Bookworm Bridget Smith Races Track—And Has Advice for New Riders

11-year-old Bridget Smith of BridgetAndTheBooks.com is definitely a Shred Girl IRL! She recently started racing on the track after spending her younger years on road and mountain bikes, and she’s loving life at the velodrome! (PS If you want to read Shred Girls author Molly Hurford’s interview over on Bridget’s site, click here!) But here, I wanted to find out all about how she came to start racing on the track and her advice for other girls who are curious about it. The track can be a little scary at first, but it’s super fun! (I also really appreciated how honest Bridget was talking about her pre-race nerves and anxiety. It’s super common, and I think too often, we pretend like race day jitters are easy to get over and not a big deal, but it can be super challenging. So thanks Bridget, for this really open answer!)

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When did you start riding? What type of riding did you start with? Did you change what you liked riding once you got going?

I started riding bikes when I was little. It did take me a little longer than I liked to learn two wheel riding. Until this summer, I just rode around the neighborhood. This past summer, we started going on longer rides with Mom and Dad. We did trail ride, road ride and even mountain biking.

When did you decide you wanted to start riding more seriously and want to start racing? I know you’re new to it, so what’s been the most fun so far?

In October, my parents took me to the Lexus Velodrome for the first time. I was hooked on track cycling during their warmups. During the races, I told my parents I wanted to do it. My dad had me in a training that Sunday and I’ve been on the track ever since. One of my goals for this year is to go to Junior Track Nationals this summer. I am not ready yet but I have a bunch of months to get better. It gives me something concrete to work for especially skills I don’t like.

Favorite part about riding?

My favorite part is being thrown during a standing start. It is an exciting way to start a race. It also means I usually am leading out the pack. I am not the fastest of the mixed juniors my age so that may be only time I am in front. (At Lexus Velodrome, boy and girl young juniors race together. I am often the only girl.)

Least favorite part about riding?

Dropwall starts. I am working on this but I really don’t like them. I need to get more comfortable with them if I want to participate in Junior Nationals. A short term issue for me is asthma management. This winter has been rough for me. The last weekend in December was a really bad race weekend with a cold plus my asthma. I am working with my doctor to try new meds.

Have you made friends through racing? (If so, any tips for talking to new people? I’m always scared of that—like the main character in the first Shred Girls book!)

Not quite yet. Young juniors training is a little scattered. We show up when we can which is not always at the same time. I am getting to know some of the other junior riders and learning to ride with older riders to push me harder. I did meet another race age 11 track girl a couple weeks ago. She came in from California to race so that was cool.

How did you get comfortable riding on a track bike? They’re tricky!

Practice, practice. I went to my first training class on a Sunday and was back on Monday to ride more. I was back again the following Saturday for more training.

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What does a week of training/riding look like for you?

I am still working on a training schedule. Right now it depends on if it is a race weekend. Young juniors have a race or two during every race night at Lexus Velodrome. If we race, it is on Saturday and some Friday nights. If no racing, I may train on Saturdays. I try to go to the track on Sundays for riding and I have training practice on Mondays. My dad just set up my indoor trainer so I am starting to ride during the week at home.

Best tip for someone your age or younger who’d love to get started riding/racing, but doesn’t know anyone else to ride with?

Just ride… They could look for a local club or organization with riders. A lot of cycling clubs have junior programs. Plus ask your parents. I ride a lot with my parents.

I’d love it if you could tell readers about your cycling superstition of needing a specific track bike when you race—how did that start?

I am super lucky that everything is free for junior riders at the Lexus Velodrome. They provide all the gear we need including bikes. I ride a 51cm Felt TK3. We have a couple of these to pick from but I prefer one of the ones with brown handlebar tape. I make sure to get to the track early to grab one of those before the other kids do. I think there are only two or three with the brown tape. I feel like I do my best on them. On the day I had my first (and so far only) major crash, I was not riding a brown handlebar one.

Absolute favorite piece of gear? (Can be your bike, helmet, shoes, a really cool shirt, whatever!)

It is my Shred Girl sweatshirt. I just got it but it makes the coolest. Plus I can wear off track too! It has been worn to school already.

Favorite pro rider and why?

Luke Cavender. He is one of my coaches and is pretty cool. I don’t really know many pros and so far I really only know riders I see at Lexus Velodrome. There are these two young Canadian riders who come to race regularly. And OMG they are fast. Definitely expect to see them in Olympics one day. It is exciting to watch Jackson Capella, who is a junior rider from Lexus Velodrome. He just made the Olympic Development Program. That is inspiring for junior riders like me. Emma Jimenez is a really interesting rider to watch. She is a year or so older than me but races with the juniors and adults. She usually wins.

My favorite rider to watch is Rebecca Hartrick, another junior at Lexus Velodrome. She isn’t always the fastest out there but I like watching her tactics. I am not the fastest either so need to up my tactics and strategies.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5yg4Z5nU1p/

Favorite place to ride? (Favorite track, and then also favorite outside spot!)

Only track I have ridden on so far is Lexus Velodrome. When it gets warmer, I will ride at Bloomer but I haven’t yet. This past summer, my mom and I rode Mackinac Island. We got in 16 miles of flat, hills and off-road riding. I even got halfway up the big hill by Grand Hotel. We got stuck behind some horse drawn wagons which go so slow, we lost momentum at the half way point. I was proud of how far I had climbed.

You’re a bookworm like me (and Lindsay!)—what are your favorite books right now?

Wow, that is a hard question because I don’t really have one. I love the Cleopatra in Space series by Mike Maihack. The last book comes out this year. Girls who are the only one in their sport would like Laura Shovan’s Takedown. The main character is a girl wrestler. Or maybe a better answer is to check my blog for what I have reviewed!

Do you read before races to stay calm or how do you handle pre-race nerves?

Um..err..yea.. about this, I don’t do this well. I have ADHD and anxiety. Right now, I have panic attacks. It doesn’t help that we race in the evening so I am already tired and having a hard time focusing. I am working on new strategies to reduce this. Maybe I should try reading a book…