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Amy Bradley: Cycling Tribe Interview
By Jarrod Patridge
Q. So Amy, your first ever race in the National Road Series at the Tour of Canberra, how did you go and were you happy with the weekend?
It was scary, and tough, but I had a great time! I was really happy with how I went based on where I finished the first couple of stages, and for where I'm at in my cycling. I've only been at this for a few months, and I was racing against 40 super strong girls, many who've been at this for years, so it was a great learning experience. I had a bit of a mechanical issue on the last climb on the final stage, which meant I dropped off the main pack and finished with the second pack. This dropped me down the GC placings a bit which was dissappointing, but as I'm learning, bike racing can sometimes be as much about luck as anything else!
Q. You represent Team Degani, did you feel any extra pressure riding for them in a high rofile race now that Team Degani Cafe has been launched?
The crew behind Degani are great with their support. Obviously they'd love for me to be winning as it's good for the brand and for myself! But they're in to cycling as well, so they know what's involved and that racing at the National level is a whole other ball game when comparing it to Club racing.
Q. Speaking of the Team Degani Cafe, rumour has it that you work in the cafe as well. This would represent a bit of a sea change for you, how are you finding it?
I'm loving working for Team Degani.. It's a Bike store and Cafe together in one in an absolutely amazing location in the Docklands. I get to go to work every day, talk about bikes, work with people who love cycling, and I get an amazing view whilst doing all of that! I do cross over from the Bike side in to the Cafe side when they need a hand, which can sometimes confuse customers if they've just bought some lights off me and then I'm bringing them their coffees! You're right though that it's a sea change.. I've come from being a Corporate Barbie in a suit and heels every day, so while it's very different for me, it's been a wonderful opportunity and one I'm intent on sticking with for as long as it's available to me.
Q. Does having former pro's like Shane Kelly and loads of other top riders around the cafe help with your riding?
Working with Shane Kelly and John Trevorrow every day is amazing. The stories they tell and the tips they have can keep you captivated for hours if it wasn't for customers needing to be served!
Q. Since your employer is also your sponsor, they must be pretty supportive of your training. Can you take us through your training preparation for a big event such as the Tour of Canberra?
Oh absolutely. Between myself and the other staff we're always making sure we're able to cover all the shop hours, but still have time to train and recover. I've recently started being coached by Stuart McKenzie, who has been amazing over the past 4 weeks. As I've recently just recovered from having Glandular Fever, I'm really just working on slowly building up my endurance and strength. Having come from a Triathlon background, hills aren't really something I've done lots of, so that's a big focus considering many of the NRS Races are hilly! Through Team Degani, we'll also be having Kelly Cycle Coaching and Tri Alliance operating out of where we are based, and they will have Power Testing and V02 Max testing, which I'm hoping to utilise in the coming months to help us be as specific as possible with my training.
Q. It's the start of the Winter road season here in Australia, what are your aims and objectives, and how do you go about setting goals each year?
As this is my first year in cycling, my goal is to race as many races as possible and gain all the experience I can. This season is about learning, so that next season I can know what to expect and will come in to each race with a clear idea of how I can best race each race. Obviously I would love to be up the pointy end of the field straight away, in fact patience not being my strongest qualities, I really DO want to be up the pointy end, but I understand that I need to put in the time, learn the ropes, and then I'll be mixing it up at the front!
Q. And long term, do you hope to go and race overseas or are you happy to stay here tearing girls legs off every weekend?
I would love to start with being able to tear the local girls legs off! We have such a strong female cycling community here in Melbourne that I've a way to go still until I'm in that category, however ultimately going overseas to race professionally is a dream of mine. At the moment I'm working on a trip to Europe this year to see the Tour and do some travelling, so whilst I'm there I'm going to try and do some local racing and get a feel for how things work, and then it will be back to Aus to start working towards Nationals and the 2011 season.
Q. At all the races each weekend we see the guys watching the girls races and so on. Is this to be genuinely supportive, or is there a lot of checking each other out going on?
As a female, whilst we do have lots of strong girls around, many of us find the best hard training rides are with the guys. This means we're all mates and love to be able to support each other at the races. I won't deny though, it's not a bad sport to spectate
Q. Having said that, is there any romances we don't yet know about that you want to lift the lid on?? Go on, you know you want to!
Haha, there's no gossip here sorry!!
Q. And finally, if you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
I hate walking because it's too slow, so it would be awesome to be able to fly!! Wouldn't need to drive anywhere then either!
Amy, thanks for your time and good luck wit the rest of the National Road Series!
Follow Amy during her debut road season via Twitter here [http://twitter.com/aimzbradley] http://twitter.com/aimzbradley
or pop in and see her at the Team Degani Cycling Cafe [http://www.teamdegani.com.au/] http://www.teamdegani.com.au/
Q. So Amy, your first ever race in the National Road Series at the Tour of Canberra, how did you go and were you happy with the weekend?
