Here we have it folks, what we have all been waiting for. Or maybe not, but it's what I have been alluding to with my 'Stay Tuned' and comments in my posts for the past few weeks.
I was quite sad to see how desperately unpopular my feminism post was...for such a relevant subject I expected more!
This blog has always been about me racing my bike, slagging off folding bikes and drinking coffee. I figure I could do so much more with this forum, so I decided to introduce the 'Strong Women Series', which is all about getting up and close with women who ride bikes. And preferably drink coffee (though if you continue to read on...it's not a prerequisite!).
Every couple of weeks i'll be chatting to a new rider. With my experience, at the moment contributors are pretty heavily sourced from the MTB field but i'm always on the lookout for interesting people who would like to contribute. Comment if that's you!
So without further ado, I am featuring the Strong Woman guinea-pig (not literally, of course!), Donna Dall, who has been riding and racing since anodized shit was cool the first time!
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| Donna aboard her Cannondale Scalpel Ultimate—a far cry form the bikes ridden in the early mountain bike days! (Courtesy of Ken Laws) |
Donna...what do you do, aside from shred sick trails?
Cycling Coach, Business Analyst and Mum (I don’t like to be bored!)
You're here because you are a 'Strong Woman' rider, how long have you been riding for?
28 (since I was 12), now you know how old I am!
So, how did you get into mountain biking and mountain bike coaching?
I started road and track when I was 12 and crossed over to mountain biking when I was 25. A girlfriend of mine suggested I should try it. When I did, it was the hardest physical exertion I had ever experienced and thought I would die HOWEVER utterly hooked!
Road and track were easy in comparison; it was such a huge shock to my system. I liked the additional element of trying to master technical sections of courses at the same time as racing at your limit. As for the coaching, I saw a real need in the late nineties to encourage other women into the sport and developed a skills course named Dirt Girls in Brisbane with the Rats club (now known as Brisbane South Mountain Bike Club). About a year later I was introduced to Lisa Mathison who was a 14 year old at the time and the rest is history.
Did you find it difficult initially to find your way into a male dominated sport?
Not really as I don’t think that way generally. It was more a case of so many guys tripping over themselves to help the new girl. There were not very many of us!
You have been riding and racing for years now, what has changed with the sport? Is there a stronger female presence?
When I started racing MTB 15 years ago there was no such thing as a team’s event such as 24 hours and the like, they came a couple of years later at Kooralbyn.
Mt Perry was my first BIG event and it was a series of small events crammed into the one weekend. Everyone entered every event and typically all rode on the one bike too. Most of us had hard tails with very limited front suspension and crazy anodized accessories! Ahhhh, takes me back!
We did the Cross Country (spelt Cross Country and not XC), Hill Climb, Downhill, Dual Slalom and Trials. Best fun on a bike and I have the fondest memories of camping! There were some night time shenanigans too around the campfire that was for mature audiences only!
Sadly the numbers of women in the elite fields at National Championships from 15 years ago to today have remained very static. I recall coming top 15 (probably out of 15) back in 1997 and this year in Adelaide there were only 15 starters in the elite women's field as well.
A lot of women don’t find competition at the elite level very appealing, or at least not in mountain biking it seems. There are plenty out there having fun at enduro and multi-lap events and I believe the numbers in these events have risen significantly. I must admit, they are fun and I enjoy those types of races too!
What do you believe to be the biggest challenges or hurdles in regards to getting started mountain biking as a woman?
At the participation level, I think the sport in many aspects has it covered but if we are talking elite, then mountain biking is hardly significant in this country when compared with other countries in Europe and North America. We lack BIG hills, competition and funding.
Ok, so you have raced at a national level but probably are best known as the 'Supercoach' with involvement with MTBA's elite athletes and juniors program, along with the AUSPORT Talent ID girls from a few years ago. In addition to that, you somehow managed to have two kids plus a day job. How do you manage your time and find time to race and coach now?
It’s a bit like military school around our house, with a very strict routine. Everything is done on time and everyone has their job. I’m pretty fastidious with when it comes to managing my time and sometimes I am spread a little thin if things don’t go to plan, such as a sick child.
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| DH manages family and riding. Though i'm not too sure that helmet's Aus Standards approved MG! |
My first priority is my family and sometimes people can’t see that. I have HEAPS of help and this would be the perfect opportunity to thank my husband Matty, my mum and a number of my close friends who can see what I am trying to achieve and encourage me 100%.They help out where they can.
My own racing comes last for me at the moment which is a real shame as it’s a real passion of mine. Hence my dedication to turn up for every XC event in Brisbane, but the lack of form definitely shows.
I still love racing my bike and one day dream of spending a little more time training when the kids get older. I do spend pockets of time preparing for bigger events such as the Nationals Championships in Adelaide earlier this year. I was extremely happy to gain some form and win Nationals in my age category—STOKED! After that I have had to let my form slide to work on other important areas in my life.
Much of this blog has been focused on having a healthy and active pregnancy, did you ride throughout your pregnancy?
Yes. I have 2 children, MG is five and Ronnie is 2.5yo. I rode during both pregnancies until about the 8 month mark. I was keen to keep up my fitness levels and the boredom of not riding my bike would have been scary for me. I would ride both fire road and single trails until about the 6 month mark and then just bike paths after that.
You tend to lose a little bit of balance after awhile and the risks are just not worth the accident. After about the 8 month mark, I felt very uncomfortable and a little self conscious too. A lot of people judged me riding while pregnant which was awkward at times trying to explain it. I walked a lot in the last month of pregnancy.
As a coach and a mum bike racer, what would be some advice you would give to sporty mama's looking to get some fitness back post-baby, especially for those looking to get back into competitive sport?
Sleep when the baby sleeps and ride when your husband gets home. Essentially you do what you can but it is never as much as what you want of course. Just being happy with whatever you can squeeze in, this is better than unnecessary worry about what you can’t do. After my first baby, I rode after 2 weeks and with my second I started riding after 6 days. The first ride back always felt the worst and could only manage 20mins at a time but I quickly worked my way up to an hour within a couple of weeks.
Women's specific bike and accessories, what has been your experience? Are you a fan or do you think companies still adhere to the 'shrink it and pink it' approach?
I have always been a non-believer in women’s specific bikes and geometry, thinking they were not race specific enough in the angles. I always opted for small men’s bikes instead.
However I have made 2 purchases in the last 12 months which has really changed my thinking. My road bike is a Cannondale women’s specific Super Six and it is very snappy and racy indeed—typically I would expect a women’s specific bike to handle a bit like a snail.
My mountain bike which I have had for 2 weeks is a Specialized Fate women’s specific 29’er and again I was completely surprised. I think bike companies have come a long way in this regard and there is not one bit of pink on either bike! Either that or I am becoming old and slow to match the bikes.
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| Not looking old and slow though...Donna at the QLD Sunshine Series (Courtesy of Michael Phipps) |
Ok...and some other glimpses into the soul...
You finish a ride, rock up to the coffee shop and order what? Hot chocolate
Favourite bike in the garage? My new Specialized Fate
Best motivational quote or motto? The road to success is long and hard but I will be there every step of the way.
Favourite pre-race meal? Multi-grain Weetbix 3 hours before
Riding accessory you couldn't live without? My iPhone ziplock bag (aka Glad Snap lock kids sandwich bag)
If one company or product could sponsor your riding life, who/what would it be and why?
I am not sure of the company name but their slogan is “Fit for life”, makes sense to me!