Ian Burnett Interview

Ian Burnett is a local Durangoan entering his first year as a professional road cyclist for the new team, Bahati Foundation. Ian rode in the Parks and Rec Dirt Lovers Camps as a kid, rode with Miller Middle School, then was involved in the local Durango Cyclery development team as a junior, took part in the USA Cycling development camps up at FLC, coached for Dirt Lovers, raced for Fort Lewis College on the road and cross bike and has now made it to the big show. Ian has grown through Durango’s pre-DEVO youth cycling development offerings and is a good example of what hard work and determination can get you.

Q: First off, what was it like being introduced as a racer for the Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team in Los Angeles the other night? Can you describe the event? A: It’s was amazing! Such a fun night for a great cause in the Bahati Foundation. Before that night the team was so much talk and emails back and forth between management and the night really brought it to reality that I made it, this team is for real and were kick some butt this year. The event was held at club Nokia in dowjn town LA, and the night started out a social hour almost for us just to mingle with every one as they came in. Then we had the presentation that was a mix of digital media and live performances from Crenshaw High school were Rahsaan Bahati went to high school in Compton. There performances were so emotionally driven and power full; they had stepping, dancing and the high school band. During this performance we introduced the team as well as the team kit and the custom Bahati Foundation Super Six Cannondale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL18guBQHsE
http://www.bicycle.net/2010/team-bahati-pro-cycling-launch-with-a-cause

Q: What led up to you getting signed to the team for the 2010 season? A: I had been riding hard all summer and had just closed out the season with a strong performance at Collegiate and Elite track nationals when my amazing coach rick Crawford started telling me that we was working on a great project and team and that he was going to do his best to make sure I was on his team for 2010 and next thing I know I am sending my resume to Rahsaan and getting a call from Raha Sports offering me a pro contract for 2010! It all happened so fast, then all I could do was ride my tale of and get ready for camp.

Q: You did some wind tunnel testing last week in Fort Collins, what was that like? Did you learn anything that blew your mind? A: Ya we went up to the Colorado Premier Training wind tunnel in Fort Collins and did some testing with Pierre Perron of Louis Garneau. They had some amazing new product that they need to test in the wind tunnel and they got some great results for their new product. We also took the weekend to run a mini camp with all of the team members that live in Colorado and Nathan O’Neal and Rahsaan Bahati who were in town for the testing. This was a great opportunity for all of use to ride together in a smaller group of us and get to know each other a bit rather than at camp were we are always busy and have 22 other people to get to know. It was also a blast to take Rahsaan out for a high altitude ride in the cold Rocky Mountains and show him what we ride in every day.

Q: What is your role on the team and what big races are you looking foreword to this season? A: I am a neo pro who is going to be working for all the GC riders in stage races as well as working for our sprinters in all of the NRC races this summer. I am looking forward to all the races this summer with the team but the one that I am looking forward to the most is Iron Horse because it will be my first race for the team and it my home town race! Also we are going to run a fundraiser for the Bahati Foundation on Iron Horse weekend so keep you eye out for details on that. Also I am really looking forward to both US Pro Nationals in Greenville SC and US Pro Crit Nationals in Glencoe, IL because they are the best of the best there and I think that we have a shot at winning both of them if we all ride well and work hard as team.

Q: What was it like racing for Durango Cyclery Junior Team back in the early 2000’s? Do you still ride or race with any of the old teammates? A: The Durango Cyclery team was really the starting place for me. I had been racing MTB for a little while but needed some support to move to the next level in my career and race the mountain states cups and Russell made it all possible! There are a couple people that I still ride with when ever I can including Andrew Wait and fellow Pro Tad Elliot, who both kill me on the MTB bike if I dare to try and ride with them.

Q: What is the best bit of training advice you have gotten from a coach? A: There are two major tips that I have gotten. You get stronger when you are recovering and that you need to keep an inventory of your stress and training. This will make sure that between the two you are not driving your self into the ground. Because if you have to much stress and training you will never recover because you are just using to much energy.

Q: Do you have any tips for the juniors out there looking to make a career of road cycling? A: I think that if you are looking for a career in road cycling you need to try get as much expanse as possible and weather its thru Tuesday night worlds, weekend ride or racing experience is such a huge part of road racing. Its little things like knowing when to stay at the front and having the confidence to do so. I remember going to Tuesday Worlds when I was 15 and 16 and just getting dropped in the first 15 to 30 minutes of a ride week after week just because I did not have the experience and convince to ride near the front and jump on to wheels. I remember think that I would never be able to hang on for a whole ride, but know sitting in for a whole ride is nothing. It’s all about just riding hard and learning from your mistakes.