It was scary, and tough, but I had a great time! I was really happy with how I went based on where I finished the first couple of stages, and for where I'm at in my cycling. I've only been at this for a few months, and I was racing against 40 super strong girls, many who've been at this for years, so it was a great learning experience. I had a bit of a mechanical issue on the last climb on the final stage, which meant I dropped off the main pack and finished with the second pack. This dropped me down the GC placings a bit which was dissappointing, but as I'm learning, bike racing can sometimes be as much about luck as anything else!
Q. You represent Team Degani, did you feel any extra pressure riding for them in a high rofile race now that Team Degani Cafe has been launched?
The crew behind Degani are great with their support. Obviously they'd love for me to be winning as it's good for the brand and for myself! But they're in to cycling as well, so they know what's involved and that racing at the National level is a whole other ball game when comparing it to Club racing.
Q. Speaking of the Team Degani Cafe, rumour has it that you work in the cafe as well. This would represent a bit of a sea change for you, how are you finding it?
I'm loving working for Team Degani.. It's a Bike store and Cafe together in one in an absolutely amazing location in the Docklands. I get to go to work every day, talk about bikes, work with people who love cycling, and I get an amazing view whilst doing all of that! I do cross over from the Bike side in to the Cafe side when they need a hand, which can sometimes confuse customers if they've just bought some lights off me and then I'm bringing them their coffees! You're right though that it's a sea change.. I've come from being a Corporate Barbie in a suit and heels every day, so while it's very different for me, it's been a wonderful opportunity and one I'm intent on sticking with for as long as it's available to me.
Q. Does having former pro's like Shane Kelly and loads of other top riders around the cafe help with your riding?
Working with Shane Kelly and John Trevorrow every day is amazing. The stories they tell and the tips they have can keep you captivated for hours if it wasn't for customers needing to be served!
Q. Since your employer is also your sponsor, they must be pretty supportive of your training. Can you take us through your training preparation for a big event such as the Tour of Canberra?
Oh absolutely. Between myself and the other staff we're always making sure we're able to cover all the shop hours, but still have time to train and recover. I've recently started being coached by Stuart McKenzie, who has been amazing over the past 4 weeks. As I've recently just recovered from having Glandular Fever, I'm really just working on slowly building up my endurance and strength. Having come from a Triathlon background, hills aren't really something I've done lots of, so that's a big focus considering many of the NRS Races are hilly! Through Team Degani, we'll also be having Kelly Cycle Coaching and Tri Alliance operating out of where we are based, and they will have Power Testing and V02 Max testing, which I'm hoping to utilise in the coming months to help us be as specific as possible with my training.
Q. It's the start of the Winter road season here in Australia, what are your aims and objectives, and how do you go about setting goals each year?
As this is my first year in cycling, my goal is to race as many races as possible and gain all the experience I can. This season is about learning, so that next season I can know what to expect and will come in to each race with a clear idea of how I can best race each race. Obviously I would love to be up the pointy end of the field straight away, in fact patience not being my strongest qualities, I really DO want to be up the pointy end, but I understand that I need to put in the time, learn the ropes, and then I'll be mixing it up at the front!
Q. And long term, do you hope to go and race overseas or are you happy to stay here tearing girls legs off every weekend?
I would love to start with being able to tear the local girls legs off! We have such a strong female cycling community here in Melbourne that I've a way to go still until I'm in that category, however ultimately going overseas to race professionally is a dream of mine. At the moment I'm working on a trip to Europe this year to see the Tour and do some travelling, so whilst I'm there I'm going to try and do some local racing and get a feel for how things work, and then it will be back to Aus to start working towards Nationals and the 2011 season.
Q. At all the races each weekend we see the guys watching the girls races and so on. Is this to be genuinely supportive, or is there a lot of checking each other out going on?
As a female, whilst we do have lots of strong girls around, many of us find the best hard training rides are with the guys. This means we're all mates and love to be able to support each other at the races. I won't deny though, it's not a bad sport to spectate
Q. Having said that, is there any romances we don't yet know about that you want to lift the lid on?? Go on, you know you want to!
Haha, there's no gossip here sorry!!
Q. And finally, if you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
I hate walking because it's too slow, so it would be awesome to be able to fly!! Wouldn't need to drive anywhere then either!
Amy, thanks for your time and good luck wit the rest of the National Road Series!
Follow Amy during her debut road season via Twitter here [http://twitter.com/aimzbradley] http://twitter.com/aimzbradley
or pop in and see her at the Team Degani Cycling Cafe [http://www.teamdegani.com.au/] http://www.teamdegani.com.au/
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