by Wendy Simms

The first time I went riding with my husband Norm, he asked me about my training program. My answer: “when the time changes in the spring, I put it in the big ring.” He just about crashed he was laughing so hard. I used to be one of those racers that just rode my bike. I never had a coach. I never really trained. And as a result, I could never seem to crack the podium. I thought I just wasn’t talented enough. But…then I discovered cyclocross (CX) and after just a few races qualified to represent Canada at the World Championships in France. I was pretty scared that I would make an ass of myself and my country so I hired a coach and did my first interval.