Rotorua Association of Triathletes and Multisport

RAT IN A TRAP

We’re playing ’20 questions’ with our members…!

1. Name? Garth Weinberg.
2. Age Group? 35-40.
3. Profession? Process Engineer at Scion (formerly F.F.I). Occasionally bugging Dr Kat.
4. Favourite Cheese? Double cream Brie or Blue Costello.
5. Why do you do Triathlon/Multisport? I like to see how I rate against other athletes and enjoy proving singlespeed can be as fast as expensive geared bikes.
6. What is your most favourite event? I’ve done the Karapoti 11 times, so what would be it. I also enjoy other events that are a little ‘different’, like me?
7. What bike (bikes) do you ride and what would you REALLY like to ride? My most often ridden bike is my singlespeed Niner mtb. I use that for every mtb race that I can find. Second fav would be my Raleigh 20, it is singlespeed also, and can be ridden in road or offroad modes. I do actually have a good geared mtb, but it’s been mothballed and that hasn’t been ridden since 2004. Oh, I have a Giant Cadex road bike from the early 90’s, but I only ride that once a year in races that really count for the club, like the interclub duathlon champs. But that’s another story though.
   I don’t really have a dream bike. I just love riding what I have.
8. Out of the different disciplines, which is your most favourite and which one is the least favourite? I would have to say the bike leg is my fav. Swimming is my worst, especially since I damaged my shoulder in a mtb crash in 2007. This causes it to make horrible grinding noises and stops me from swimming. Stink. I actually enjoy the running too, especially offroad events.
9. Are you coached or do you make up your own regime of punishment? I dream up my own suffering. This usually involves getting as much out of whatever time I have available around work and family commitments.
10. Who is an athlete you admire? Steve Prefontaine. An awesome runner who tragically died in 1975 aged 24. At one stage he held 7 American track records. He always went into each race wanting to put a show on for the spectators.
    One of my favourite quotes: “Someone may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it”.
11. Training, work, family – how do you fit it all in? Normally I will run or ride during my lunch break at work. It also helps when you have a top secret time-machine in your office that can enable you to get a 2.5 hour ride into a “1 hour” lunch break. Technology is amazing.
    An understanding wife and teamwork allow a long ride or race in the weekend and the odd night race during the week.
    Trying to fit anything in after I get home from work is a write-off. Once I get home it’s all hands on deck restraining the kids and general family life.
12. How long have you been a RAT and what do you like about the club? I actually started life out as a Gerbil but soon realised that life as a Rat was far more rewarding. I think I joined the club in 1989 and was attracted by the great atmosphere and variety of activities that the club shared and promoted. If it wasn’t for RATS I would still just be riding skinny tyred bikes on the road.
13. On a sunny day, what do you prefer – MTB or road bike? MTB baby!
14. How many ACC claims due to sport injuries? Jeepers, I dread to think. I’ve participated in several codes over the years so I would have to estimate it to be about 40.
15. Most favourite riding loop (MTB or Road)? Starting from my work I like to go into the forest. That’s about it. It’s all good.
16. Most favourite run loop? A bit of a mix of gravel and single track. From work, up Nursery rd, b rude not 2, Hill rd, Chinese menu, down Recovery, up Cardiac steps, Katore rd and then back down Nursery rd to work. It’s a good workout. I’m not sure how far it is but it takes 57 minutes.
17. What would you do with all your spare time and money if you wouldn’t train and race and spend all of your and your wife/husband/partner/families money on sports gear you really badly need? Sounds like it would have to be in a coma or something.
18. What event would you really like to do one day? Coast to coast or Ironman have always been one of those goals for me that would be a challenge and be achievable with application.
19. Do you think swimming should be turned into an optional discipline in triathlon? No, then it wouldn’t be a triathlon would it? I think having these 3 disciplines is a good balance of finding an athletes ability. What a stoopid question. Did you write this Kat? And while we’re on the subject, I think that triathlons should be non-drafting.
20. Any suggestions for the club?