The rider chat continues with Conor Swift of Envelopemaster Giant Sheffield 2016 taking the VeloUK question and answer
Feature – Conor Swift Q & A
1. When will you start your road season and what will be the first race?
Conor: I will kick start the road season with the team at the beginning of March where we will be attending the big early season National B races, with the first race being Severn Bridge followed by the Jock Wadley.
2. What races will be your targets for 2016 and why?
Conor: For 2016, I really want to make my mark within the UK and get some good results behind me improving on 2015. My main targets for the year will be hitting the season head on and getting results in the first few big National B races being the Severn Bridge, Jock Wadley and Totnes Stage Race.
Getting results in those first few races will give me the confidence going into the first few Prems and I will then want to carry and improve my form for the season ahead. Other targets include the Tour Of Reservoir as that was my best result in 2015 within the Prems and I feel that the race suits me with it being on tough terrain. Lincoln GP, Beaumont Trophy, Ryedale and the Yorkshire RR Championship will all be up there on my targets for the season too as I feel these races are just really tough and great to get stuck in to.
Finally the U23 TT and road championships will be another big focus for the season.
3. How will you spend the time on the bike between now and your first race in training?
Conor: November and December have mainly consisted of getting the miles in on the bike and building the base with a few sweetspots added into the mix. Going into the new year will include those long miles and building on those sweetspot efforts and including some threshold sessions into the training. The local chaingangs do a real good job of bringing the form on and mimicking racing pre season so that you hit it with the ball rolling.
4. What was your favourite Xmas present?
Conor: Dont have a specific one but got four very good ones! Nutri Bullet, Gabba, Jawbreakers and a Nerf Gun ;-)
5. When it rains, which its doing a lot right now, is it turbo time or wrap up and get wet? (if the latter, what’s your favourite tip to stay dry in the rain)
Conor: I personally do a combination of both and if it is the turbo then I have just set up Zwift which is good fun and prevents me getting bored. However if I do go out in the rain, then I don’t have a favourite tip to stay dry as I just end up getting soaked so just put up with that and then look forward to the nice warm shower when I get home!
6. If you could do any race in the world including the best ones in the world etc, what would it be and why?
Conor: I would have to say Paris Roubaix as it is such a big classic and just looks bloody tough but would be amazing to race.
7. What piece of food can you not do without where ever you are on the road during the season!
Conor: In the past there hasn’t been any food that I couldn’t do without however recently I have got hooked on the Soreen and love to nibble on that on the bike. It will make good race food for 2016.
8. What is your favourite music track when warming up for a race or on the turbo?
Conor: The classic Tiesto songs like Adagio for Strings or Traffic or DeadMau5 Strobe. They do the job of getting pumped up.
9. If given the option, would you prefer normal brakes or disc brakes on your road bike?
Conor: I haven’t tried disc brakes on the road bike however I feel that they will work better in wet conditions so would go for discs.
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!)
Conor: Cant wait to jump on the race bike in 2016 with it being a Giant TCR Advanced SL0 equipped with DI2. Very thankful for Giant Sheffield being able to provide this bike and it will most likely be equipped with TU wheels for the races which are solid wheels.
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