlap back into the sordid world of cyclocross racing, we wondered what exactly was going on in her head. Dunlap left cycling a couple of years ago after an esteemed career both on the dirt and on the road. So we consulted a psychiatrist, psychologist, podiatrist and proctologist to field Alison some questions and see if we could discern anything from her responses. Here is (poor) insight into the mind of Luna racer Alison Dunlap:
What is your full (legal) name? Alison Kerry Dunlap
If you were a superhero, what would your name be? Killer
If your bike was a wild west outlaw, what would its name be? Killer
Why 'cross? Because it is fast, exciting, super hard, and super cool.
Mud or dust? Dust
Hills or flat? Hills
Coolest feature on your bike: My pink bell
What's the best thing to eat before a race? A bowl of cereal
On a bike, I look pretty damn cool.
True or false: is the force real? True
When I grow up, I want to be a historian
Keeping it short and sweet with Jeremy Powers
The Cowbell Questioner wanted to know what Jeremy Powers has been up to
since tearing up the U.S. 'cross season last year his Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com team. J Pow started the NACT series with a win at Starcrossed (and just took 3rd at Downder's Grove at the Elite Criterium Championships), had a strong season culminating as the top American at the World Championships in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands last winter. So we compiled a list of the most pressing questions you would want to ask an elite cyclocross racer and sent Powers to the library to search for answers. Here's what he came back with:
What is your full (legal) name?
Jeremy Powers
If you were a superhero, what would your name be?
J- Pow!
If your bike was a wild west outlaw, what would its name be?
Dirt dangler
Why 'cross?
Because I love mountain biking and road racing and cross takes those two and throws them in the blender.
Mud or dust?
Both!
Hills or flat?
Flat.
Fill in the blank: "Cyclocross courses should always have awesomeness."
What's the best thing to eat before a race? Oatmeal, eggs and banana.
On a bike, I look: kinda funny.
When I grow up, I want to be: a cool dad, friend and dood [sic].
Most-played song on your iPod:
Clinton Sparks mixtapes
Powers celebrating his 2008 Starcrossed win and NACT leader's jersey