Quiz Time! Emily Chilton (Saint Piran)

We continue to quiz the riders in the British Women’s peloton, with a Q&A with Hertfordshire’s Emily Chilton of the Saint Piran’s Women’s team who has been racing for just a year

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Quiz Time! Emily Chilton (Saint Piran)

We continue to quiz the riders in the British Women’s peloton, with a Q&A with Hertfordshire’s Emily Chilton of the Saint Piran’s Women’s team who has been racing properly for just a year after having done a few crits before that.  

Q: How did you come to race bikes?
Emily: I was convinced to try a crit race at university where they struggled to get 10 riders in the race. I gave it an attempt but wasn’t really fit enough to do well. Last year (2020) I decided I would give it a proper attempt but only managed two races before Covid hit and they got cancelled. So this year I’ve managed to do my first full season and so glad I did!

Q: How difficult was 2020 with little racing or did it give you time to reset, refresh and focus on 2021?
Emily: It was frustrating as I had decided to really give racing a go so I had to refocus my aims for the following year.

Q: What was the highlight of your racing in 2021?
Emily: I’ve had so many enjoyable moments so it’s hard to pick just one! Probably gaining experience and being able to compete with such strong women.

Q: What race is the one that gave you the biggest buzz?
Emily: This years Tour Series. I was so nervous but also excited for my first national series.

Q: Were there learning moments in 2021 races and if so, what were they?
Emily: So so many…. Mostly enjoy every moment even when it’s not going as you would hope. Gaining experience across a whole range of races has been so valuable.

Q: What’s the furthest you have travelled for a bike race in 2021?
Emily: Scotland (Castle Douglas) for the Tour Series! (About five hours)

Q: During a race, do you find there is a lot of talk between riders?
Emily: I haven’t managed to talk between riders too much in a race as the team may be too far away from each other, but occasionally it has been very useful to coordinate and rehash a plan.

Q: Do you go into a race nervous or intimated by other riders or do you have the confidence to hold you own and race the race confidently in your own style?
Emily: I’m always nervous before a race no matter what the level! But I feel once you’ve started you forget all the nerves you had and just focus on what you are doing.

Q: Do you train more in a given week in winter than what you do in summer when there is a lot of racing and travelling?
Emily: I try to train more in winter but I think in reality it’s probably fairly similar.

Q: Do you train on a training bike or the race bike …
Emily:I have a different bike on my turbo as I do not like faffing about with changing bits over. I have two road bikes that I do switch between in winter and summer

Q: Do you cross train at all?
Emily: I do go to the gym and did complete a triathlon this year so did some run/ swim training for that but not a lot as I just don’t enjoy them as much.

Q: Where is your favourite training ride?
Emily: My favourite place for cycling is Majorca just to ride casually but stick more to Hertfordshire roads for training rides.

Q: What type of race suits you best? 
Emily: Flat races suit me best. I’ve done a lot more crit races so have got better results in these however have really enjoyed the road races.

Q: What are your tips for staying warm on a long winter ride?
Emily: Stay on the turbo! I’m not very good with cold weather just plenty of layers, buff and thick gloves. I have also been known to put tinfoil round my toes (it actually really works).

Q: What are goals for 2022
Emily: My main goals for 2022 are to enjoy racing, do the best I can do, learn from my team members and see if I can gain some better results at national level races.

 

Cycle Division’s Shop

Send your results as well as club, team & event news here

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: