TRIPLE Exclusive - An Interview with Shelley Olds

For those in the Northern California and Track cycling communities the name, Shelley Olds, is a familiar one. As part of PROMAN Racing, Shelley has been a major contributor in capturing back-to-back Northern California/Nevada Cycling Association (NCNCA) Women’s Premiere series team titles, while on the track she was identified by USA Cycling as one of the next up and coming talents on the National level.

Surprisingly, Shelley’s entry into the sport of cycling came about in a less than traditional manner. Her adeptness in running saw Shelley gravitate toward the soccer field early on. On the pitch, Shelley had a distinguished career at Roanoke College in Virginia; one which saw her named captain of the Maroons in consecutive years along with being named “Player of the Year.” Shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology, she moved out West. The move prompted her to take up other athletic endeavors and through a bit of coaxing Shelley found herself on a bicycle, on the back of a tandem.

Shelley’s competitiveness and aggressive riding style belie her congenial smile and unassuming beginning in the sport. With a breakout performance at last year’s Nature Valley Grand Prix, where she placed 6th overall amongst the top riders in the American Women’s peloton, she has quickly moved her name onto the recognizable list. But, it is on the velodrome where the 28-year-old is truly becoming a household name. Shelley placed in the top ten in her disciplines, the Points Race and Scratch, during last year’s US National Championships and she is currently ranked in the top 100 by the UCI in both events.

In my conversation with Shelley Olds, we reminisce about her athletic past, determine if she can dance, and explore her cycling ambitions as she helps others to aspire to their own.

Granny’s 30 (G): You're originally from Massachusetts. So let's just get this one out of the way, better dancer, you or Jonathan Papelbon?

Shelley Olds (SO): That’s a tough one. It depends on your definition of dancing. Papelbon’s probably a little more creative and outgoing with his moves than I am.

G: All right, let’s say out at a club or bar and not the Riverdance he showed on the mound or the Dancing with the Stars routine he pulled out for Mike Lowell’s charity during Spring Training?

SO: O.k. I’d like to think I am the better dancer, but I certainly admire Papelbon for his free-spirit and ability to win when it’s all on the line.

G: What position did you play in soccer?

SO: Center Mid-field and Striker

G: Which did you favor, the creativity and distribution of center mid or the attacking style of a striker?

SO: I started at the striker position and loved being the “go-to” girl for scoring. As the season’s passed, I became naturally drawn to the center mid-field position. From this position, I was able to score, defend, attack, and basically run all over the field. I loved the control and leadership that this position gave me and I had the endurance to cover the field because of my background in running.

G: Does that type of mentality play into the cyclist you are now and how you position yourself in races?

SO: Absolutely. My career as a soccer player definitely shaped me into the athlete I am today. I am incredibly honored to be a leader for my team both on and off the bike. Also, the fitness I gained from all those years of soccer translated very well over to the bike.

G: Who were your athletic heroes [role models] growing up?

SO: The “91ers” of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.

G: Any favorites from that team?

SO: Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Joy Fawcett.

G: You were introduced to cycling by riding on the back of a tandem, did you eventually work your way up to the front of the tandem or did you just get your own bike?

SO: I’ve never ridden on the front of the tandem, but I would be into it if I could find someone that would be brave enough to stoke.

G: How did you get into racing? Was it something you took to like a "duck to water" or did cycling fill a competitive void after soccer?

SO: Cycling definitely filled a competitive void in my life after college ended and I moved from the East to the West Coast. My boyfriend is an avid cyclist who I met shortly after moving out to California. He insisted that I try the tandem, then the mountain bike, then track racing, road racing, and cross. It didn’t take long before I was hooked on every one of them.

G: Road or Track?

SO: I am fond of them both, but my training is mostly geared towards racing on the track.

G: Crits or Sprint Events?

SO: I’m not much of a match sprinter, but I think it’s important to learn the tactics involved in match sprints. I am a big fan of crits. They are similar to the endurance events on the track. I like the shorter, high-intensity races where there is never a dull moment.

