Museeuw MF1 in team colours

Ine Beyen is a 21 year old Elite Belgian woman on the Swift Women's Cycle Race Team, and we took an instant liking to her Museeuw MF1 in team colours. We took the opportunity to also ask her about her racing.

The Swift Women's Team are riding the latest Flax Hybrid Museeuw MF1 for the 2008 season and are painted in the team colours of pink.

Click to see more bike pictures (Also a snap of Emma Davies with her bike)

How long have you been riding?
Ine- I've been riding my bike since I was 15 years old. So it's my 7th season now.

What do you hope to achieve in cycling?
Ine- I just want to be happy after a race. When I feel I have done well, I get a lot of energy out of that. Each year I have certain goals, I'm don't have 1 specific one. This year I want to go to the European Championship again, because it's the only race that is specific for my age. I'm only 21 so it's quite difficult if you always have to race against much older girls. But on the other side, it's a positive thing, because you can learn a lot from them.

Are you interested in the bike's technology or are you happy to just ride a good bike?
Ine- I'm not interested in the bike's technology at all. Let me just ride a nice bike, a light one, in a pink color, and I'm happy!

What types of races do you enjoy?
Ine- I really like the races with a lot of hills in it. I like "La Fleche Wallonne" a lot. I also like the stage races with really long climbs in it. I also like it when it is an important race, for example the World or European Championship. I'm always extra motivated for it.

What races do you hate?
Ine- I really hate racing when no one takes the initiative, and I hate racing in cold and rainy weather.

Do you ride your bike when it rain?
Ine- Yes I do. I prefer riding in the rain instead of riding on the turbo. But when it rains a lot and it is cold, I stay inside.

Best results?
Ine- When I was still riding with the youth I won a few races. When I became 18, I had to take a big step, riding together with the professionals.

I think my best result last year was on the European championship. I had a 20th place, but I was happy with it. It was a turbulent race with a crash for me. But still I think it was my best result because I showed myself that I could work for something and achieve well on an important race. Also the fact that I finished in a few stage races in the middle of the bunch makes me think I did well, it makes me sure of the fact that, in a few years, I can even do better.

Bike Spec
Johan Museeuw says on his website about his Flax bike; "Flax fiber is a natural fiber which is very robust, flexible and light. Thanks to these qualities, the fiber is very popular in the car industry (among others with BMW, Audi, Daimler-Benz) and the aeronautical industry.

Around 2004 I enlisted the cooperation of IPA Composites Belgium and Billato Linea Telai and set out to find a way of letting the cycling enthusiast benefit from the unique qualities this fiber has to offer. Our intense research has yielded an innovative and promising product: the Flax Carbon Hybrid Race Bike

It's all in the name: the frame is composed of a combination of high-end flax and carbon fibers, which are joined, using the twill composite hybrid sandwich technique. The main advantage of this frame is its excellent shock-absorbing quality, which makes for an enhanced riding comfort and, accordingly, for improved performances."