In the summer of 2004, Matt Goldsmith began to ride his Toys R Us bike around town because it gave him the freedom to buy candy and escape from playing hours of pointless video games. Riding the bike became a habit, and as the summer went on he started using an old road bike that his father had purchased at a garage sale.
Matt loved this retro road bike, downtube shifters and all. Later that summer, he bought a Cat-Eye computer so he could track the distances he rode. The rides grew from twenty to fifty miles. The endurance engine was growing, and when school started he joined the Cross-Country, Winter, and Spring Track teams. In his final track race, Matt won the 800-meter run.
Matt’s first bike race was the North Jersey Cycling Classic that goes up the Highland “wall” lap after lap. Without a USA Cycling license, he did the “Citizen’s” race, 2 laps up that crazy climb. Matt can remember attacking that climb with his father’s 1972 Cinelli while being chased down by an older guy on a high-end carbon fiber road bike. The race came down to the sprint, and Matt lost by less than a foot.
Matt has since purchased a racing license and currently is on the Westwood Velo team. He had a strong 2007 season and is showing massive potential as a sprinter, taking 3rd in the Junior Scratch Race at the New Jersey State Track Championships.
Height: 5’6”
December Weight: 128 lbs.
Race Weight: 124 lbs.
Birthdate, Location: January 6, 1990 – Park Ridge, NJ
Childhood Heroes: “Batman.”
Hobbies and Interests: “Piano, cars, racing on the Lehigh Valley Velodrome.”
Favorite Movies: “Zoolander, Dodgeball, Triplets of Belleville, Rudy, Happy Gilmore.”
Musical Tastes: “Anything but elevator music.”
Favorite TV Shows: “Formula 1 Racing, Seinfeld, Scrubs, Man Versus Wild.”
Favorite Meal: “Everything bagel with lox, white fish salad, tomatoes, onions, and cheese.”
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Honey Bunches of Oats.”
Favorite Pre-Race Meal: “Muesli.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Coffee.”
Childhood Dream: “Time Traveling.”
First Car: “Haven’t gotten one yet!”
First Job: “Sweeping floors, changing tubes and tires at Westwood Cycle.”
Favorite Vacation Spot: “Wildwood Crest, New Jersey.”
Pre-Race Feeling: “Nervous.”
Early Racing Memory: “Coming in 2nd in the Citizen’s race in Park Ridge.”
Funny Racing Memory: “When one member of the Park Ridge G.S. Team started to commentate like Phil Liggett during the criterium we were racing.”
Greatest Racing Moment: “Getting a bronze medal at the New Jersey State Track Championships which was my first and only track race on the Lehigh Valley Velodrome.”
Closest Racing Friends: “My Brother, Evan Cooper, and many others from Westwood Velo and Park Ridge.”
Funniest Racer: “Robbie McEwen.”
Favorite Race: “Paris-Roubaix.”
Embarrassing Racing Memory: “Not knowing where the finishing line was at the Readington Time Trial.”
Toughest Competitors: “Too many to name.”
Favorite Athletes to Watch: “George Hincapie, Tom Boonen, and Robbie McEwen.”
Qualities You Most Admire in People: “People who always have motivation and determination.”
What You Love Most About Riding Your Bicycle: “Sprinting as fast as I can.”
