Interview - Paul Riciputi

Cross season is well underway with some STELLAR results from some of the team!

Armin Bantowsky and John Deibert ate getting top 10 & 20 results, and setting up good call-ups in Cup & non Cup races. Kirk has (as usual) hit a top 5. Rest of the team is also riding well. Season taking off, with the USGP kicking off the "meat" of the season this weekend.

Xilinx
35+4
Armin - 6
John - 11
Paul -46
Jonathan - 48
David - 67
35+ 3
Matt - 32
45+
Kirk - 6
55+
AL - 15
SW4
Lori - 8

Frisco
35+4
Armin - 13
John - 15
Paul - 29
Dale - 49
35+ 3
Matt - 27
45+
Kirk - 15
Dale - DNF
55+

Al - 17
SW35+
Lori -11

And now, Meet Paul Riciputi, the latest HPM interview victim.

Who are you? Your "vitals"?

Originally from rural Maine, I currently reside in Gold Hill, west of and uphill from Boulder, the best combo of near-but-not-in the front range I've found, with no street lights, no pavement, and high speed internet access.

What do you do for a living?

Software and IT management, generally for health care IT.

What do you do on a Bike? (or Skis?)

The last two years my main focus is CX, though I enjoy getting out on the road bike and some mountain biking as well. Try to avoid hitting deer whenever possible.

When did you start racing Bikes? Start Racing Cross? Start Nordic Ski Racing?

After lots of training rides with racers since moving to CO in 2001, I started racing 2 years ago, CX only so far. I've been riding consistently for 10 years or so, and have done competitive endurance sports on and off since high school (track, cross-country, some triathloning, some multi-sport).

Any other "interesting" bike history or stories?

I managed to hit a deer at high speed two miles from home two years ago, descending to Boulder for a race. Not a good idea at for anyone considering it: 8 fractures and a 3-4 month recovery, and a persistently sore lower back. ER staff in Boulder understand though: they asked immediately if my bike was OK when I arrived.

Any Great Racing Results?

Not yet.

What else do you do for fun?

Ski, ski some more (with the useful fat boards, not those strange underfed skinny planks some on the team seem fond of), eat good food, drink good beer and wine, hike with our two goldens, get out backcountry to hike and fish.

Any bike racing goals or dreams to share?

Consistent top 20 later in the season in 35+4, if things pull together physically this year.

Why are you on H.P.M. ?

Dale's consistent supply of post-race beverages when I forget mine, team focus on cross, Kirk and Dale's interest in a team that is serious about cross but not too serious otherwise.

If you hit the Powerball lottery tomorrow, what would you go do?

Buy a second cross bike and two sets of tubulars, plan some good ski and mountaineering trips, spend more time cooking good food for friends, look for small companies that want to make a difference and give them a boost without needing to worry about an income.