Q&A: Alex Ridehalgh (Spokes Race Team)

More Q&As post Xmas, this time with Alex Ridehalgh of the Scottish Spokes race team

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Q&A: Alex Ridehalgh (Spokes Race Team)

Alex Ridehalgh says the best thing about being part of the Spokes Race team is the support on and off the bike we get and the race program. Here is his Q & A!

1. How did you get into cycle racing
Alex: my grandad and dad both raced when they were younger and introduced me to cycling

2. What’s your favourite discipline in cycling?
Alex: Endurance track and road

3. What is the best thing about bike racing?
Alex: The feeling of winning.

4. What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
Alex: Breaking the team pursuit national record as well as another gold and a bronze in the Devil and Madison after a lengthy spell of time out of racing due to injury. It highlighted all the hard work I’d put in whilst I had a broken hand while being injured.

5. What was your favourite/most fun race of 2016 –
Alex: North West Youth Tour stage 2 – it was tough, warm (I like warm weather a lot) and gave me the chance to see what junior racing was like. I also felt really good and finished 3rd.

6. What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Alex: The School Games road race. It was my first race back after being injured. It was a grim 40 mile race on a windy, exposed motor racing circuit that left almost half the field pulling out. I finished in the bunch.

7. If there was one thing you learned most in 2016 to help you go faster/better, what was that?
Alex: Learning to be focused on particular goals

8. What is the best piece of equipment (clothing/bike/gadget) to do with racing you are proud of most?
Alex: My Wattbike. During my injury I lived on the wattbike and it is arguable the reason why I managed to go so well at the track inters when recovered.

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2016_ShuttVeloRapideAdvert

9. What is your warm up routine for races – rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
Alex: 20 minute world class warm up on the rollers. I’m a big fan of music!

10. Will you stay in the UK to prepare for next season during the winter or get in a training camp or two abroad to get in some serious miles?
Alex: I plan to train in Tenerife before Christmas

11. When will you start training for 2017 and what comes first – long steady miles or a mix of miles and efforts?
Alex: The start of the junior season is very important to me so I am currently mixing it up with efforts and miles

12. What are the goals for 2017?
Alex: National road series (top 10) National track champs in August

13. Does winter training consist only of riding the bike or running/swimming/gym work (cross training)
Alex: Riding the bike as much as possible and gym work when I can fit it in

14. Finally, what have you learnt over the years to best deal with the winter months on a bike!
Alex: Buy the best kit you can and do as much as you can, when you can, weather dependant

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