Off to Italy to race in 2016, Junior RR Champion Abby Mae Parkinson answers the VeloUK questions
Feature – Abby Mae Parkinson Q & A
Abby-Mae in her favourite Xmas present – the shoes!
1. When will you start your road season and what will be the first race?
Abby-Mae: No idea yet but hopefully sometime mid March.
2. What races will be your targets for 2016 and why?
Abby-Mae: I don’t know my race program will be yet. I am driving down to Italy the beginning of February and then I will be given my race programme and targets etc.
3. How will you spend the time on the bike between now and your first race in training? Long miles or cutting back to do top end efforts?
Abby-Mae: My winter programme was forced to start a bit later so I’m still doing long miles but my training seems to be going well. I am currently in Gran Canaria with Grace (Garner) for almost three weeks. I have a training plan from Jon at TrainSharp which I am looking forward to getting stuck into. I’m training with Power Cranks for the first time which is pretty cool!
Junior RR Champion 2015
4. What was your favourite Xmas present?
Abby-Mae: A beautiful pair of Gianvito Rossi shoes! I’m definitely a shoe and bag girl, it’s quite an addictive weakness of mine.
5. When it rains, which its doing a lot right now, is it turbo time or wrap up and get wet?
Abby-Mae: Get on a plane and go somewhere warm…does that count! Would rather get wet than do turbo really. Staying dry I think that’s impossible so just ride quicker to try keep warm!
6. If you could do any race in the world including the best ones in the world etc, what would it be and why?
Abby-Mae: Tough question because I don’t really know what I am best at yet (in the Elite races) but I would love to do some of the Belgium Classics as they are such tough grippy races! In a dream world, I would have to aim high and say a full blown Woman’s Tour de France. That would be ace. Run before the arrival men’s race on a shortened version of the same course to experience all the crowds!
Abby Mae (left) and National Series winner Nikki Juniper off the front of the Rydale Women’s GPÂ on one of the country’s toughest courses 2015.
7. What piece of food can you not do without where ever you are on the road during the season!
Abby-Mae: Oh God!!! I love food… Cheesecake (my favourite), chocolate, granola, most Italian food (luckily I’ll get to experience lots of that), Chicken Caesar salad, fish, Italian coffee is a must on any training ride really. I’m not fussy, I like most food!
8. What is your favourite music track when warming up for a race or on the turbo?
Abby-Mae: I’m currently into listening to old school 80’s RnB just because it’s chilled but upbeat and puts you in a good mood although it makes me want to dance ha ha!
9. If given the option, would you prefer normal brakes or disc brakes on your road bike?
Abby-Mae: I’ve only raced disc brakes on my cyclocross bike which are a must in my opinion. Not sure about road bikes though…they just don’t look right!
10. What’s the spec of your race bike for 2016 and your favourite bits on it? (include a pic or two if you have them!)
Abby-Mae: We are riding a team branded ‘Footon’ bike, I’ve only seen a quick snap of the bike but they look good. I will know more in Feb.
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Sponsor Feature: Food at CHS Ciclismo (Spain)
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- CX Result: Scottish Cyclocross Series 2
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #3
- HC Result: Sid Valley CC Hill Climb
- TT Result: Chelmer CC GP Des Gentlemen
- HC Result: BEC CC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Welsh Cyclo-Cross League Rd 3
- CX Result: North West Cyclocross League 4
- HC Result: Scottish Hill Climb Championships 2024
- CX Result: SWCX 3 (Devon)
- HC Result: Lancashire Road Club Hill Climb
- CX Result: Lincolnshire Cyclo Cross League 3
- CX Result: Central CycloCross League 5
- CX Result: Houghton Cycling Club Hill Climb
- HC Result: Bolsover And District CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Catford CC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Western CX Round 4 (Upton Cheyney)
- CX Result: CXNE League 2024 Rd 4
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo Cross League Rd 2
- HC Result: Severn RC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclocross League Round 5
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Round 5 (Southampton)
- HC Result: Tickhill Velo Club Hill Climb
- CX Result: Yorkshire Points CX League 2
- HC Result: East Sussex CA Hill Climb
- HC Result: Huddersfield Star Whs Hill Climb
- HC Result: Beachy Head Cycling Club Hill Climb
- HC Result: Rutland CC Hill Climb (Mam Nick)
- CX Result: Central CX League 4
- CX Result: South West CX League 2
- HC Result: Drighlington Bicycle Club Hill Climb
- Sponsored Feature: Renting your own private retreat in Spain
- HC Result: Welsh CA Hill Climb Champs
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- BMCR Result: Chairman’s Race (Oct 6)
- HC Result: Fibrax Wrexham RC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Lincolnshire Cyclo-cross League 2
Other News on VeloUK
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- Rider News: Ben Marsh off to France to race
- Report/Result: World Gravel Championships
- This Weekend (Oct 5/6): National Trophy Cyclocross Round 1
- IOM 2024 YOUTH LEAGUE FINAL OVERALL
- Holiday Rentals: Escape to Casa Guadalest (Spain)
- Sponsor News: Custom Clothing from Santini
- News: Ribble launches the Allroad Ti – Crafted for More
- NEWS: The Pedal Club Lunch — September with Jez Cox
- Ultimate Cycling Experience at CHS Ciclismo
- Worlds: Great Britain Riders for 2024 Road Worlds
- Rider Report: Alistair Gardner wins two Kermesses
- EVENTS: Portmore Classic (29th of September, Dorset)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TOM PIDCOCK CONFIRMED FOR LLOYDS BANK TOUR OF BRITAIN MEN
- Startlist: 42nd Junior Tour of Wales
- Startlist: 360 North West Youth Tour
- Tour of Britain: Evenepoel/Alaphilippe To Race National Tour
- GB Juniors for Track Worlds in China
- THIS WEEKEND: CYCLOCROSS (Leicestershire)
- Startlist: Men’s National B (Worcestershire)
- Startlists: Fenwicks Tour of Mendip 2024
- Startlists: 19th Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Road Races
- Men’s Tour of Britain News: Teams for 2024 Race
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)
- NEWS: Women’s UCI Drops Team to Close
- Startlist: Youth and Junior Track Championships 2024
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Women/JuniorsYouth)
- Startlists: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Men)
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024