G: Much of your recent success has been on the track, do you enjoy the sprint or endurance events…individual or team events? Which do you feel are your best events?

SO: I prefer the mass start endurance events, the Points Race and the Scratch Race. I do like the pursuits, both individual and team, but I have primarily focused on the mass start races.

G: Is there anyone on the track or road that you look up to or admire?

SO: Becky Quinn is the person I admire most on the track. She is the smartest racer I have ever seen or raced with. I love how competitive and consistent she is on the bike. I have been fortunate to race with her multiple times throughout my career and she has taught me so much about the sport. Marianne Vos is also someone I, (and probably many other women), admire. I like her versatility and the fact that she dominates in road, cross, and track. I too like to race all three disciplines, but I find it much harder to excel in all three of them than she does.

G: What's your favorite velodrome or track venue? Which do you prefer, shorter track with higher banking or longer with less banking?

SO: I prefer indoor tracks with a higher banking. The more banking there is, the more you are able to utilize the track to gain or scrub speed and it makes for a faster, more dynamic race. I have only raced on 6 tracks, but I would say my favorite track was in Sydney, Australia. It had a very authentic feel to it and the crowds were great. The track in Beijing had just been built for the 2008 Olympic Games, so it was brand new and very fast. Also, the opportunity to race on the track that will host the Olympic Games was very meaningful to me.

G: How are you at the Madison?

SO: I am working on it. It’s definitely something I want to learn and become good at, but it takes time. The coaches at our local track, Hellyer Velodrome, have put a weekly emphasis on teaching all riders how to ride a Madison. It’s been very helpful.

G: Have you raced any Keirin or motor-paced races?

SO: Sure. I’ve done a couple of Keirin races locally and some non-sanctioned races that had a motor to keep the pace at a steady race speed. I do a lot of training behind the motor during the track season. I really enjoy motor-pacing on the track, despite the suffering that is involved.

G: What gear ratios do you normally run for training…for racing?

SO: My training gears are usually lower than race gear or varied throughout the workout. Training on the track requires a lot of patience and the ability to change your gears multiple times in one workout. A typical workout would include 3 sets of intervals and each set would use a different gear. One under-gear, one race gear, and one over-gear. My race gear changes depending on the speed of the track I am racing on and whether it is indoor or outdoor, but it’s usually somewhere between 90 and 94 inches.


G: What is your top end speed?

SO: It depends on how big the gear is. I have never measured my top end speed. It would be interesting to find out though.

G: Do you feel that you are a better cyclist on the road because of racing on the track, or vice versa?

SO: I believe, without question that riding on the track has made me a better rider on the road. It’s good to have an engine on the track, which you develop by riding on the road, but there are so many things you learn on the track that you take for granted on the road. Some examples are pedal efficiency, bike handling, positioning, and leg speed. Each of these skills translates very well over to the road and can definitely make you a better all-around cyclist.

G: For the novice, who wants to learn how to race, where would you suggest they start out first…on the track or on the road?

SO: The road bike is much easier to learn on because you have much more control over it with brakes and several gears to choose from. The track bike can be awkward, even for a seasoned rider. On the other hand, riding on the track can be less intimidating because it is an enclosed learning environment. It is nice because you don’t really need to know how to change a flat or what route you are going to ride that day. This can be scary for new beginners who want to go out and ride on their own, but are intimidated by being so far from home.

G: What's been your most memorable time on a bike…your most forgettable?

SO: The most memorable time on the bike for me was Stage 1 of the 2007 Nature Valley Grand Prix. I bridged up to a breakaway of 8 women representing each of the strongest teams in the race. I finished in 2nd place and won the sprinter’s jersey. It was my first big NRC Stage race and it was an amazing feeling to get a result like that. I just remember how genuinely happy I was. I finally felt like I deserved to be riding in the big leagues.

