Dan Schmatz is a professional cyclist who has the dubious distinction of having a name that is one consonant away from my own. People (mostly ones that aren’t too bright) have confused the two of us before because our names are so close. It’s happened enough that I’ve just got tired of explaining and started taking credit for some of his results, so it’s time to come clean and let Dan know the whole story.

Dan Schmatz = pro bike racer who wins sprints and has some big wins to his credit – including the Athens Twilight Crit.

Dan Schmalz = cat 3 bike racing hack who has won a grand total of two minor races, and now scores as often as the blue whale.

Here is the transcript of our email interview.

SCHMALZ: Since our names are so close in spelling, has anyone been confused and commented on your mighty 5th place finish at the Floyd Bennett Field Tuesday Night race?

SCHMATZ: Well, Just the other day I received a call from… Actually. No, sorry I haven’t.

SCHMALZ: How did kids make fun of your last name in school? Mostly kids called me sh-itz.

SCHMATZ: Motts, like the applesauce.

SCHMALZ: You, like Robbie McEwen, started in BMX (which makes me very jealous), how much do those bike handling skills and training transfer over to road sprinting? And, what do you think of Robbie naming his kid “Ewen”?

SCHMATZ: For me anything on two wheels is fun but I think what is most helpful for the road for guys with BMX, MTB, or moto experience is that they tend to panic less when things get a little hectic.

It’s a good name but not with that last name….. I would’ve thought Henk (his son’s name is Jet) would have straightened him out on that one.

SCHMALZ: How was the transition from BMX/Moto to road racing for you? Did you get dropped at first or are you one of those naturally talented bastards who won races right away?

SCHMATZ: My ex-wife talked me into doing a Cat 4 road race that was in Colorado and I won, I raced the next day, then the next weekend, then almost every weekend after that till now…. I still don’t climb well though. Each season I get stronger all around but I am still a category behind when going uphill (I climb like a good cat 2 now.)

SCHMALZ: Don’t try to sugarcoat it by saying you can’t climb, you were always a strong bastard, weren’t you?

SCHMATZ: Yes, I have always been strong. But in 2000 I weighed 215 at my highest, now I am 160lbs…..

SCHMALZ: Are you jealous of anyone else’s BMX skills in the US racing scene?

SCHMATZ: Not really jealous of anyone but the some of the guys I respect when it comes to handling are Gord, Hendy, Mcook, and AC (Alex Candelario) can ride his sidewalls around corners better then anyone.

SCHMALZ: Follow up question: Can you do a “table-top?”

SCHMATZ: Yes, in fact I did a couple during the North Boulder Park Criterium this summer in Boulder. There was a big hump in turn two which made for a perfect launching pad

SCHMALZ: Are you pulling my leg? Don’t tell me you’re pulling my leg, because launching a table top in a crit is just plain awesome, I wonder if there’s any ruling against that in the USA cycling rules?

SCHMATZ: I’m not sure if there are rules against it.

SCHMALZ: Are you in the power meter/wattage cult — if so what’s your max wattage?

SCHMATZ: Not really in the cult but I do use one. I have seen pretty high numbers in training but haven’t used a meter when racing.

SCHMALZ: You’re from St. Louis. Did you grow up there and do you do that thing

where if you meet someone else from St. Louis the first thing you do is ask where they went to high school?

SCHMATZ: I grew up in Maryland Heights Mo. then we moved to Ballwin. After a while I moved to University City (Where Nelly grew up) That is the area of STL you want to be. If your there be sure to check out Iron Age tattoo Studio and Big Shark Bicycle Company. When I meet someone else from STL I usually ask them to prove it which at that point they always ask where I went to High School (Parkway West).

SCHMALZ: I’ve been to East St. Louis to party (long story). At the time it felt like the most illegal place on Earth to me. What point of the night is the “migration time” for people to take advantage of the later last call time in Illinois? And what’s the story with East STL?

SCHMATZ: The Downtown bars in St. Louis close at 3am so if you need to stay out after that you go to East St. Louis. If you go over there you are probably going to dance or watch women dance.

SCHMALZ: I have a friend from St, Louis and he’s very proud of getting in a fight with Auggie Busch in high school (it’s sad – I know). Any run-ins with the Buschs?

SCHMATZ: I used to give them lots of money, sort of indirectly through the liquor stores.

SCHMALZ: You race for Sierra Nevada, how much of your contract is paid in beer?

And is racing for another beer company a conflict of interest for you being from St. Louis?

SCHMATZ: I don’t drink beer anymore; I haven’t in about 10 years so its no worries for me.

SCHMALZ: You won the Athens Twilight race in 2003, I’ve always wanted to check

that race out, and it seems like a good party. How do you approach a night or twilight race differently?

SCHMATZ: Athens Twilight is definitely one of the best races in the country and always near the top of my list. As far as prep goes it’s the same as always but you have to slide the time table back since we normally race in the afternoon and most the night time crits start at 9 or so.

SCHMALZ: So, on a different note, what are your goal races for 2006? Do you have

them picked out already?

SCHMATZ: As of right now I haven’t signed for 2006. Once I know which team I will be with I will outline the season and races I plan to do well in.

SCHMALZ: Any leads on a team for 2006?

SCHMATZ: Yeah, I haven’t decided where just yet but I will be racing full time again in 2006.

SCHMALZ: Do you have a “day job” other than cycling?

SCHMATZ: Nope, I make a living racing my bicycle.

SCHMALZ: It seems that even at my knuckle-headed cat three level of racing there are vendettas stemming from past incidents. Do pros hang onto things like that? At the end of the season do you get tired of racing with the same group of guys all year?

SCHMATZ: I think most people would be surprised how well we all get along. There are always some guys that don’t get along with ANYONE but for the most part we are all friends. Like other pro sports you never know who your teammates will be next year so making enemies doesn’t help you much.

SCHMALZ: It’ s good to hear you mostly all get along, care to volunteer any names of the people no one gets along with?

SCHMATZ: Hmm, If I wasn’t going to be racing anymore I would drop some names but I think I better plead the 5th for now.

SCHMALZ: Have you ever raced in NYC? If so, did you ever do the Harlem race?

SCHMATZ: The only race I have done in the City was the NYC Championships. In 2002 & 2003 with 7up and in 2004 with Health Net. They didn’t have the race in 2005 but I really hope to see it come back. I do remember my friend and former teammate Kevin Monohan talking about a race in Harlem, something about locking your car in a big cage but I don’t know any details.

SCHMALZ: Tell Monohan he’s a fraidy-cat! No, seriously, Harlem is a race that goes back to 1973, and it’s an underground legend. The Hincapies always went and Nelson Vails was discovered there. It’s held on a widowmaker of an urban circuit asphalt-wise, but you should check it out anyway. (Can you tell I am working on the promotion for the Harlem race?) The NYC champs are on life support right now, the prognosis isn’t good.

SCHMATZ: When is it? If there isn’t a schedule conflict I will be there!

SCHMALZ: The Harlem race is always on Father’s Day, come on out. Get Mono to put you up at his house.

SCHMALZ: Do sprinters really get all the ladies or is that an urban myth?

SCHMATZ: I don’t know if we get “all” the ladies but I have one.

SCHMALZ: Legs – shaved or waxed?

SCHMATZ: Shaved

SCHMALZ: People never say waxed…

SCHMATZ: Come on, who waxes?