Despite not setting foot on a bike until the age of 53 and recently recovering from spinal surgery and a broken collar bone, Alison Salthouse has defied the odds to become a world champion at 66 years old. We caught up with Alison to hear her amazing story and get to know a little bit more about this awesome journey.
How did you get into cycling?
I was overweight and felt I needed to do something to exercise. Cycling is less demanding on the joints so I decided to give it a go at 53.
How did you first find you had a passion for cycling?
Initially I couldn’t ride more than half a mile – I set small goals – 3 miles, 5 miles, 10 and then started to enjoy it.
What is it about cycling you enjoy the most?
The ‘head space’ is good for my mental health – I love riding outdoors and found an even bigger passion for racing indoors – especially in the cold, dark and wet months.
What advice would you give to anyone wishing to try cycling for the first time?
Just give it a go – set small goals and then change the goals as you progress – maybe find a ride buddy for encouragement and company.
How can people get involved if they’ve never tried cycling before or for a long time?
Just get a bike. The Civil Service offers the Cycle to Work Scheme so it’s even easier to fund the initial costs.
What has been the hardest part of competing at such a high level in your sport?
Lack of local competition in my age range. People think you have to be a racing snake – whilst you need to be fit – for Masters racing you really just need to enjoy what you do – you may not win initially but the taking part is so much fun.
what’s it like competing internationally representing your country?
It’s tough – it’s all self-funded and race kit can be expensive. My track bike tyres cost more than my car tyres and race entry fees for the World Championships were over £400 plus the travel, accommodation, coach fees etc. Which is why the help that CSSC provided from their Elite Sponsorship fund, was so helpful.
However, when I became World Champion last month in France it was an absolutely amazing experience - to cross that line first, hear your name and World Champion on the loudspeakers and then receive the jersey and medal and have the National Anthem playing for you – priceless.
What drives you to succeed and to keep training so hard?
I just love having a focus and goal. My husband is my biggest supporter and to have him with me at big competitions makes me so proud.
How do you relax and unwind when you’re not competing or training?
I am in a local Saturday Gang that rides just for fun and laughs. I also volunteer and give back to my sport – taking photos and officiating.
How has the CSSC support helped?
The costs for France were around £3k – so the grant from CSSC helped me to get extra track time ahead of my races – including two fab sessions on the French Track in the lead up to the racing.
I was able to ride the competition track ahead of my racing which helped me with my race gear selection and race line – each track is slightly different and I wouldn’t have been able to do those sessions without the grant. It also funded a bike fit on my pursuit bike – the bike had failed the National bike check three times in June, so I’d had to make changes – the bike fit gave me confidence that my bike would pass first time in France and was additionally set up properly for me to race my best.
How supportive is your workplace, employer and family?
I’ve never had a problem using my annual leave when I need to for racing – that did leave a hole in the ‘family’ use of my leave – but my husband is so supportive that he was happy for me to do that. I added a few extra days onto the French trip so we had a holiday too and it wasn’t all about the racing.
Does cycling help in your everyday health, wellbeing?
Definitely – I’m more willing to give things a go – I never thought I’d ever be on a podium – so to get my first one aged 60, then British Champion at 62 and now World Champion at 66 is amazing!
What if any special training, equipment, nutrition do you need to take part?
Everyone is different – some people just watch what they eat and eat ‘sensibly’ and others take it really seriously. I have to make sure that any medication I take is on the ‘ok to use in training and racing’ list (or I have a Drs note to cover me) and I make sure I stay hydrated and fuel/ re-fuel before/after racing.
I use products that are on the ‘informed sport’ list so guaranteed to be ‘clean’ products. I also use rollers to warm up, exercise bands for stretching and a massage gun. I also pay for a coach to set my structured sessions.
What do you like about being a member of CSSC and what is your favourite CSSC offer?
It’s important to me to support sport – but I have also enjoyed some of the local social events in the Telford area – the trips out are really good value.
Follow in Alison’s tracks
Such was Alison’s achievements she’s appeared in her local paper
Funding with CSSC
If you’d like to see how far your passion could take you, why not explore CSSC’s extensive range of funding & support and kick-start your world championship bid.