Q&A: Ethan Lee (Clay Cross RT)

Mechanic Ethan Lee has put down the spanners and picked up the cycling shoes to race for Clay Cross RT in 2017

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Q&A: Ethan Lee (Clay Cross RT)

Q: How did you get into cycling?
Ethan: My father was the reason for me to start turning the pedals. I went to a few races with him when I was young and naturally I said I wanted to have a go.

Q: What’s your favourite discipline in cycling?
Ethan: When not on the road, mountain biking or cyclo-cross is my favourite, a lot more fun.

Q: What’s the best thing about bike racing?
Ethan: For me it’s amazing how hard you can push yourself over the limits that you thought you had. But it’s amazing that everyone will have a different story to tell out of the same race.

Q: What was your favourite/most fun race of 2016?
Ethan: In 2016, I was a mechanic for ONE pro cycling and I had the privilege of travelling the world and doing some of the best bike races in the world. However the best has to be the end of season Abu Dhabi, luxury everywhere you went.

Q: What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Ethan: One which I don’t want to remember is the Tour de Fjords in Norway, Baltic rainy weather and six hour long transfers across the Fjords on boats. That being said, it was an incredible experience.

Q: If there was one thing you learned in 2016, what was that?
Ethan: Always keep calm, whether you’ve had a mechanical, you’re not in the break or you didn’t have a good day on the bike, always keep calm. The races are long as is the season. So patience is key.
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Q: What is the best piece of equipment?
Ethan: A well maintained bike, if you can do this, then there should be no excuses.

Q: What is your warmup routine?
Ethan: The standard 20 mins with a 15 min ramp test and a couple of short sprints to get you ready for the day ahead. Rollers would be better, less strain on the legs means more energy to use in the road.

Q: When will you start training for 2017 and what comes first?
Ethan: I started in November when the season ended. Starting off with just steady hours on the bike and gradually increasing the tempo/hours.

Q: What are your goals for 2017?
Ethan: Simple, race as hard as I can, learn as much as possible and to hopefully earn a place on a Conti/Pro Conti team for 2018. I’m keen and eager to prove to people and to myself that I can be up there with the best.

Q: Does winter training consist of only riding your bike or running/swimming/gym?
Ethan: People have different ways to train throughout the winter but for me it’s important to mix it around, so go for a run once in a while or whatever you want to do. You’ll be doing a lot of riding your bike when the season starts so I make the most of the time I have to try different sports. If I’m ill, I’ll head over to the gym, no cardio efforts just strength training so nothing stressful which means I’m still training but recovering from the illness at the same time.

Q: Finally what have you learnt over the years to best deal with the winter months on a bike?
Ethan: I find that if you gradually increase the mileage throughout the winter you have a good chance of not cracking mid winter. Grey sky’s and cold rainy mornings can lessen your motivation to go for a 6h bike ride so having a fresh clear head going into the latter stages of winter training can help you a lot.

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