Race Cyclocross!

We’re pleased to have UK national cyclocross champion Helen Wyman answer our questionnaire. Helen races for Fat Birds UK elite women’s cycling team on Guerciotti cyclcocross frames, and has the most amazing SLR saddle I’ve ever seen. Look for Helen to do some damage at worlds this year!

1. How old are you?
You should never ask a lady her age you know?!!! (25 years old)

2. Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I was born in St Albans, north of London and grew up all over England really. But now I live in the beautiful Belgium, my favourite country in the world!

3. How long have you been racing? As an elite?
I started racing when I was 14 years old but have only been an elite rider for the last 3 years.

4. What was your first bicycle?
When I was a kid my dad used to have a tandem with my brother on the back and I was on a child seat behind that (does that count?). I used shout at them to go faster!!!

5. What is your road/mtb racing background?
When I was a kid I did everything, grass track, mountain biking, road and time trialling. I started cross racing when I was at university and didn’t have time to race in the summer so had to do it in the winter instead.

6. Describe your first exposure to cyclocross.
I rode a national cup race in England first time on a cyclo-cross bike and I got 5th I was very happy and instantly hooked.

7. Would you consider yourself a cross specialist?
I ride for a UCI pro-team, Global Racing, so I am a cross specialist although ride a full road season and have won the mountain classification jersey in a UCI stage race last year as well as placing top 20 in most lower grade UCI races.

8. Do you race full time? If not, what other job(s) do you have?
I am a qualified physiotherapist, but now a full time cyclist.

9. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major?
Duh just answered that one then!!! I studied physiotherapy at university, in England it is a degree course (BSC(Hons)Physiotherapy) and got a 2:1 for it.

10. Describe the first time you shaved your legs.
Erm…well I was probably about 12 and all the girls at school were experimenting so I had a go too!!! Although I only had really fine blond hairs on my legs but I wanted to do what the other girls did!! I think I cut myself a lot!!!! Im pretty sure ive perfected the art by now though!!!!

11. Do you have any tattoos, and/or piercings?
Hmmm…..not that I could tell you about!!!! No just kidding! I’ve got my ears and belly button pierced. No tattoes I have seen a lot of old people with them and they don’t look good at that age!!!

12. Pre race rituals?
Erm well actually erm well there is a standard joke in our team that the girls have to get a little pre-race the night before to calm their nerves and Stef our team manager has to do it!!! But it is just a joke!!!

13. Post race meal?
Hmm normally the tastiest food we can get, unless there is a race the next day. Pizza tastes soooo good after a 10 day stage race!!

14. How do you wind down after a race?
I don’t really have a problem relaxing after a race. I will normally watch the mens race so I can see lines on the course that I would never normally think to take. Other than that just sleep!!!!

15. Your idea of the perfect cross course?
Fast and fun with lots of interesting bits oh and I like sand and mud and well I like lots of different bits!!! Sorry!!!

16. Espresso or tea?
I’m English, naturally one only drinks tea!!!!!!

17. For you, what is the essence of cyclocross?
Getting muddy wet and dirty and riding as hard as possible for 40 minutes!

18. Tubulars or clinchers?
Tubulars everytime made by schwalbe!!!

19. Write a haiku about 2005 UK CX Nats.
You see people say that American is not the same language as English and I genuinely think they are right!! I don’t know what a ‘Haiku’ is sorry!!!!

20. My mind wanders when I’m racing. What were you thinking about during your last race?
Normally the next part of the course, where my competition is etc! Normally I am pretty focused on the race.

21. Seen any good movies lately?
Me and my team mate Gabby Day went to see the Holiday recently at a ladies only night in the local cinema it was really good and they had a big muscley man walking around giving out chocolates it was really funny!!! We also watched Déjà vu, that was good.

22. What are the last three albums you’ve listened to?
Erm im actually really bad with music I just listen to the radio a lot, im quite liking Shakiras new song, and James Morrison oh and a Belgium guy called Michel Borsato.

23. Who is going to win UK Nationals this year?
Me or my team mate Gabby Day.

24. In three words or less, describe how you feel about top mount cross brake levers.
Waste of time!

25. Would you use disc brakes on your cross bike if they were UCI legal?
No if you are braking in a cross race then you are going to loose the race!!!

26. What is the craziest thing you’ve done to lighten your bike?
Not really into all that my bikes are increadably light already!!!

27. Any season goals you’d like to share?
Well ok arm twisted I want to get on the podium at the worlds.

28. What result are you most proud of?
3rd in the first world cup of the season in Kalmhout.

29. Who has most influenced your cross racing career?
My Husband stef, he is the one person who has always believed in me and I wouldn’t be at this level if it wasn’t for everything he has done, and still does for me over the last 3 years.

30. Is there another rider you train with regularly?
I train quite a lot with my team mates, Gabby and Emma and some local guys, like Sven Nys and Niels Alberts go on a training ride I also go to!

31. Why do you think the Europeans are so much faster than the US crossers?
I haven’t ever experienced an American cross but I think maybe if they are faster it is probably related to the level at which the sport has developed over the last 60 years in Europe and the developments they have made to get better than the next man!

32. Are you married? Have any children?
Yes to my team manager Stefan Wyman, have been married for 2 and 1/2 years. And no I don’t get any special treatment, in fact I am quite often made the example of!! No children can only just look after myself!

33. Any (other) passions or hobbies in your life?
Chocolate!!! And drinking coffee with my friends.

34. What would you be doing if you weren’t racing cross?
I’d like to think I would be working as a physio on some really good pro team somewhere!!

35. Do you have a blog or online journal?
I have my own website: www.helenwyman.com

36. Any words of advice for those new to cyclocross?
Just enjoy it and learn from everyone around you because you will only ever win consistently with experience and it takes years!!!!!