Feature – Abby Mae Parkinson Q & A

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Off to Italy to race in 2016, Junior RR Champion Abby Mae Parkinson answers the VeloUK questions

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Feature – Abby Mae Parkinson Q & A

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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!

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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!

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Abby Mae (left) and National Series winner Nikki Juniper off the front of the Rydale Women’s GP 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.

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