In this Spotlight Local Cyclist talks to District Cycling from our Nation’s capital. His blog is relatively new but he has started off with a bang landing interviews with some of cycling’s top pros. Also, DC shares his own frustrating (and pricey) expereince of buying his first road bike. Continue reading to find out why having ”someone listen to your concerns, and help you make a decision based on what you want for the future is priceless.”

LC: What would you consider as your niche in the cycling world?

DC: I think I have a niche in two places. First and foremost I am a Washington DC area blog. Although I have content that would be interesting to anyone anywhere, my core audience is DC. The other niche is the editorial commentary of a cyclist. That is to say that I write about what we all feel when we ride and race. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s fun to read.

LC: How long have you been cycling and blogging?

DC: I used to race Mountain Bike in my home town of Park City, Utah but took a pretty big break from the bike for a long time. After moving into the area I’m in now, the bike demographic has changed a bit. I’ve been on the road bike for over a year now, but into cycling for much longer than that.

LC: If you could have one wish granted for cycling what would it be?

DC: Wow…that’s a hard one. It would either (be) to get to go to the Tour with a pass to go wherever one year or to get two more bikes for racing. A bike for Crits and a TT bike, to be exact. I don’t know what choice I would make to be honest.

LC: Answer one question that you had wish you asked when you first started cycling.

DC: Where is a different bike shop with guys who know what they’re talking about so I don’t waste my money on a bike that doesn’t fit my eventual goals within cycling? (not bitter, just angry)

LC: What were your cycling goals and what type of bike did you end up with?

DC: My cycling goals were based in two parts: 1) was to lose weight and 2) was to compete. The bike I wanted to get would reflect this. I realize that this would have made me a Fred for a time until I got my legs, but it seems to me better to spend the money than to spend the money and then spend it again. I ended up with a Specialized Allez Triple after the sale. I ended up upgrading the components about a month after. I had a triple ring Shimano Tiagra which doesn’t fit the goal of competing. After spending the $1200 on the bike, I had to spend another 1K on new components. After about 6-8 months on that bike, I realized I needed something better. I picked up a Ridley Helium this spring and it changed my riding abilities quickly.

LC: How did you figure out that the bike was not what you really needed?

DC: I realized I needed something better when winter hit. I had my bike on an indoor trainer and could get a true illustration to the amount of torque I was putting onto the bottom bracket. The bike was aluminum, but coupled with my weight and the fact that I was hammering all the time. But the amount of energy I was losing in my pedal stroke brought about the realization that I was working too hard to get the bike moving properly.

LC: When you bought your bike did you know what your goals where or did you need somebody help you identify them?

DC: Yes and no. I knew what I wanted, but I could have been guided towards my needs. bike, component, fitting, equipment and such would have been a huge factor. The size of bike that I was told to get was slightly too small, but my size was definitely a factor to the machine. Could it support my weight at the time? Sure. Could it support my goals within being competitive within racing? No. I love my first bike, but I sold it this summer because I have no need for it for what I’m doing now.

LC: How could you have approached the situation differently?

DC: There is a bike shop nearby called Revolution Cycles that would have taken care of me. To have someone listen to your concerns, and help you make a decision based on what you want for the future is priceless. I would have saved a fair amount of money had that been the case. Perhaps I was just too excited to get on the bike and go, but I know that if I didn’t jump in and do it, I’d lose my nerve. Getting into cycling is a jump because you’re new to it and don’t realize the amount of money that it takes to dedicate to it. Sometimes cyclists are a bit elitist, and to get past that rough interior is the hardest part. I simply went to the wrong bike shop. To know then what I know now would have influence my purchase so much, so I can only think that someone who is knowledgeable about cycling could have really figured it out for me based on my goals.

And finaly what is your favorite post from your blog, and why is it your favorite (please include the link)?

My absolute favorite post is the one where I interviewed Magnus Backstedt of Slipstream/Chipotle (now Garmin/Chipotle) fame. I interviewed Tyler Farrar, Martjin Maaskant (also of Garmin/Chipotle) as well as David Clinger and Rashaan Bahati (Rock Racing) but my interview with Magnus was my favorite. It was straight forward, but the little things that happened in the interview and getting a picture with him provided some great content for the blog entry.