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| August 19, 2005
Cyclocross Racer BY MICHAEL MCCARTHY
Of course to score the mega-bucks, first you have to win the Tour de France at least half a dozen times against the best riders in the world. For most competitive American cyclists, champions or not, the reality of racing is something a bit different. For professional cyclist Mary McConneloug of Fairfax, it means living out of a van 10 months of the year, washing clothes in local Laundromats on the way to races, and cooking meals on a camp stove. The mega-millions are for another day. “Lance is amazing. He’s my hero in many ways,” says McConneloug, currently training in the mountains of Colorado. “To have the determination he does to achieve what he has, it’s inspiring. He seems to be quite business savvy as well. Maybe I should take notes.” McConneloug is one of the top mountain bikers and cyclocross (cross country) racers in America. In 2003, she was the national champion in mountain biking. McConneloug was the sole female United States mountain bike representative at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where she finished a very respectable ninth in the world. Not bad for someone who didn’t take up competitive racing until she was 27. “I got my first new bike at age 13, after several hand-me-downs. It was a Fuji 10-speed from Sunshine Bikes in Fairfax, strictly for commuting around town to school and soccer practices. I first tried a mountain bike when I was 13 too, just a one-time deal. I got my own mountain bike at 18 and learned to love it, but it got stolen,” she reports. “I bought another mountain bike after college and really learned to love it. I’ve always been naturally gifted as an athlete and love the outdoors.” Fairfax, of course, is the home of the mountain bike, but it wasn’t until McConneloug moved to Bend, Oregon, that she competed in her first mountain bike race and instantly got hooked. At 5-feet 5-inches and only 115 pounds, the 34-year-old McConneloug lacks stature but makes up for it with determination and enthusiasm. “My advice to women trying cyclocross for the first time is, first and foremost, have fun with it. Cross country is a great way to get or stay fit in the fall and winter months,” says McConneloug. (Cyclocross races are short off-road races in a circuit format of one- to two-mile courses on short, steep hills using a variety of surfaces from pavement to mud and sand.) The trick to achieving success, according to McConneloug, is to love what you are doing. “I truly enjoy cycling. I think that positive attitude is one of my strengths as well. The best thing about cycling is that it’s an individual sport. All you need is a bike, some gear and a bit of motivation. I love the speed and distance I can cover on a bike. Cycling has opened my eyes to a whole new world of independence and health too.” Every year she has been able to dedicate a deeper level to becoming the best she can be on her bike, she says. “I am motivated to continue to learn as much as I can about my body and how to get faster, stay healthy and have fun. There are always ways to improve. That is what got me started. It is the ultimate physical, mental and spiritual challenge. I consider myself lucky to be traveling the world in the name of this sport.” Being motivated and successful, however, hasn’t added up to being rich. McConneloug is self-coached, lives out of a van with fellow racer and boyfriend Mike Broderick, and drives herself to her races in America. “Mike and I operate all aspects of our team. It’s just the two of us. He’s the wrench and I’m the cook along with all the other aspects of running a fully functional professional team, plus laundry for two cyclists,” she laughs. “We do everything ourselves, and it doesn’t leave much time for anything else.” They do have a long list of sponsors, the only reason she can afford to race, which she does for the Seven Cycles team under the main sponsorship of Kenda Tires. “The contributing companies are the reason we can continue on financially, not to mention that Kenda are the best tires on the market,” says McConneloug. “We also have over a dozen fabulous product sponsors who also make our profession possible. Still, we do it all on a shoestring budget, which will leave us with almost empty pockets at the end of the year. We need to build our program so that some day I can buy a house. Trailer life is good, but I can’t do it forever.” Photo: A veteran of the Athens Olympics, Mary McConneloug is one of the top mountain bikers and cyclocross racers in the country. |
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Racecar Driver Highland Games Champ Cyclocross Racer Rock Climber Paintball Player Long-Distance Runner Big League Pitcher Swimming Competitor Rowing Champs |
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As Lance Armstrong has proven, riding a bike is one way to get rich these days. Never mind team sports such as football, baseball or basketball, grab that old rust bucket out of the garage and get pedaling. Why, Lance made $20 million this year in endorsements alone! |
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