Left: Scott, right: Axie.
Photo: via Facebook.
Today, Northwestern Cycling team members Axie Navas (Medill ’12), and Scott Rosenfield (Medill ’13), will be in Madison, WI for the USA Cycling Collegiate Nationals race. Adding to the fact that this is the premiere race for collegiate cycling (translation: a really, really big deal) this is also the third time the Northwestern team has qualified in its history. Intel writer Emily Rivest sat down with Scott and Axie to talk Livestrong, Nationals, and what they’re going to eat before the race, after the jump.
How did you get started with cycling?
Axie: I started the summer before my freshman year. I just hopped on a road bike and fell in love. I had done a lot of mountain biking but with road racing, I just love the speed so I decided I wanted to race and joined Northwestern’s team my freshman year.
Scott: I started racing six years ago and got hooked on a local team and eventually found my way onto a big regional team out of Wisconsin and pretty much started racing instantly.
How often do you ride?
A: Six out of seven days of the week but then the riding varies each day. We try to train four out of the five weekdays.
S: I haven’t trained quite as much recently but generally six days a week with Monday off.
How are you expecting to do at Nationals?
A: For me I didn’t do that well last year but I anticipate doing much better this year. Definitely a top 20 finish and hopefully a top ten. I finished third in the conference so I have confidence.
S: I’m not in the best shape this year so I’m going to rely on my instinct and experience. I’d be very happy to finish
What’s the best part of being on Northwestern’s team?
A: Being able to travel every weekend with the team. For being a random group of people, we all get along really well and have a close bond.
S: I’d have to agree it’s the friends you make both at this school and the other schools. It’s amazing the kind of networks you build out of people you see every weekend.
What do you eat for breakfast before a big ride?
A: We usually have a large burrito or scrambler with eggs, rice, avocado all in a tortilla. We have a lot of carbs. You have to start eating carbs two weeks or a week before.
Did you go along with the Livestrong craze?
A: I wasn’t even into biking then but I was into Livestrong. I read the book and I have a bracelet. Lance Armstrong has done a lot to bring cycling to the American conscious.
Do you listen to music while you ride? If so, who tops your playlist?
A: I listen to music when I’m training like Adele “Rolling in the Deep” or Rihanna “S&M” or “Baptize by Fire” by Spinnerette. Basically just those three constantly. Scott can attest to that.
S: Yeah it’s true. I generally listen to more depressing music though when I ride like The Smiths.
What do you think about when you’re riding for seemingly endless amounts of time?
A: Riding is a great escape so I try to think about things I look forward to or upcoming events. It’s a good way to think about problems in your life too.
S: When you’re practicing, your mind just wanders completely but for races you don’t have a moment to spare when it comes to thought. You don’t have time to think about anything but what’s going on in the race.
Besides, the cycling championships, what tops your bucket list at NU?
A: Cycling has a tendency to take over your life, at least it has this quarter I have two more quarters here so I’d like to paint the rock at some point and I’d like to get more involved in the writing community. The team gets really busy so you kind of get isolated from campus when you’re gone every weekend.
S: Focus on my racing rather than team leadership so I’ll be able to enjoy more of what Northwestern has to offer. Like, I’ve missed every Dillo Day because of racing.
Do you have any superstitions when it comes time for a big race?
S: There’s this rider called George Hincapie who helped Lance to all his tour victories but he always finished between sixth and tenth himself. We invented this Hincapie curse. Essentially it manages to strike when you’re not looking. I was in a good position to do well then I put a picture of him on my bike, but something went wrong with my bike and I had to pull out of the race. That superstition has now spread throughout the entire country. I promise it makes some sense to people in the community.
What about your racing gear? Do you wear anything special?
A: We all have the purple Northwestern kits that everyone wears.
S: I also like to dress up at all the races with a group of kids that I race with. I was in a big race in Canada and I finished dead last so our team director yelled at me for being a “wanker.” We brainstormed and it brought us together so I came up with this team called “Team Prowanker” and we have a hot pink and white kit.
