Cycle racing Archives -

Meet the tenacious aussie pro cyclist sarah roy

July 25, 2019 Nicola Children riding, Cycle racing, Professional cycling, Women cycling, women in sport

For those who follow this blog you’ll know that I really enjoy interviewing female Australian pro cyclists, and this time it’s my absolute pleasure to profile Aussie pro, Sarah Roy. Sarah’s busy schedule and the time difference between Europe and Australia where Sarah is based, meant that the interview took place via email rather than face-to-face or over the phone. Although I was lucky enough to speak with Sarah face-to-face at this year’s Tour Down Under. Q: I’ve read that you were rejected many times from the AIS. What kept you going back until you succeeded? A: I’ve always been quite

I’m very disappointed with ASO’s La Course by Le Tour De France

June 27, 2019 Nicola Cycle racing, Professional cycling, Women cycling

I’m very disappointed with the Tour de France organisers ASO for their lacklustre efforts with the women’s race La Course by Le Tour de France. The race was established five years ago by ASO and was applauded by the women’s pro peloton and cycling fans as a great step forward for women’s cycling, but in those five years, they seem to have been going backwards with the race. I emphasise that I write this post as a cycling fan rather than an expert on women’s pro cycling, but I’m assuming that the female pro riders as equally disappointed. And while

FEMALE ROADIES – YOU SHOULD TRY CYCLOCROSS IN AUSTRALIA

February 5, 2019 Nicola Cycle racing, Cycling Club, Cycling Club racing, Cyclocross, Mountain bike riding, Women cycling

The sport of Cyclocross in Australia is relatively new to the local cycling scene. I first wrote about it in 2014 and have my interest reinvigorated by my friend Niki (who I met on a cycling tour in Japan last year) because she’s very enthusiastic about cyclocross and its potential to grow in Sydney and Australia. So what is cyclocross, I hear you ask. Some describe it as a combination of mountain biking, road cycling and criterium racing into one challenging event. Most races last for 30 minutes to an hour on a closed, twisty circuit of 2.5 to 3.5

The final word on the women’s tour down under – an interview with race director Kimberley Conte

January 30, 2019 Nicola Cycle racing, Cycling Club, Professional cycling, Women cycling

If you’ve read my last few blog posts you’ll know how enthusiastically I embraced the Women’s Tour Down Under earlier this month and you’ll also know that I’ve been trying to catch up with the Race Director Kimberley Conte. The good news is that I spoke with her late last week and got some insights into the future of the race and the exciting plans ahead. By speaking with Kimberley I could tell how passionate she is about the race and women’s cycle racing in general. She revealed that lots and lots of planning went into the race. She and

Chloe hosking gearing up for the spring classics

January 23, 2019 Nicola Cycle racing, Professional cycling, Women cycling

When I was in Adelaide for the Women’s Tour Down Under, I was lucky enough to catch-up one-on-one with Australian female pro cyclist Chloe Hosking. I’ve written about Chloe before and have followed her career with interest, so it was really great to sit down with her for a chat after Stage 2 of the Women’s Tour Down Under. Chloe had a great start last year – the best in her career, but after winning Stage 4 of the Women’s TDU, the Cadel Evans road race and then the coveted Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Games. After those three great

What a race! – Women Who Cycle follows the Women’s Tour Down Under

January 16, 2019 Nicola Cycle racing, Professional cycling, Women cycling

Wow, what a fantastic women’s road cycling race the Women’s Tour Down Under was in Adelaide last week. Women Who Cycle was lucky enough to attend all four stages of the Women’s Tour Down Under race last week in the towns surrounding the South Australian city of Adelaide. I’ve not attended the Tour Down Under for four years and during that time the Women’s version of the race has grown from strength to strength. And while many of my riding mates chose to arrive after the women’s race just in time to see the men’s more high profile race, I

Calling all road cycling women – You need some 2019 cycling New Year’s resolutions

January 1, 2019 Nicola Bike maintenance, Cycle racing, Cycling Club racing, New Year's resolutions, Women cycling

Happy New Year everyone – 2019 is going to be a great year, and to help you kick it off here’s my favourite ideas for your 2019 cycling New Year’s resolutions: Ride new places I’m very guilty of riding the same routes all the time – you know, the ones within my comfort zone. We all need to try new places on a regular basis. It keeps your mind active and you get to see new scenery and locations as a bonus. It even works when you are away on holidays, and is a great way to see a new

Get out of your comfort zone using your magic bicycle

July 24, 2018 Nicola Cycle racing, Cycling Club, Cycling Club racing, Women cycling

I believe you should regularly get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. I’m not always great at practising what I preach, but I’m happy to report that I completed my first road cycling team time trial over the weekend. For a lot of riders that would have been well within their comfort zone but for me it was a stretch. Not a huge one, but still a stretch. Apparently there’s some science behind the concept. The ‘comfort zone’ is described as the behavioural space where your activities and behaviours fit a routine and pattern that minimises stress and

Watch La Course by Le Tour on television but don’t enjoy it too much

July 17, 2018 Nicola Cycle groups, Cycle racing, Professional cycling, Women cycling

Tonight I get to watch La Course by Le Tour on television in my living room in Australia which I’m going to enjoy but it’s a race not without its controversy. I’ve been reading a bit of media commentary over the past few days about the really lame effort the Tour de France organisers ASO have made with this event. Even the website is lame. It’s out of date (doesn’t even list the 2017 winner) and it has very little information. I really enjoy former pro rider Kathryn Bertine’s spirited commentary on the subject and I’ll let you enjoy that coverage

Is the 2018 Giro Rosa really the biggest women’s bike race of the year?

July 3, 2018 Nicola Cycle racing, Professional cycling, Women cycling

Every year at this time I write about the Women’s ‘biggest’ stage race of the year – the 2018 Giro Rosa, a race that is starting at the end of this week. This year I’m going to take a slightly different approach because I think the Giro Rosa, while it’s the women’s race with the most stages, it’s been pipped as the ‘biggest’ by some other events that are getting more attention like the Women’s Tour of Britain. The Women’s Tour of Britain which took place last month for the fifth time is getting more attention because its organisers are