My most forgettable time on my bike would be any time that I have crashed and followed that crash up with a trip to the hospital. One particular crash stands out. I was racing my first UCI Cross Race and I had not even completed one lap of the course yet. When I approached the most technical part of the course, I crashed and both dislocated and fractured my finger. I tried to get back up and ride, but my race was over. I couldn’t hold the handle bars. I just remember being so excited about doing the race and then so disappointed when it only lasted 5 minutes because of a minor injury that prevented me from finishing the race.

G: What is appealing about women's cycling relative to men's cycling? Why do you think men's cycling still takes center stage over women's? What do you think should change in women's cycling to get people more interested and excited about it?

SO: Men’s cycling is exciting because they race full throttle from the gun. Women are more tactical. The problem with the men is that it’s so predictable. The same guys win each week. How exciting is it to watch the same guy win the Tour de France 7 years in a row? In a women’s race anyone can have their day, the breaks can stick, and the underdogs can win. Most of the big teams have 1, maybe 2 clear leaders, and the rest of the playing field is very even. Women’s cycling is pure. Most of the women in the peloton have professional careers outside of cycling and family’s to take care of, and most can not afford to live off of their cycling abilities. I feel like we share a common bond in that we all make tremendous sacrifices to race our bikes because we truly love the sport, not because we are getting paid to do it. I just think we need to market the sport better and show people what women are made of. It’s our responsibility to make it exciting, attract a fan base, become role-models, and put on a show for the crowds by racing as hard as we can every time we suit up for a race.

G: What's one thing that most people don't know about you?

SO: I love live music. I have taken several road trips in my life across the country to see my favorite bands perform. I have seen most of the U.S. this way.

G: Are we talking “Dead Heading” road trips for months on end, or just to see your favorite bands perform? And what are your favorite bands?

SO: Never for months at a time, maybe weeks, but only during breaks from school or over the summer. Some of my favorite bands are Phish, SCI, Government Mule, The Dead, DMB, Dylan, Hendrix, Doors, Cash, Galactic, K. Williams, etc. The list goes on and on. I like so many different genres of music too. I just like music much better when it’s live.

G: What are your aspirations as a cyclist?

SO: My dream since childhood has always been to represent my country in the Olympic Games. I am working very hard towards pursuing that dream in the 2012 London Games in the Points Race. I am extremely driven and focused on my ultimate goal and I am not afraid to put it all out there on the line because it’s something that I am truly passionate about.

G: PROMAN Racing has been very successful over the past two years and has really grown in stature. How did you get started with PROMAN Racing? How have they helped to nuture your dream?

SO: I met our team manager, Niki Cranmer, through my boyfriend. He grew up in Marin, California, where the team is based. I have become very good friends with Niki and the rest of the team. I feel very comfortable knowing that I am doing something I love everyday with people that I really care about and that I believe genuinely care about me. I think the dynamic of our team and the bond that we all have with each other is what has allowed us to grow as much as we have. Niki is the most selfless, hard-working, and genuine women I have ever met and she is the reason why many of the women on our team are able to pursue our dreams. The PROMAN Racing Team is unique because we all respect one another so much. We each have different individual goals and this team supports us and allows us to pursue them, whatever they may be.

G: Your bio stated that you're pursuing a Master's in Health Care Administration. What are your aspirations in life?

SO: I am actually no longer in graduate school. I currently have a full-time job as a Sales Manager for a Wireless Retail Company. I am also coaching the Stanford University Women’s Cycling Team, which I truly love. I like to take life one day at a time. I intend to have my own business someday where I can help young aspiring athlete’s pursue their dreams and give back to the community of bike racers what they have given to me.

G: As a coach, if there is one lesson or bit of wisdom that you could impart to your charges, what would it be?

SO: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, but be persistent about learning from them. Always observe and absorb as much wisdom as you can from those who have been there before you. Ask questions, take risks, and believe in yourself. Every failure is one step closer to success. Be proud. Be humble. Be grateful. Smile and enjoy the ride.

Photos: Rob Evans (first through fourth)