A&F/ Inferno rider profile; Andy Applegate (A2)

Here's another guy that I am going to have a lot of fun reading about this year. Why? Well, from what I hear, he's a natural born ass-whooper! Also, he's the least young guy on the team and still makes the kiddies cry when he lights it up. Now that's what I'm talkin'bout!

Andy Applegate

I discovered cycling while I was a musician living in Philadelphia sometime around 1990. Needless to say I was hooked, and following my first mountain bike race I became downright obsessed. After working as a bike messenger in Philly for 2 years and racing the mid Atlantic MTB circuit, I quit the music business altogether, and moved to Boulder, CO in an attempt to ride full time. I gained a lot of experience and followed the national series for a couple of years, but I never really made it and moved back east in 1996. While living in New Jersey I raced the big New England MTB events as well as the New England and Mid Atlantic 'Cross Series. I had done some racing on the road at big events like the Iron Horse Classic and Killington Stage Race, but it wasn't until the end of '98 that I really discovered the intricacies of the sport and the fact that I had a knack for it.

Now things really started to get interesting. In 1999, my first full season as an elite "roadie", I won both the coveted Garden State Cup and NJ time trial series. Hmmm maybe I was on to something. Unfortunately by this time I was already way past over the hill for a road cyclist. In 2001, after a 6 week trip to Southwest France to spend time with my wife to be (and ride my butt off), I moved to the mountains of Asheville, NC. The move enabled me to renew my commitment to the sport and helped me to net my first Pro-Am over-all stage race win, several big road race wins, and the 2001 Master's National Road Race Championship (Spokane, WA).

Fast forward to today and I have a few more national championship medals for 'cross and TT (no other jerseys yet though) and a very successful coaching business ( www.a2coaching.com ).
I am extremely excited about the team this year. I think we have a great mix of riders. It is a pleasure to work with Chad, who labors tirelessly, and cares for the team riders more than any other director I know of. As the resident old guy I have to endure all the "Viagra" jokes at training camp... but don't write me off just yet.

Stats:
DOB 1/14/66 (don't laugh!)
I go about 143lbs
I can climb ok, TT well, I like to be in the "all day break" or ride on the front for the other guys.

2005 race result highlights:
Bronze medal US Master's National TT
Winner Iron Cross III
Winner River Gorge Mountain Road Race, Chattanooga, TN
Winner Dahlonega (Georgia Cup Series) RR, TT, Omnium
4th USGP Cyclo-cross Series (masters)
Winner NC State TT (35+)

Career highlights:
2001 Master's national road race champion (Yeah Baby- Ed)
Three time bronze medalist Master's National TT
Two time silver medalist Master's National cyclo-cross championships

Winner Tour de Doughnut (no kidding!)

You can also read about Andy "Mankiller" Applegate on his training blog. I read it and got sympathetic fatigue- I'm glad he's not my coach because my doughy arse would be in serious trouble.

Tim