Crossing paths with Nicole Duke
Nicole Duke is currently racing racing in Europe but this mom of two is clearly not only defined by racing. She will return back to the USA on New Year's Eve, but we had a chat with her while still in Europe.
Slowtwitch: Thanks for your time Nicole.
Nicole: Always happy to chat.
ST: So far this year has been quite interesting for you on several levels. Would you say that is a fair description?
Nicole: Yes, I can probably say it has been the hardest year of my life. I’ve had a lot of different challenges on all different levels.
ST: Talk about these challenges.
Nicole: It all started in April of 2012, my separation and then divorce in November. I have had a number of different upsets, health issues, moving, difficultly with the ex, new team, new relationship, bad luck. Every week I get through a series of events and think, ok nothing else could possibly happen, on to better things, and then something else comes up. It has been relentless. But, I am trying to stay positive and look at the bright side of my life. I have met the love of my life, my kids are happy and healthy, and I’m still living my dream.
ST: In mid cross season there was a big split from the Raleigh Clement team. How hard was that emotionally?
Nicole: I was crushed emotionally, especially because life had already been so hard that year. I wasn’t really racing that well, struggling, and this was just the icing on the cake. Ben and I were so happy to know that we were on the same team, traveling and living our dream together. Then, everything crashed. It was an unfair situation that might have been doomed from the beginning. If I were to tell the story of the tangled web and how it tied into my divorce etc, a movie producer may not believe it.
ST: Were you considering walking away completely?
Nicole: Absolutely, I felt like I had already been pushed to my max mentally and was ready to throw up my hands and give in. I took a week away from everything, Ben was there for me emotionally and I had an outpouring of support from friends, fans and sponsors. This is not the way I wanted to leave the season, I picked myself up and found the fire again.
ST: Your boyfriend Ben Berden is still on the Raleigh Clement team, is that a bit odd now or does that not really matter?
Nicole: I have to admit, it is still a bit odd. We are so close and like to spend all of our time together so it makes it hard sometimes. Luckily by the time I came back to the season, it was towards the end and we were planning on traveling to Europe together anyways. I am still friends with most of my teammates and staff so it is getting better.
ST: How did the Alchemy connection come up?
Nicole: A friend of Ben and I’s Chris Milliman suggested we meet. We contacted each other, discovered we had many mutual friends and realized we would be a great fit. Amazingly enough when everything went down with the Raleigh/Clement team, I picked up a book I had read in my twenties and decided it was time to re-read it, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. So fitting that I would ride for Alchemy, a true sign of things meant to be.
ST: You recently got a new Alchemy cross bike. Can you describe that describe that custom bike?
Nicole: Their cross bike is called the Balius. They brought me into the shop, took my measurements, asked me what kind of ride I was looking for in a bike and we came up with my perfect custom cross bike. The first frame felt a bit off so we tweaked some things and refined the second one. I asked for an aggressive feel with a stiffer front end for fast cornering and a little give in the rear to absorb the course. They made the frame as light as possible and hand made the carbon tabs that hold the disc brake calipers, the tolerances were extremely tight, so these in themselves are works of art. The whole bike was built in 5 days, an amazing process. Complete with Avid BB7 disc brakes, SRAM red, and Zipp 303 Firecrest black box wheels the weight came in just under 17lbs.
ST: When did you head over to Europe?
Nicole: Ben and I came over on the 20th of December. I came not only to race the World Cups and other races, but to also spend Christmas with Ben, his children, and family. Honestly, I am a bit burnt this season and am looking forward to just spending some time relaxing and escaping the pressures of training and racing. I need a mental break.
ST: How long will you stay?
Nicole: I will stay until the 31st and Ben will come back to Boulder on January14th after he races his Nationals. We race on the same day and will meet in the airport the same day to drive home.
ST: The fan experience there is quite different than in North America. Do you get goose bumps when thousands of fans are screaming, whistling and singing?
Nicole: Yes, it’s like our American football over here. It is exciting to see how the fans are so involved and interested. I’m slowly starting to hear my name being cheered more and more as I race over here. It’s nice.
ST: You seem to enjoy the more technical courses, is that mostly because of your background in dual slalom and downhill mountain biking?
Nicole: Yes, I love technical, its what gets me through a race. I need the mental stimulation to keep me involved. I grew up racing and riding motocross bikes and playing on my bike with the boys. This is where I feel most comfortable. The pedaling has always been my challenge. If I was young, had more time, and didn’t have all the challenges of family life I believe I could overcome this deficiency with more training. Right now I just have to take what I can get, capitalize on my technical abilities, and hope and pray for steep downhills, mud, and lots of corners.
