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Talkin’ with Tilly: a conversation with Steve Tilford

Published: Dec. 15, 2006
Aging gracefully: Tilford with his older buddy
Aging gracefully: Tilford with his older buddy
Photo: Fred Dreier

At 47, Steve Tilford is quickly approaching the “ageless wonder” category reserved for cycling’s best-known graying hero, his former Specialized teammate Ned Overend. It was no surprise to see Tilford wallop the men 45-49 age-group category to claim yet another national ’cross championship in Providence, Rhode Island on December 17, shortly after Overend took the jersey in the men 50-54 group.

We caught up with Tilford as he was watching Overend lead the amateur race. When posed with the tough question (so who would win in a ’cross race between you and deadly Nedly?), Tilford — the pride of Topeka — was quick to reply.

“Are you kidding, are you watching Ned out there? It is not a thing of beauty!” Tilford joked, pointing at Overend. “I mean, the guy has a tremendous amount of power, but every single aspect of the sport I could beat him, except on pavement and then I’d just ride behind him.”

After his race, Overend agreed. But unfortunately, the 2006 cyclo-cross national championships won’t feature a battle between the two aging giants. While Tilford will tackle the elite men’s race on Saturday, Overend is heading home.

VeloNews: So what’s your racing schedule for this weekend?

Steve Tilford: Well, I’m doing the same as last year. The masters race today, the elite race tomorrow and the elite race on Sunday. Last year I won the masters, made it up to 8th in the elite race and then ate it at the end and got 12th. I got 10th the last day. Cyclo-cross stage racing really doesn’t work.

Last year the conditions were so much more epic, and I’ve been here for two hours already, you stand around so much the whole weekend you’re like, wow, I should probably go back to the hotel and sit down. You look at last year’s conditions compared to this — it’s a full on road race compared to last year, which was a real technicians’ course.

VN: There are almost 2000 race starts at this year’s nationals. What can you say about the growth of ‘cross?

ST: Man, I don’t know. It’s a new bike fad, it’s a cult thing. When I first won nationals in 1983 I lapped everybody except for Roy Knickman who got second on an eight-minute lap. The guy in third was like eight minutes behind me. I kinda quit racing ’cross there for 10 years because, I mean, how do you stay fit until December? But now if you stay fit until December you can start racing again in February so you don’t take as much time off.

I’ve found that as you age you gotta worry about dropping off that precipice, you know? I’m not losing fitness because I’m never going to get it back again! I mean everything is better now. The equipment is better and the clothing is better. I mean, I was on the bike when it was 12 degrees in Topeka last week. I went out to that Coors Classic/Red Zinger DVD thing last week [in Boulder, Colorado] and was like ‘how archaic is that?’ I mean we all look like hell. We’re all hunched over. It looks like we’re racing bikes in the 1940’s. I mean it’s been 20 plus years since that and the sport has evolved. Cyclo-cross sure has evolved.

VN: How do you compare yourself to the Steve Tilford of the 1980’s?

ST: I’m riding way faster now than when I was winning nationals in the ‘80s! I’ve been asked that a lot in the last three years, and to be honest I think it’s a lack of brain cells. It used to be when I was in pain, like physically in pain, I was just done. And now when I’m done it’s not as painful as it was and I don’t know why! And, I’m like painful is good!

When you’re winning a race it’s not painful because you’re riding good. When you’re in pain it’s usually because you’re riding bad. And I think this weekend is going to be a little painful for me!