Q & A: Oli Smee (Team Onform 2017)

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Oli Smee who races for Team OnForm in 2017 takes the VeloUK question and answer on his highlights from 2016 and goals for 2017

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Q & A: Oli Smee (Team Onform 2017)

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1. What is the best thing about your team?
Oli: I like how closely knit we all are. We have only just met each other but already I can tell there will be a great team environment.

2. What was your highlight of 2016 and why?
Oli: I can’t really pick one. I had a good result to start the year but overall I think I learnt so much in 2016 I can’t pick one moment.

3. What was your favourite/most fun race of 2016
Oli: Probably the East Mids Regional Champs. It was my first proper taste of Elite races and I loved the way they were raced. Watching the riders who are super strong and learning bits from them was an awesome experience and I can’t wait to race more Nationals next year.

4. What was your toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Oli: Probably the East Mids Champs again. It was longer than any other races I’d done so I didn’t know what to expect but I felt like the distance suited me more than the shorter regional races I’d been doing.

5. What is the best piece of equipment (clothing/bike/gadget) to do with racing you are proud of most?
Oli: I have a cool KAPZ Team OnForm top cap which is a cool little thing to stare at on long rides!

6. What is your warm up routine for races- rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
Oli: Depends on the race. A short race I like to use a turbo with music but when its a longer race I prefer the road without music.

7. Whats your favourite discipline on the road and why!
Oli: I have to say climbing as I’m too small for other things! But then again I love the rush of a fast finish when the bunch is lined out going full gas also.

8. Will you be staying in the UK to prepare for the next season during the winter or get in a training camp or two abroad to get in some serious miles?
Oli I think I’m going to Mallorca in February with some team mates and guys from Writtle University college but I plan on doing some big blocks over Christmas back at home in the Peak District.

9. When will you start training for 2017 and what comes first- long steady miles or a mix of miles and efforts?
Oli: I started training again about two weeks ago, steady miles to start until January where I will add some more intensity and hopefully will start racing some small races as training and for points early season.
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10. Do you use a special winter bike with mudguards etc or using a normal race like training bike?
Oli: I’m currently using my race bike from last year but have added some mudguards on it. So excited to receive the 2017 team bike, Bianchi XR4

11. What are the goals for 2017?
Oli: My goals for next season are to develop a wide range of race skills for National level races, to top 10 some National B races, win some Regional A races and to improve my weaknesses that I wrote down at the end of the 2016 season.

12. With the darkness now upon us, are the long rides now only on the weekends and how many hours a week would you do in a typical week?
Oli: I’m not a fan of riding in the dark with a group but I don’t mind riding solo when its dark out. Fortunately at Uni we have good time to train so I’ll distribute long rides over the week. I’m in base period which has a minimum of nine hours (rest week) and maximum of 20 hours in a week.

13. Does winter training consist only of riding the bike or running/swimming/gym work(cross training)
Oli: This year I’ve started going to the gym three times a week which I have found has already made a massive difference to my riding. But I’m also doing a couple of runs a week to help with joint strength so I can lift well in the gym.

14. Finally, what have you learnt to best deal with the winter months on the bike?
Oli: I think riding with your mates is the best way to make the long rides go faster. Especially when you can all have a bit of fun sprinting to signs or racing to the cafe.

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