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Dave McIntosh

Profile:

Date of Birth:

July 25, 1970

Family members:

Daughter, Morgan.

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:

Colorado Springs, CO…  Sioux Falls, SD…  Lake Placid, NY.  I like where I’m at now, because this really is home.  I’m most comfortable in the mountains.  I’ve got deep roots here, and though I’ve traveled many other places, Colorado will always be my home.

Favorite Quote:

“Tentative efforts lead to tentative outcomes. Therefore, give yourself fully to your endeavors. Decide to construct your character through excellent actions and determine to pay the price of a worthy goal. The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths. Remain steadfast, and one day you will build something that endures; something worthy of your potential.” — Epictetus

Education

High School:

Thomas B. Doherty High School—Colorado Springs, CO

College/University:

University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD

Favorite subjects/courses:

Physiology, English.

Coaching Background

I decided to pursue training and education as a coach because:

I have always thoroughly enjoyed competing, but beyond that, it’s most enjoyable for me to be able to pass along my knowledge and experience to others in the hope that it will take some of the guess work out of their training and competition.

I decided to join CTS because:

It IS the gold standard where coaching is concerned.  I wanted to be a part of the best coaching company. I am proud to say that I am a CTS coach!!

I like coaching for CTS because:

CTS sets itself apart from other coaching companies with it’s level of professionalism, experience, and what is required to be a CTS coach.

My most rewarding coaching experience:

By far and above has to be the ongoing coaching of my daughter; athletically, socially, spiritually.  Being a dad is the most important and rewarding “job” I’ll ever have.

The best thing about being a coach is:

It’s fun!!!  It’s not like work at all. I’ve always maintained that if I can’t be out riding my bike, sitting around talking about it is the next best thing. I thoroughly enjoy my job every day, and not a lot of people that can honestly say that.

My coaching philosophy is:

EVERYONE should have an opportunity. I tend to gravitate towards the “underdogs”--the guys that are out at the velodrome on a Friday evening sitting by themselves, because that’s how I felt when I started. I wasn’t the most athletically gifted cyclist, and I didn’t exactly catch the eye of the few coaches there were. I don’t want some kid to miss out on realizing his potential because someone didn’t take notice of him. The gifted kids are going to get it done; the ones who aren’t as gifted need a little more guidance and direction.

Coaching accomplishments:

University of Colorado, Boulder track cycling coach, 1999-2005. Led them to three, top five team awards at the US Collegiate Track Cycling Championships.

My coaching goals:

First and foremost, I want to be able to lead by example. I think it’s easy for ANYONE to say something, but can you back it up with your actions? Also, I want those that I work with to realize that the difficult moments experienced in cycling and/or athletics can and should transcend into other areas of their lives. Perhaps they will realize that when they face difficult moments in their lives, they can remember a difficulty they experienced on the bike and find a positive way to deal with that problem.

My proudest moment as a coach:

Anytime my daughter crosses the finish line in any of the cross-country races she runs. It is the essence of the joy of competition--always a smile, regardless of what place she comes in.

My most embarrassing coaching experience:

I accidentally erased the clock as I was taking lap splits for one of my athletes at the National Track Championships.  I didn’t want him to freak out while he was racing, so I continued to call splits.  It wasn’t till way after he was done, and satisfied with his time that I said anything about hitting the wrong button!!

My area of coaching expertise is:

Endurance Track (pursuit, team pursuit, scratch, points, Madison) and Road racing.  I do work with a lot of mountain bike athletes, as well as motocross and enduro riders.

My strongest coaching quality is:

I can usually find a positive in any negative situation.

The best coach I ever had was:

Scott Kieffer- my college cross-country coach.

The best advice I ever got from him/her was:

He always encouraged me to “get out of my comfort zone,” both in and out of competition.

Athletic Career Highlights

When I started cycling and what got me started:

I, like every other kid, played baseball and football growing up.  I gave up on football in 7th grade, when everyone else started getting bigger than me. I thought that a good time to find something else to do. My dad played softball in the park where the velodrome is located in Colorado Springs.  One day I walked up the hill to see what the track was all about, and was instantly hooked. The following year, (1986) the World Championships were in the Springs, and I spent two weeks out at the track watching the best in the world compete.  I’ve been racing for 21 years; the last 11 at the elite level.

Athletic accomplishments:

1996 US Olympic Track Cycling Trials- 5th place- Team Pursuit

1997 US Elite Track Championships- 4th place- Team Pursuit

1998 IPC World Track Championships- 7th- Individual Pursuit

2000, 2002, 2005 Colorado Velodrome Association Masters Rider of the Year.

2002 Colorado Masters Track Champion.

2004 Masters Track Championships-  4th- Individual Pursuit, 5th- Points Race, 2nd- Team Pursuit

2006 Masters Track Championships-  2nd- Team Pursuit, 3rd- Madison (with CTS coach Mark Legg) 7th- Points Race, 10th- Individual Pursuit

21 Colorado State Track Championship wins (Elite and Masters).

What cycling means to me:

Endurance activities in general, and cycling specifically, have provided me with everything that I do professionally. My bike racing has led to my jobs, both as a coach, and massage therapist. I don’t imagine I would’ve been doing either of these things, had it not been for my involvement in cycling.

What I like best about cycling:

Learning to suffer on the bike, and being able to respond to the various critical and immediate situations teaches you to think and adapt quickly. These situations can be used in other avenues of life. Simply going out for a ride when I’ve had difficult times in other areas of life provides perspective, and quiet time to think. Oftentimes, my riding has been my best counseling!

