| Moore-Gray Goat Sports Mountain Bike Race Team |
| Billy Goat Griff |
Age: 45
Class: Sport
Employment: Laser Engineer
I began riding MTB's in 1995 but didn’t really get any good at biking until after I moved here in 2000
from England. I improved quickly, riding with various friends who had skills I’d only ever dreamed
of. My fitness level has always been quite good considering my lack of training so I managed to
keep up with most riders once my skill level improved.
I started racing back in 2002, got second place DINO beginner the following year, then moved up to
sport and floundered so took a couple of years off and worked on my handling skill and endurance
racing.
With a renewed sense of zest I returned in 2007 with new found cornering skills thanks to the many
who showed me the ropes. I did OK. I finished 3rdin age group and was up there competing at
every race. Ferdinand, arguably the hardest course, was my best finish despite a pretty decent nose
bleed half way through the race. I actually believe it was more down to Ferdinand being everyone
else’s worst finish but I’ll take it.
I fly most weeks for work so my training is patchy. Crunches and push ups have been my focus over
winter as it is always my upper body that gets tired never my legs, except for the
Brown County Breakdown 75 miler in 2007 where I suffered quad cramps for the first time in my life.
I’m assuming it was quad cramps as I don’t actually possess any! The pain was where my quads should be. 2009 should be interesting. So far
this year my training time on a bike is ahead of my typical schedule and has included a bunch of running too.
My first race this year, as for the last 4 years will be the Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race the first weekend in May, my hardest race for
the year. I like to call it my training race! It sets me up nicely for the rest of the season. 70+ miles and 10,000+ feet of ascending should set me
up well.
Racing the DINO series will consume a lot of time this year again where I hope to improve on last years results. Maybe 2009 will also see my
first 24 hour solo attempt.
I forecast 2009 will be a good year for mountain biking especially in the State of Indiana, a place I’m very happy to call home.
Class: Sport
Employment: Laser Engineer
I began riding MTB's in 1995 but didn’t really get any good at biking until after I moved here in 2000
from England. I improved quickly, riding with various friends who had skills I’d only ever dreamed
of. My fitness level has always been quite good considering my lack of training so I managed to
keep up with most riders once my skill level improved.
I started racing back in 2002, got second place DINO beginner the following year, then moved up to
sport and floundered so took a couple of years off and worked on my handling skill and endurance
racing.
With a renewed sense of zest I returned in 2007 with new found cornering skills thanks to the many
who showed me the ropes. I did OK. I finished 3rdin age group and was up there competing at
every race. Ferdinand, arguably the hardest course, was my best finish despite a pretty decent nose
bleed half way through the race. I actually believe it was more down to Ferdinand being everyone
else’s worst finish but I’ll take it.
I fly most weeks for work so my training is patchy. Crunches and push ups have been my focus over
winter as it is always my upper body that gets tired never my legs, except for the
Brown County Breakdown 75 miler in 2007 where I suffered quad cramps for the first time in my life.
I’m assuming it was quad cramps as I don’t actually possess any! The pain was where my quads should be. 2009 should be interesting. So far
this year my training time on a bike is ahead of my typical schedule and has included a bunch of running too.
My first race this year, as for the last 4 years will be the Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race the first weekend in May, my hardest race for
the year. I like to call it my training race! It sets me up nicely for the rest of the season. 70+ miles and 10,000+ feet of ascending should set me
up well.
Racing the DINO series will consume a lot of time this year again where I hope to improve on last years results. Maybe 2009 will also see my
first 24 hour solo attempt.
I forecast 2009 will be a good year for mountain biking especially in the State of Indiana, a place I’m very happy to call home.
Many thanks to Brian at Gray Goat
for fixing me up with this little beauty
and the boys in the shop for getting
her built up while I slaved over
busted lasers. She works
wonderfully in the mountains of
Pisgah and is just as at home in the
flatlands of Indiana.
for fixing me up with this little beauty
and the boys in the shop for getting
her built up while I slaved over
busted lasers. She works
wonderfully in the mountains of
Pisgah and is just as at home in the
flatlands of Indiana.
Achievements:
2003: 2nd overall DINO Beginner.
2004: 12 Hours of DINO Masters solo Winner.
2005: 12 Hours of DINO Masters solo Winner.
2006: Worked on handling skills and took delivery of a Shamrock Cycles Track Fixie which enabled me to pull 2 higher cogs than before on
my mountain bike.
2007: 3rd overall DINO Sport 40-49 Age Group.
1st DINO 24 hours co-ed with the delightfully and contagiously happy Sally.
2008: Solid mid-pack!
2009: Who knows?
2003: 2nd overall DINO Beginner.
2004: 12 Hours of DINO Masters solo Winner.
2005: 12 Hours of DINO Masters solo Winner.
2006: Worked on handling skills and took delivery of a Shamrock Cycles Track Fixie which enabled me to pull 2 higher cogs than before on
my mountain bike.
2007: 3rd overall DINO Sport 40-49 Age Group.
1st DINO 24 hours co-ed with the delightfully and contagiously happy Sally.
2008: Solid mid-pack!
2009: Who knows?
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Quite frankly I don't understand what all the
fuss is about. After all it's only like riding
round in circles on a piece of aluminum
made in Taiwan! Just like pie and chips
innit?
fuss is about. After all it's only like riding
round in circles on a piece of aluminum
made in Taiwan! Just like pie and chips
innit?
Rare shot of Griff in front of Bill Confer then
Scott Wagner at TRTP 2007. Scott went on
to beat me by 4 minutes and Bill 2 minutes.
Scott Wagner at TRTP 2007. Scott went on
to beat me by 4 minutes and Bill 2 minutes.
Below, photos from Dupont, NC and PMBAR, May 08, where we
finished a quite stunning 48th place out of 64 finishers in 9
hours and 46 minutes on only 40 hours of training this year!
Click to enlarge.
finished a quite stunning 48th place out of 64 finishers in 9
hours and 46 minutes on only 40 hours of training this year!
Click to enlarge.
Goofing off under Bridal Veil Falls the day
before the big race.
before the big race.
Post race, pre-beer. 9 hours and 46 minutes in
the saddle. It was the first big ride for the Epic
which held up faultlesssly. I held up pretty well
too and only almost came to grief once on
Squirrel Gap when a trackstand turned me the
wrong way and I had to "step off the
mountain". I climbed back up and carried on.
Plenty of product placement should keep the
sponsors happy! I zipped up my jersey
everytime I heard Tim get the camera out.
the saddle. It was the first big ride for the Epic
which held up faultlesssly. I held up pretty well
too and only almost came to grief once on
Squirrel Gap when a trackstand turned me the
wrong way and I had to "step off the
mountain". I climbed back up and carried on.
Plenty of product placement should keep the
sponsors happy! I zipped up my jersey
everytime I heard Tim get the camera out.
Goofing off on top of the falls just after I slid a
bunch of feet down the rocks towards a fairly
major drop off after trying to ride the slick rock
and finding it slicker than I'd bargained for.
bunch of feet down the rocks towards a fairly
major drop off after trying to ride the slick rock
and finding it slicker than I'd bargained for.
