Mihael gazes adoringly at Dan’s sausage

Name: Mihael Ginghina
Category: 3
Race Age: 46
Current team: CRCA/Houlihan Lockey
Day Job: Computer Support

How you got into cycling: I grew up on the Upper West Side and would ride my Huffy to the Manhattan parks, public pools, video arcades, wherever. For my 16th birthday I got a Ross mountain bike. Mountain bikes were not a thing yet. It’s closer to what we now call hybrid bikes. I would ride that beast all over the 5 boroughs and beyond. I also discovered that delivering packages via bike pays really well.

How you got into racing: My childhood friend Chung Chiang started a cycling club at Stuyvesant high school. There were a few high school races in Prospect Park in 1987. Although I went to Queens Vocational high school, I raced for Stuyvesant. I rode with those guys as no one at my school rode. I also joined CRCA later that year. At the time you did not need a USCF license. Lou Maltese did not run a tight ship.

Favorite local course and why: Fort Lee, NJ and the White Plains Crit. When fit, I like a technical crit with a small climb. Under ideal conditions, the faster guys get dropped, the break gets caught, and I win. I also like all local crits as they are so festive. I enjoy watching other categories, chatting with friends and racers. If I’m persuasive enough, every couple of years my wife and kids come and cheer.

Greatest achievement racing: My first year as a cat 3 (1993) I won a P-3 race in Central Park, called The Spring Classic (or something like that) beating a few Mengoni riders and the rest. I enjoyed being a cat 4 for many years and was intimidated by the upper categories. After that win I realized I would be just fine in local races. I stayed a cat 4 longer than most as prize money was good in the late 80’s and 90’s. As racing took so much time and would not allow me to work as much as I needed, I relied on the prize money. I did not need much. Results were rarely published, and as I traveled a lot and raced half the year in the south east, no one seemed to notice or care.

Worst memory of a race: I had a bad crash my senior year in college at some race in Maryland I drove 5 hours one way to do. 50 or so meters from the line I locked handle bars with someone and hit the rough pavement hard. I trashed my wheels and was covered in road rash with a couple of deep cuts.

Goals/Aspirations: I would like to get in the yellow or green jersey again in the FBF Tuesday series (cat 3 /4), win a couple of local masters or cat 3 races. My real goal is to be consistent in riding, keeping my race fitness and staying thin. If I can manage that, results will follow.

What’s the most fun thing you missed out on in order to do a bike race:  Nothing. Since high school, racing has been first on my fun stuff list. Some people talk about the sacrifices in diet, training, and recovery. As far back as I can remember I would burn the candle on both ends. Party like there is no tomorrow and still race the next day. I would wish I did an interval that week, or goto bed early, lay off the sweets, but would repeat the pattern every time. I love riding my bike, and even more racing.  However, I have no discipline when it comes to training. As one dimensional as my passion for racing is, I somehow convinced a woman to marry me and start a family. Priorities changed a bit, but I’m happiest after a good ride. Fortunately there are plenty of local races to take care of my fix.