What I would have done differently in my competitive days if I knew what I know now:

I would’ve trained more through college.  I look back through training journals of when I was in school, and can’t believe how many blank days there were. I wasted SO much time when I could’ve been riding. Consistency counts! And now that I WANT to train, of course, I don’t have as much time!

What I would not change:

The trials and tribulations faced along the way, whether it be trying to figure out what a gear roll-out was when I was a junior, or getting dropped in a local criterium—all those difficulties have defined who I am now, and provided me with experience to pass on to others.

My near and far-term athletic goals:

Both near and far term would be to win a National title on the track, regardless of the race!

Activities I do for fun and exercise:

Hiking and running with my daughter.

My favorite race/competition and why:

Two to mention: One is a small, local criterium in Fort Morgan, Colorado. I’ve been riding it since I was a junior, and have fond memories of being out there. The whole town comes out for it, and they have a little fair in their city park while the race is going on. It’s a small town atmosphere and something for the kids to do as well! The other would have to be the National Track Championships, because it’s where the best come to lock horns. The competition is fun, as is the camaraderie before and after.

My best athletic experience:

Far and above has to be my 5th place finish at the 1996 Olympic Trials. From the time I started racing, it had always been my goal to compete at the Trials. I felt like I had arrived when I raced, but then to have a podium finish was the icing on the cake! I was the first one up on the podium, and the last to leave. Trials that year were in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, and there’s always a huge crowd out to watch the races. The lights, the cameras, the crowd, the National Anthem playing….  It was a phenomenal experience!

My worst athletic experience:

Would definitely have to be the first criterium I ever rode.  I did EVERYTHING wrong.  I remember it like it was yesterday- for breakfast, I had waffles with strawberries and whip cream, with a Coke.  We then went to the race, and I tried this new sports drink for the first time in the race, thinking it was the end all, be all of sports nutrition, when all it really did was make me sick afterwards.  I got lapped 3 times by both the junior men’s field, as well as a couple junior women that were in the race.

My most embarrassing athletic experience:

I was racing at the track one particular evening, and both my family, as well as my girlfriend and her family were out to watch. We were coming down to the end of a 10 mile scratch race, and I start my final attack. I take off, and no one goes with me, and I’m thinking, “Sweet, I’ve got this thing locked up!!”  I roll around to the finish line, hands in the air like I’d just won the Tour, only to hear the bell ringing, signifying one lap to go. At this point, I realize my error, but I’m so spent from the previous effort, I get caught and passed by everyone, and end up dead last. It was definitely one of those moments I wish the ground would’ve just opened up, because I would’ve gladly gone down!

My strongest athletic quality is:

Being able to sustain a high pace for a long period of time, much like what is needed in a points race or Madison.

Pet peeves:

Red lights- they make me crazy!!

I get pumped up for competition by:

Listening to music and visualizing the race, and my place in it.

Miscellaneous

When I’m not coaching or training I like to:

Hike with my daughter, or read books with her.  A lot of times we’ll just go to the mall to walk around and people watch.

The person I most admire in the world is:

My mom.  She was (is) always there for me, even when I might’ve acted like an idiot.

I can be characterized as:

Intense.  But I have a much softer edge since I’ve been a parent!

The neatest thing I ever found on a run/ride was:

A Jeep full of girls and a bottle of champagne that was handed to me as I was climbing a hill in the Garden of the Gods during spring break many years ago!!  Sweet!

Something non-sports related that no one would guess about me:

I was on the debate team (for a very short time, mind you) in high school.

If I wasn’t a coach, I would be:

At a loss for anything fun that was work related.

My favorite meal/dessert is:

Rare steak, a good shiraz, and cheesecake!

“Bad” food I just can’t resist:

Chocolate, for sure!  I have an affinity for Pepsi as well.

My favorite music is:

I go back and forth between country and bang-your-head-against-the-wall rock.

My favorite psych-up music is:

Linkin Park, Metallica, Mudvayne, Godsmack.

My favorite book is:

It’s Not about the Bike-  Lance Armstrong.

My favorite website is/websites are:

cyclingnews.com, velonews.com, cnn.com.

My favorite place in the world is:

The Pike National Forest, just west of Colorado Springs.  I grew up camping and riding motorcycles there.  It’s sacred ground.

When traveling, I never leave without:

My laptop.

In my car you’ll find:

CD’s, receipts on the floor, a little dust, a lot of pennies.

The oldest piece of sports equipment I am still using:

Baseball glove from high school (occasionally).

In 2020, I plan to be:

pretty freakin old!!

The best small bit of advice I can give is:

do everything you can do today, and be satisfied with your accomplishments at the end of it.  Let the people around you know how much you love them.

If I could meet anyone in the world, it would be:

My great grandfather.  He was a shot-boss in a coal mine in Southern Colorado, and died in the mine before I was born.  I’d like to hear some of his stories.

Where I would most like to go and what I would most like to do on a dream vacation:

Anywhere in the Caribbean; simply walking on the beach with my girlfriend and our daughters.

Pure relaxation is:

Sitting on the couch with my girlfriend watching movies on a snowy day.

You would never mistake me for:

Someone who didn’t genuinely care.

Hobbies and interests:

Watching movies--HBO and TiVo are my best friends!

Favorite movies:

I really did like American Flyers, the cycling movie from the 1980s, because I’ve raced on all of the roads that are in the movie.  I also like any 1980’s John Hughes movies: Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc.