Nicole Freedman

On the Road to The Olympics:

Nicole Freedman's Biking Dream
by Eliot Schickler

Nicole Freedman is headed down a seldom-traveled highway on her 18-speed GT bike -- a grueling stretch of road she hopes will wind its way towards the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Freedman, a sparkling young free-spirit with a charming sense of humor, is gunning to make the next Olympic year U.S. national cycling team.

Based on her short but stellar career, and the 1998 calendar year, Freedman's goal appears to be more than realistic. She moved into first place in the National Points Calendar (an elite rating system based upon 80 races in which the cyclists receive points for their performances) earlier this year. But that remarkable milestone puts us too far along in this very unusual athletes unlikely rise to cycling prominence.

It was the Summer of 1993 when Freedman, a native of Wellesley, Massachusetts, and at that time, a middle to long distance runner in track, decided to trade in her running shoes for a bicycle.

"I'd been a runner for nine years and I decided I didn't want to run anymore," recalls Freedman. "That summer, I biked a lot, loved it, and decided to go out for the team."

The bicycle became Freedman's primary and sole mode of transportation when she first became serious about cycling. She'd bike to downtown Wellesley, then to the tennis courts. Back then, her longest trip back then was a 10-15 mile ride to Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. She would ride to Walden Pond three to four times a week.

"I loved it," she adds. "I went farther and farther and planned a bike trip. I loved it. Then I took longer routes just to bike. I could've borrowed my dads' car, but I preferred biking."

It was the Spring of 1994 when Freedman was a senior at Stanford, majoring in Urban Planning, when she began her competitive career on two wheels. She was a member of the Stanford University Cycling team and was riding 200-300 miles a week. Freedman laughs at that now. These days, she rides 350-375 miles a week, 50 weeks a year, taking only two weeks off in September.

As a rookie, Freedman rode a 49 centimeter Bianchi road bike -- the same bike she rode for fun when she was in high school (Wellesley High, Class of '90). After graduating from Stanford, Freedman biked for Odwalla, a national developmental team. She spent two years with Odwalla before moving up to the Shakely team she's with today.

Freedman works very hard in training in preparation to her racing. In addition to riding the bike, she also lifts free weights. This cross-training routine is varied as much as possible. In the end, it's been the single biggest factor in enabling her to build the strength
essential in a successful rider.

Also a concern her on the road to Olympus is Freedman's diet. As a former track star, Freedman is accustomed to eating at the training table, and she even takes a few more liberties than her college track teammates.

"Basically, I eat a low fat diet, but I'm not neurotic or compulsive about it," says Freedman. "When I was running, I saw a lot of neurotic and compulsive behavior. I want to remain trim, but not be crazy about it. You can't be neurotic and compulsive and must do it in moderation. If I want a cookie, I'll have one."

The transition from Stanford to Odwalla wasn't an easy one for Freedman. Her turning point came during Labor Day weekend of 1995, when she won an elite 30-mile race in Killington, Vermont.

"It was a hard jump going from college to the national circuit," recalls Freedman. "That win capped off a rough season and gave me hope."

The highlight for Freedman in '96 was finishing fourth and sixth in successive events at the Olympic trials, good for an overall 10th place finish. She was satisfied with her performance in what was only her second year on the national circuit.

If what an athlete does internationally is of any indication of future Olympic success, then 1997 was the golden year for Freedman after she won a 60-mile race in New Zealand.

"It was my first international experience, so I was naturally happy about that," she says.

Even though Freedman is currently in first place according to the National Points Calendar, she's not about to on her laurels. She knows she'll have to place at the 2000 trials to make it to the Olympic team.

"When you have a season that's seven to eight months long, there are periods of the season when you race your best," says Freedman. "In 1999-2000, I'll treat it like an Olympic year and will try to peak in May and June (coinciding with the Olympic trials)."

One thing Freedman plans on doing before the trials is to improve her performance on hills. Time is not a problem for Freedman in harnessing her strengths and remedying her weaknesses. She is not a cooperate workaholic. She serves as a part-time employee for the Stanford Transportation Department.

"I do as little work as I have to so I can train as much as I can, which is important to me," said Freedman.

No one can question Freedman's willingness to sacrifice in pursuit of her dream. She used to pay $600 a month to live with friends in a Northern California house. The rent was too high, so she moved into a van outside the house and is only paying $150 rent a month.

"Actually, it's plush," Freedman said with a chuckle. "I have a queen sized bed in a private room and I think of myself as one of the few 26- year-old women who can afford her own home in the Bay Area."

Joan Benoit Samuelson is one of Freedman's heroes because she won the first women's Olympic marathon. Freedman even sees herself as a role model.

"I'd like to get more girls into cycling and inspire more women to enjoy athletics," she said.

Not only has Freedman not forgotten the struggle for equality in athletics for her gender, she also remembers her roots as a Jewish athlete and is proud of them. One thing she doesn't like about the Bay Area is how sparse the Jewish community is and would like to move back East to become more involved in the Jewish Community.

"It's alienating," she admitted.

When Freedman was younger, she attended Hebrew school at Brandeis University, which helped develop her strong Jewish identity.

"Athletics is not an end all, but part of a package," she says. "In education, you have culture, religion, and you can have athletics."

Freedman prefers the Jewish Chagim, which are more festive.

"Not Yom Kippur," she says with a giggle when asked what's her favorite Jewish holiday. "I like the ones where we eat a little more. I don't know if I have a favorite holiday. Actually, I like Passover the most. I remember going to my (paternal) grandmother's during Passover and it was special to her. I can't verbalize it."

Family is an important component of the influence upon Freedman. She inherited her Woody Allen (she loves his movies) sense of humor from her father, Marvin, and her love for the outdoors from her mother Corey.

Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of parks and cities, is her other hero. Freedman loves open space planning, but isn't sure if that will be her post-cycling career.

"Cycling came to me naturally and I knew I wanted to do it," Freedman said "I'm sure something will come to me with equal passion when I'm done cycling."

Ultimately, Freedman hopes to win a medal in the Olympics, but for now, she's just concentrating on reaching Olympus.

"I'll concentrate on it when I make it, but obviously, my goal is
to win," she said.