ST: Of all the courses you have done, which one is your favorite and why?
Nicole: I have one favorite American course and that is the Bend USGP, because of its technical nature and mountain bike feel. The venue is also very spectator friendly and fun. In Europe I have two courses that I love the challenge of and would love to do over and over to see my progress. That would be Koksijde and Namur. I love the challenge of the sand and extreme conditions. Namur is also just so beautiful.
ST: How did you actually started with cross?
Nicole: I started practicing cross years ago in my downhill off-season in Boulder with friends. I stepped away from it for a long time then came back to it after I had my kids and wanted to start competing in races that weren’t really long and could support the family lifestyle. I did my first cross race on my mountain bike with the elite women locally and got third. From that moment I was hooked, but had no plans to race professionally again. Everything just evolved and I found myself competing on the National and World level at 36 with two kids, I never would have imagined.
ST: With two kids, how do you juggle family, training and traveling to races?
Nicole: You said it, I juggle and sometimes not very well. I have so much going on that I feel like everything suffers. I have to learn a new pattern as a single mom. I’m adjusting and hoping that I will have a good system worked out by next season. It takes extreme organization with your time and efficiency. I also work as a hairstylist out of a studio in my home during the week to keep me afloat, as we all know cyclists mostly do it for the love. I don’t have family around to help so babysitters, daycare at the gym and sometimes friends are there to help. Ben Berden has been a big help as he understands because he has two kids of his own. I am very thankful for this. I end up skipping workouts for sick children, and all kinds of situations. I ride on the trainer a lot as my kids play, and depend on my ex to sometimes pick up the slack on extra days that I need to travel. The travel schedule can be tough and a bit tricky involving the kids, I don’t always get to do the races I want or training camps etc. Like I said, you take what you can get and work with it, and remain thankful that you at least have what you have.
ST: Do you think your kids will want to race bikes eventually?
Nicole: My son, Ryder, is not very competitive, he loves cooking and the arts. I admire this in him as I also love these things and can understand this. My daughter, Canin, on the other hand is a force to reckoned with. She has a fierce competitive drive and I can see her excelling in many sports. She is only four and is into gymnastics right now so we shall see where she lands.
ST: Talk about your sponsors.
Nicole: I have a deep connection with most of my sponsors. If I ride representing a product, I need to believe in it. As a cyclist, you don’t always have a choice as the team chooses most of the time. Now as an independent I choose.
I have been riding with SRAM from the beginning of my professional career back in 1996. I had a strong relationship with them then and it continues till this day. They are a company with honesty, integrity, and genuinely care about their athletes; something that can be hard to find sometimes in the industry. I would say they are the champion sponsor of my career. Another company that I have a strong relationship with is SPY Optic. They are more than just and optic sponsor, they are a lifestyle. Their glasses are amazing but their staff and support for all I do is unreal.
Alchemy Bicycles, is another company that truly is about the people. With a staff of 8 that is completely dedicated to the art of the build, it is exciting to see their passion for what I love most, the bike. They recently relocated to Denver and are planning big things for the future, its fun to be a part of that growth. They also believe in humanitarian efforts and sponsor an amazing woman that I really admire, Shannon Galpin. Her efforts to ensure the rights of women around the world is staggering. I can just honestly say, that Alchemy really cares, from the heart. Thule, Primal Wear, Giro, Mad Alchemy, Skratch Labs and Fascat Coaching, are all hand picked companies that I chose to represent based off of their superior products and continued positive relationships with staff.
ST: Anything else we should know?
Nicole: Like I said, it’s been a difficult year, but I am taking knowledge away from it all. I am looking forward to a positive future with Ben and enjoying the rest of our careers together. I am already thinking of next season, the preparation that I missed this year, training stronger with Ben, and moving past the drama. I am planning on competing in some fun mountain bike stage races, traveling with Ben on the bike, continuing my Stand-up Paddleboarding, and spending quality time with my two children. I want to encourage others to follow their dreams of adventure in this life even when they think it is impossible or too hard. I want to empower moms everywhere to live their dreams while still taking care of their families. I am thankful for my lifestyle and count each day as a true gift even if it isn’t going the way I planned. Thank you to all that help support my dream, I hope you are living yours also!!!
Images 1 and 3 courtesy of Bart Knops
Images 2 and 4 courtesy of Ali Engin Photography
