Ask Mike how he knows that helmets work—but don't ask him about lima beans!

Name:
Mike Hebe

Birthdate:
September 4th 1967. I will be expecting presents, maybe a cake that opens from the top if you get my drift, since I will be 40.

Category:
Elite / Masters men

How long you've been racing / riding:
I started racing Triathlons in 1987 & have been racing ever since.

Why you like to ride in PA:
PA has four great seasons to ride in and the terrain is superb.

Where you grew up:
Central PA

List of your bikes:
Fisher Paragon, I shall call her Proud Mary. As in, big wheels keep on turnin', Proud Mary keep on burnin' rollin', rollin, etc... Being the old guy I dig CCR, Creedence Clearwater Revival, for you young 'uns.

List of your worst crashes:
Wiped out in a rain slicked training sprint last year at 35. Went off the road and hit a rut while still doing 30ish. I landed about 30 feet later on my head. Yes, helmets work. I am sure there will be more as I venture back to the MTB race scene after a ten year hiatus.

Training routines:
I used to be very structured. That took the fun out of riding. I know when I need to go hard, and a PowerTap really helps. I race a great deal, that is where you get fast.

Nutritional beliefs:
Stay away from Lima beans. Other than that, it is pretty much all fuel for the furnace.

Descriptions of best ride(s) ever:
Ha-Ha ride about fifteen years ago was cool. Harrisburg to Harpers Ferry WVA and back. 200 miles in a ten hours for a group of eight of us.

Worst ride ever:
No such thing. Any time outside enjoying yourself is a good thing.

If you were a bike, what would you be?
Steel framed Schwinn lunch bike. Plain, not fancy, plugs along and helps people get things done. A bike where someone looks back years later and says that was a nice, fun bike that I really enjoyed my time with.

Favorite place to ride on road / off road:
I am rediscovering the off-road possibilities. My old off-road faves are now off-limits, Lambs Gap. Swatara State Park is small, but super fun. Michaux is always fun and a test. The back roads of Northern York County are great.

Favorite races:
Most any race that is a challenge, the course is interesting and the people at the event are nice. Any cyclocross race fits that bill for me. A good hard multi-turn crit is always high on my list. 24 hours of Canaan was very fun. MTB is all new again. I am looking forward to adding to my fave races this year.

Worst races / finishes:
Four corner crits are boring, but I appreciate the promoters who put the event on. Worst race ever was in '92. At Superweek I cracked on day thirteen and lasted four miles before I dropped out. That is when I had immense respect for stage racers.

Other info:

• MAC Cross Executive director
• UCI race promoter since 2002
• PA Cycling Assoc. Cyclocross coordinator
• PA BAR Pro 1,2 3rd overall 2005
• PA BAR Pro 1,2 3rd overall 2006
• MAC Masters cross 6th overall 2006
• PA State Cross champs 2nd elite 2006
• Beacon Cross MAC Masters 2nd 2006
• Reston Cross MAC Masters 3rd 2006
• Phillipsburg Cross Masters 1st 2006
• Cargas Crit Pro 1,2 5th 2006
• Wollet Crit Pro 1,2 5th 2006
• PA State Elite Crit Champs 8th 2006