Ten Questions With Larry Nolan

1. You’re the guy responsible for me trying the track! You’re a “reformed triathlete” too. How did you go from tris to bike racing, specifically the track?

I love hearing stories of how I have helped others. Thank you!

I was a runner in high school and college. I took up triathlons in 1984 and in 1988 I won the triathlon "world championships" in Vancouver (Clydesdale division). In 1990 I was clobbered by a triple trailer truck when I was riding around Lake Tahoe. Triples are allowed in Nevada. Doctors advise that I not run again and swimming was never my strength so I focused on cycling. I was enjoying crits, time trials and road races when John and Linda Elgart encouraged me to give the track a go. At 200 pounds it just made sense. I started at the track in 1992 and have been addicted ever since.

2. What sticks out in your mind as your most outstanding race?

On October 20, 2009 I broke the masters 50-54 world record in the 2,000 meters at the UCI World Championships in Sydney. It was especially memorable because I was in Manchester, Engalnd when Ian Hallam set the record in 1999. The 2km is well suited to my physiology which is to say that I don't have a great jump or the endurance for a longer event. This race also had special meaning because I broke my collarbone at Nevada City and had already booked my flight. The collarbone break allowed me to return to base miles and then come into my overload and taper before October. I had focused on Ian's record and did a good amount of 2 minute and 18 second intervals (Ian's old record was 2:18.341 so I was essentially practicing going under his record). Finally, I was the defending champion so I was the last competitor to start. Jim Host from Chicago has been a great competitor in the past few years and he rode immediately before me in the qualifier at World's. He rode a time that was better than what I did in 2008 so I got my final adreneline rush just before I hit the line. Oh, and the Dunc Gray facility is world class as well.

3. Tuesday nights are getting ready to start (March 2nd). Give us a sneak peek of a typical Tuesday night. Points? Scratch? A/B/C?

Firstly, we're going with a USA Cycling permit, which will help riders with their upgrades, rankings, results and insurance. The slight increase in fees (from $10 to $12) will also help our track to grow and develop its officials as it is a requirement that I hire an official for the series. All extra monies will go back to the track, just like in the past. I'm a bit behind in the promotion but the Early Birds sucked up a lot of my time. Tuesday Night Racing will run every Tuesday in March, April, May and September. If another promoter steps up we could have a longer series but I am busy with our Junior Team and Regional Development Camp in June, July and August.

4. You race, you’re a race promoter at the track, you coach a couple of teams, and, you have a wonderful family. How do you fit it all in? And what do you do in your spare time?

Obviously, I love this sport. We all have a role to play in helping others and I enjoy helping. My spare time is spent with my family. As they are an active bunch its not like I'm that odd or anything. ;-)

5. Any advice for someone looking to go from a beginner on the track to maybe getting a little more serious about it?

What's a beginner? When one is promoted at work they are essentially starting over. They need to be humble, listen up and learn. The beauty of our track is that you have a lot of people that are willing to help. You will know that you are getting more serious about this sport when you consider yourself a beginner even though you may have started cycling years ago. You'll ask qeustions about improving your performance and start to see things that you didn't see before, like reading a race.

6. If you had to choose one event on the track to race, what would it be?

Points Racing because it takes a combination of smarts, sprinting, endurance and a bit of gambling and patience 

7. It’s looking like Masters Worlds (aka “Old Man Worlds”) will be in Portugal this fall. Portugal is a really nice place to visit. You’re the Champion of Champions in the M50-54 age group. Are you going back to defend your 2K, points and scratch titles?

I do not plan to race in Portugal. I went to Manchester in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and to Sydney in 2008 and 2009. I plan to go to Masters Track Worlds in 2013 and go for the M55-59 world record.

8. You ride a road frame (Specialized) on the track. Why not one of the Specialized track frames?

At the risk of sounding like a Specialized commercial, the Transition gives me supreme aerodynamics at 30+mph, incredible stiffness in the bottom bracket area which helps to propel me forward and sweet responsiveness. From a practical standpoint I only want to travel with one bike and the Tranisition (with rear dropouts) is the best.

9. Back to Tuesday nights…should someone new to racing come out on a Tuesday night?

Absolutely, after the initial 3 beginner sessions are met we have at least three categories each night. Its low-key fun with a good number of competitors ready to push the pace. The lights make it an ideal workout for those that could not get away during the day.

10. Last question….Who would win a standing start one-lap drag race, you, Daniel, Shelley or one of the sprinters?

Daniel, Shelley and a good number of sprinters could dust me in a one-lap drag race. No doubt. I've won National and World titles in the sprints but I would never say I was a sprinter. I just had to take them all long. Very long!