Top Five results this past season: I was one of only two men to finish top-10 in the elite MTB XC, MTB ST, and cyclocross national championships. I finished 6th at the Park City NMBS XC. But the best was watching my S&M boys upset the favorites without my help at the Test of Endurance 50 team MTB XC!

Strengths:
I am a mudder. When things are really tough and slow, I go relatively fast: I have a lot of low-end torque. When conditions are bad, I'm your man.

Favorite Breakfast:
The Dutch Baby oven-baked pancake!

Favorite Baked Good:
The chocolate chip and cherry Craisin cookies I bake myself.

Packers or Vikings:
The Green Bay Packers!? Yes!

Dog or Cat:
Used to be dog, but now it's cat.

Snowboard or Ski:
Neither. Skate (on ice, with a stick and puck).

Up or Down:
Stand Up.

Techno or Metal:
Metal. Lately, it's Black Sabbath and their perfect plea for peace "War Pigs".

AC/DC or Led Zeppelin:
Zep. (I'm sorry, Kris Sneddon--we did listen to "TNT" before high school hockey games.)

You have a new son, Magnus. Congratulations. Are you going to be more selective of the races you do now:
In theory, yes. But I've nearly perfected the art of long-distance travel without using lots of time.Adding Gus to the fix will make it all better, will raise the stakes.

The Honky Tonk was a Tonkin-inspired Kona model. How did that come about:
It was a plea for sanity. You can buy $4,000 hand-built steel frames all-day-long down here in Portland from a dozen different people. I ride and race Konas because they're accessible to the masses, my friends, my customers. I wanted my shop to be able to offer a low-priced but cool all-purpose road frameset. I say $325 is tough to beat! Make it your own. As we say at the shop, "It's not a nice bike, but it's perfect for you!"

You helped bring Wicks and Trebon to Kona. How is it to watch those guys really excel like they have:
It's my greatest legacy and achievement. I'm so proud of those boys and my small role in their success. What I'm best at is bringing the best out of others.

You love to race bikes no matter what kind but is there a discipline you could call your favorite:
It always surprises people, but it's the MTB XC rather than 'cross. I also think I'm a 24-hr team-relay specialist. For some reason it matters to me to race against myself all hours of the night, to ride as hard as possible just because.

Can you call out a single career highlight and why:
I was there to see Barry and Ryan each win at MTB nationals in '06. I saw my wife Rhonda place 11th at 'cross worlds last year. My best is yet to come, I hope.

What's it mean to you to be riding for the Kona:
I'll keep it simple: I'm proud, and I'm faithful.

Do you know what an 8-Track Tape is:
Yes, but that's just before my time.

If yes and owned one, what got the most play time:
I never owned one, but I will say I wore out my Led Zepplin Physical Graffiti cassette. I bought it 'cause it had the most songs.

Explain the Tonkin Super Pants:
I always have one pair I can fly in, wade trout streams in, train in, and go out in--and all in the same day. Seriously. It's one pair for one trip, so they have to look good (and have pleats), dry fast, hide mud well, and not get caught too much in my big chainring.

You're the master of Just in Time Racing. Is there a particular red-eyed flight feat that stands out:
Well, the best was when I flew home from Albany after a 2001 'cross in Amherst, MA on a Sat. My connecting flight in Chicago was cancelled. I did the math and figured the next flight would land me in PDX at 1:20pm, but the CrossCrusade race at Alpenrose started at 2pm. I was already dressed in the skinsuit I raced the day before, and I of course had my helmet and shoes w/ me.? I rushed from the plane, leaving all my checked luggage at the airport. A friend was waiting curbside, and he sped me to Alpenrose, right up to the start-line where another friend was staging my training bike. I got there just before the gun went off. I won that one.

What's your favorite number and why:
11. Two number ones, like the boys (aka, the Twin Timbers of BarRyan). Really, it was my varsity hockey number.

Last Words:
I've said enough. I always say enough.