Jim Cochran
Bikeiowa.com Interview
6/18/04
Q: First off, since I've been watching you race, I've been getting used to seeing you in the top places. What is your secret?
A: Buffalo Burritos at the Atlas in Iowa City. Trying to race smart and not be as hotheaded. Also, trying to remember that races usually start fast, but have a midpoint were things seem to taper a little. This year I have not been training as much, but focusing on really trying to ride the Iowa City group rides as hard as I can and taking my other days casually.
Q: You were on a rampage on Memorial Weekend with a win on the Snake and top placings throughout the weekend. What are your long-term aspirations with the sport?
A: Thanks. I guess continuing to enjoy all aspects of bicycling.
Q: What is your favorite discipline in bicycle racing and why?
A: I enjoy most all aspects of the sport, but would say hills are my favorite. I have always enjoyed hill climbing. I think it is with the rhythm of the pedal strokes I fall into a zone and begin losing a sense of most everything except making it over the top of the hill. I also enjoy the chess like strategies that are played through out a race.
Q: What is your advice to someone who wants to get started in racing?
A: Try to remain calm, I some thing I wasn´t the best at when I was young. Race because you like to ride your bike. It seems some people forget to enjoy themselves when training, racing, and hanging out at the races. Find a good group of people to train with. Watch and learn from others, but be yourself. Don’t burn out and enjoy the sport that you can enjoy for many years to come.
Q: Finally, tell me a little more about your team, Atlas, they've been looking very strong this season!
A: We approached it as a bunch of guys wanting to have fun, guys who like eating wings and drinking beer, and most of all guys who purely enjoy riding. Jack Piper worked on some sponsorship and came through with the main sponsorship from his restaurant The Atlas, and Steve Goetzeman worked a lot at put things together too.
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Bikeiowa.com Questions:
Name: Jim Cochran
Hometown: Marshalltown, IA (Currently Iowa City)
Age: 36
Job Status: Associate Professor of Mathematics
Kirkwood Community College
Family Status: Married seven years (Beatriz) Son (Sebastian) 13 months
1. Current Bike/Components: Fondriest Don Racer/Dura Ace 9 Speed
2. Dream Bike/ Components: I am happy with what I have, but maybe the Colnago Dream 2004 with Dura Ace 10 Speed
3. Bike Racing Team: Atlas Restaurant of Iowa City
4. Fave Race: Snake Alley
5. Fave Training Ride: Any ride involving the Sugar bottom Loop with a warm up in the cemetery.
6. How I got into cycling: This is a difficult question as I have ridden for a long time. Maybe stunt jumping off some plywood and a few bricks in the neighbor’s yard, RAGBRAI X, buying a Shwinn Voyager 11.8 instead of a Yamahopper, or ridding home from California to Marshalltown when I was 17.
7. Recent Accomplishments: I am very happy with my results this past Memorial Day Weekend, and was most pleased with the Master’s 30+ at Melon City and Snake Alley.
8. Do you use a coach: No.
9. 2004 Goals: Racer smarter, no crashes, Snake Alley, State Crit. (I’ll try to remember my shoes), and do well in a few cyclocross races.
10. Long-term Goals: I suppose I don’t look too much at long term goals since I am getting older now. I want to keep enjoying the racing scene, but I realize I need to think of racing on a yearly basis. If I feel I am getting tired of the scene, I have no problem taking some time away from racing for touring or mountain biking.
11. What is the condition of USA Cycling: Interesting question and I am not sure my answer is what you are looking for. I would like to see something done with the categories. Some people would like to race CAT 2 races, but not be thrown in with the pros and 1´s.
12. What is the condition of Iowa bike racing: Fair to improving a little.
13. Favorite part about training and racing in Iowa: I enjoy seeing many of the same racers at the races. Training in Iowa City is great since there is always someone wanting to go out for a ride. I am fortunate to ride with a lot of guys that truly enjoy riding (Goetzeman, Eppen, Jacobsen, Piper, “the thrill-ah” Nenninger, JMC, Kevin, and Thompson). These guys always seem to be flexible with my family life and have an ear for all my stories and complaints about society.
14. What could be improved: This is a good question. I feel that something needs to improve to encourage more people to the races and more people to start racing.
15. Hobbies: Hunting for Native American artifact in farm fields (anyone let me know if you have some good farmers for me to look on), reading, traveling, and long distance bicycle touring.
16. Something that you may not know about me: I had a Brooks saddle that I road for a conservative estimate of 30,000 miles, and I have a fake left eye.
17. Parting Shot: Most all of my friends are some how involved with bicycling, and am thankful that I chose the Voyager 11.8, as it had lead me to 1000 of adventures and many races. I doubt I would have had the chance to run over my first iguana this week in Mexico with my first race bike the pink Ciocc, if I would have picked the Yamahopper. Thank also to my wife, Beatriz who supports me in my training and racing.