Thank you for joining us.  We’re honored to have Ron Byrnes with us, the 39^th place finisher in today’s 25^th RAMROD.  Question one.

Phil Legget, Versus:  Ron, impressive performance given your underwhelming preparation.  Any truth to the rumor you were ridin’ dirty? 

Ron:  Thanks Phil, I think, for the compliment.  It’s true, I did not shower before the ride, but I did shower Wednesday morning, so no I was not ridin’ dirty.

Follow up:  Do you foresee a day when Le Tour will adopt RAMROD’s approach of having a start window of two hours?  I hate to be a wet towel, but you started early in the window, at 5:10-5:15, thus assuring you a higher place than those who started at 5:45, 6 or even 7.

Ron:  Yes, I expect Le Tour to take a long, hard look at RAMROD’s approach which penalizes those who sleep in, spend too much time at the breakfast buffet or in front of the mirror. 

Dan Patrick, Sports Illustrated: What was it like riding without your team?  Did you miss T and D out there?

Ron:  Definitely, although D blew by me in a group early on and I latched on.  He took a nature break at 33, but the coach was in my ear telling me to continue to roll.  His exact words were, “This is your only chance to ride in front of D the rest of the day.”  D and I pulled into the 55 mile rest stop about the same time.  That’s when the real work began and I didn’t see him again until the finish.  I’m proud of his 9th place finish despite riding large sections all by himself.  T is another story altogether.  He got a better offer, to ride with the President in Peloton One.  I can’t blame him.  Ron, President, Ron, President?

Follow up:  But President Bush?  Come on.

Ron:  Dan, you ride with the President you have, not the President you wish you had.

David Gaffen, Wall Street Journal:  Any validity to the RAMROD effect?

Ron:  Yeah, it’s true, on the last Thursday of July, as we go up, the market goes down.  Expensive ride.      

Bob Roll, Versus:  Funniest moment of the day?

Ron:  I was climbing Paradise with Fred from Bend when we came upon CAMROD (Croquet Around Mount Rainier in One Day), the notorious croquet player who sets wickets on the mountain and plays on the shoulder.  I said, “Hey CAMROD, go get em’.”  To which he replied, “You go get em’, pause, searching for perfect nickname, Sparky!”  Love it.  I’ve had a lot of nicknames, Rhode Island Red, HD (Heavy Duty), Rook (Rookie), but Sparky conjurs up youthfulness, fire, and dogs, or maybe doggedness.  So I’ve got that going for me.

Follow up:  Dumb thing of the day?  

Ron:  Looking right at the turn signals on the street at mile 13, the ones that pointed hard left, then watching 10 or so other riders continue straight, and deciding to follow them until we all realized we were riding away from Mount Rainer.  Of course, D only rode 149, I rode 152.  So I’ve got that going for me.

Christina Amanpour, CNN:  If world leaders wore more lycra would they feel sexier?  And if they felt sexier would they be more prone to promote love?

Ron:  Yes.

Paul Sherwin, Versus:  What were the keys to not completely sucking it up out there today? 

Ron:  Three things.  First, my RAMROD training program.  Paul:  You mean last Thursdays long solo effort?  Yes.  Second, the unusually cool temps, mid to high 40’s all through the morning and never much more than 60 all day.  And third, resolving to never push so hard I’d hear Phil shout, “Byrnes is in trouble, the elastic has snapped.”