Feature – Jo Smith Q & A

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Mixing road and track where the focus is, teacher Jo Smith of Adalta CC takes the question and answer feature

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Feature – Jo Smith Q & A

1. What was your highlight from 2015 and who are you riding for in 2016?
Jo: 2015 had so many highlights, it’s hard to pick one! I had an amazing year considering I had written it off as I studied for a PGCE. I loved racing in front of a packed velodrome at Wiggo’s #myhour and also defending my Grass Track National Championship in the muddiest conditions. I’m staying with brilliant club Adalta CC this year, and with three new female teammates who are looking very promising, I’m pretty excited for 2016!

2. When will you start your road season and what will be the first race?
Jo: I’ll mainly be concentrating on the track this year so the season starts at the Good Friday meeting at the end of March. Before that I will do a couple of the London Women’s Racing League and other local crits with my new teammates.

I listen to a very random selection of music warming up, mostly the music we used to listen to on the way to races in France in the team van, so lots of weird euro music and Chanson Francaise mixed in with some old school rock too.

3. What races will be your targets for 2016 and why?
Jo: I’ll be targeting track races mainly, with the Nationals late in the season a major goal, even though the timing coincides with a horribly busy period as a teacher. I’m hoping I can get there a bit more rested than last year! I also want to be able to help my team out in crit and road races so I need to build some endurance!

4.How will you spend the time on the bike between now and your first race in training?
Jo: Unfortunately most of my time on the bike is on the turbo after school, meetings and before a pile of marking or planning. Luckily I have learnt to love the turbo thanks to the interesting sessions my coach Tim at BlackCat Coaching gives me. At half term I will get out on my bike as much as I can whatever the weather! At the weekend, when I get a chance to ride in the light I’d much rather wrap up and get wet, I do enough turbo in the week!

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5. If you could do any race in the world including the best ones in the world etc, what would it be and why?
Jo: I’d love to race La Course by le Tour, although maybe not in the wet!

6. What piece of food can you not do without where ever you are on the road during the season!
Jo: I love food, any food! I can’t function without porridge and always had my own with me when I raced in France, much to the disgust of most of my French teammates at the time! When I’m riding, I don’t eat much, homemade Nakd bars are my favourite, especially chocolate ones.

7. What is your favourite music track when warming up for a race or on the turbo?
Jo: I listen to a very random selection of music warming up, mostly the music we used to listen to on the way to races in France in the team van, so lots of weird euro music and Chanson Francaise mixed in with some old school rock too.

8. If given the option, would you prefer normal brakes or disc brakes on your road bike?
Jo: I’ve not tried disks on a road bike, but having once grabbed a disk after a mountain bike descent (not a great idea) I don’t fancy finding out what damage they could cause in fast road race accidents.

9. What’s the spec of your race bike for 2016 and your favourite bits on it?
Jo: I will soon be receiving a beautiful RedChill Bikes Fr1 road frame in club colours which I’m extremely excited about, I can’t wait to get out racing on it!

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