Your weekend could not start any better!
Here is the interview with Marla Streb. Enjoy - and please tell me what you think of the interviews?
Two days ago I spoke to Marla Streb, Pro Mountain Bike Racer and member of the Luna Women's Mountain Bike Team.
Marla has been around: In 1997, she won her first bronze World Cup medal with a 2 hour-old broken ankle in South Africa. She became single speed world champion twice, three time U.S champion and won many many more prizes.
101bike.com: Hi Marla! How is it going?
Marla: Great
101bike.com: What's happening on the biking front?
Marla: Just held a skills clinic today. Still riding trails at 8 months pregnant! I've been working out or riding daily, trying to stay in decent shape. I plan to start racing about one month after delivering.
101bike.com: 101bike.com is about selecting a bike and/or parts. Let say you had no sponsor, how would you select a bicycle?
Marla: I would find a bike that could do it all. In my case, it'd be a full-suspension 28 pound all-trail bike. Something that both climbs and descends well, and has very active suspension that can lock out. I'd probably spend around $1500.
101bike.com: Which details do you look for?
Marla: I look for very good suspension (like Fox Shox) and high quality tires (like Maxxis). And I always ride Shimano parts.
101bike.com: What kind of bike you have now?
Marla: I ride Orbea's, which are made in Spain.
101bike.com: What kind of bike do you have 'at home'?
Marla: I have Yeti's, Marin's, Santa Cruz's, and Orbea's at home.
101bike.com: I am curious but what made you fall in love with 'downhill'?
Marla: I really fell in love with mountain biking, not necessarily DH. But I was better at downhill than xc at first, so I went with that. Also, it was easier for marketing, andI found I had more opportunities when all the media was looking for something "extreme".
101bike.com: What kind of 'scene' is this compared to road biking for example?
Marla: It's a much more casual scene, and a younger demographic. Also somewhat less sophisticated, to say the least. I find other mountain bikers, both in XC and DH, more approachable than the roadies. I think it has to do with riding in a peloton. People are tentative to ride with someone they don't know on the road. They're afraid of getting taken out. That's not an issue with moutain biking.
101bike.com: What special requirements does it have for you and your bike?
Marla: For downhill, you need to have all-body strength, not just lower. It requires lots of training on technique, on top of fitness. Cross country and road are mostly about fitness. Of course the equipment is much different in downhill. XC riders van get away with any light bike really. But downhill bikes are so much more complicated, and they must work well.
101bike.com: How about Forks is that an important part?
Marla: Yes. A less than par fork can ruin your season. I use Fox Forx right now. They have the highest strength/weight ratio on the market, and are the most adjustable.
101bike.com: Has the sport changed a lot over let's say the last 5 years? How?
YMarla: Yeah, it's supposedly "evolved". Now people are riding much bigger stuff, longer jumps/drops, etc. And at some events, it's become a judged sport (like the Red Bull rampage).
101bike.com: How will in be 5 years from now?
Marla: I think the bikes will get lighter, so they are more versatile. Not everyone can afford a downhill-only bike that can't climb. Not everyone lives near a chair-lift.
101bike.com: You are writing: 'Bicycling Magazine's Century Training Program' How is the book coming along? What is a century? And is this a new field of interest to you? When can we expect the book to come out?
Marla: I've finished the book. It should be on the market now at book stores and bike shops. A century is a 100 mile road ride. I've always liked long distance riding, especially point to point because I like touring. And riding a road century is very social.
101bike.com: Are Bike requirements different for a century?
101bike.com: I read you were busy with a Costa Rica mountain biking park. How is that going? What is there to do? And how can people learn about that park?
Marla: I'm in the process of designing and promoting my new mountain bike park in Costa Rica. It's called "Marla Streb's SINGLETRACK JUNGLE". In fact, I just came back a couple days ago from flying around the 4,000 acre property in an ultralight, and scouting on ATV's. Maybe not the best idea for a pregnant woman of 8 months!Anyway, we'd like to open it by '07 with introductory cross country trails and a free ride area. Then we will start building more advanced stuff.
We will have a booth at the Sea Otter so people can learn more. Also, a BIKE SUMO contest on Saturday at 4:00pm to give away a free trip for two to the resort. The website is / will be up soon. Check: http://www.singletrackjungle.com/
101bike.com: Which famous cyclist would you like to be seen interviewed on 101bike.com and what would you like to ask this person ?
Marla: Shaun Palmer. "Now what?"
101bike.com: Anything else you would like to mention?
Marla: Yeah. I just discovered yesterday that if you look pregnant and get pulled over by a cop for speeding, you can just tell him you're having contractions and he has to let you go. That's a good deal!
101bike.com: It was great talking to you , thanks for your time and the extra insights our readers will enjoy! All the very best these next few weeks and also with your other very exciting projects! We hope to hear from you again!
Marla blogs on Mountainzone.com