Zoé Claessens: Obviously yes, but it allowed me to train on something else that I couldn't have done during the competitions. So it wasn’t that bad.
How often do you take your bike apart to re-grease everything?
Zoé Claessens: It depends, but I clean it when my bike starts to get dirty or if I ride in the rain.
Something's loose on your bike. Does that bug you so much that you have to fix it right away?
Zoé Claessens: Yes of course, I don't want to risk having a problem with my bike and fall just because of my bike. And I hate riding my bike when it makes some noise.
What is the geometry and length of your race frame. Do you know without looking it up?
Zoé Claessens: I know it’s a pro XXL, but I don’t really know the lenght of the frame.
Do you ride with flat pedals when you're just messing about or are you always clipped in?
Zoé Claessens: Sometime if I do some pumptrack or ride traisl I use my flat pedals but if not almost never.
Are you picky about how much your bike weighs?
Zoé Claessens: Not really. I think for me it’s more important to have good and solid parts, and that it doesn’t make a noise. But on the other hand I don't want my bike to be too heavy either.
Do you like bike maintenance including the cleaning?
Zoé Claessens: It’s not my favorite but I still like to clean my bike, because I like having my bike clean to ride.
What's a bike part you change on the regular?
Zoé Claessens: The pieces that I change the most are the grips, tires and pedals.
Please take us through your parts list:
Frame – Wiawis Rokon Pro XXL
Fork – Avian Brand
Bars – Renthal
Grips – Renthal
Stem – Avian Brand
Headset - Wiawis
Brake lever – Shimano DXR
Brake – Bombshell
Cranks – Avian Brand
Pedals – HT Components
Sprocket – Renthal
BB – Avian Brand
Chain – Izumi
Seat – Tioga
Seatpost – I don’t know
Seatpost clamp – Wiawis original
Front hub – Chris King
Rear hub – Chris King
Front rim – Avian Brand
Rear rim – Avian Brand
Spokes – Titanium
Tires – Tioga Faster X
Tubes – Tubolito
Weight – 8.2Kg
Thanks to: All the people who help me, especially to the World Cycling Center, and my coach Liam Phillips.
Name: Zoé Claessens
Sponsors: Aide sportive Suisse, aide sportive Vaudoise, Swiss Cycling, Wiawis, Renthal, Avian, HT Components, Tioga
Mechanic: The mechanics of the center, Rich Townsend and myself.
When's the last time you took your bike to the track?
Zoé Claessens: It was this morning, we did a training on the track in Aigle.
Have you missed racing your bike during the Covid-19 situation?
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.