Episode 60
“I found the deeper into racing I got, the faster I got and the more I got back into the track cycling.
~DYLAN BIBIC
If you joined us for our international racing block in T-Town this summer, then you’ll recognize this week’s guest! Andrew sits down with none other than Dylan Bibic of Canada to discuss how Dylan got into track cycling, what his path has been and what it’s going to look like moving forward, what training through COVID looked like, and what his favorite bike is!
Dylan Bibic on Instagram: @dylanbibic
Thanks to B Braun Medical Inc. for sponsoring the Talk of the T-Town Podcast. BBraun is a global leader in infusion therapy and pain management, B Braun develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical products to the healthcare community. They are also strong believers in supporting the quality of life in the communities where their employees work and live.
Transcript
Broadcasting to you from the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, this is The Talk of the T-Town podcast, where we discuss all things track cycling.
Andrew Paradowski:
Welcome back to the podcast, everyone. My name’s Andrew Paradowski and I’ll be your host today. This is Talk of the T-Town podcast, the regular chat show, where we talk about all things track cycling, but especially here in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, at the T-Town Velodrome, the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Today, we are here with young racer Dylan Bibic from Canada, who has had an inauspicious career, starting from a very young age and rising through the ranks to become one of the world’s top track cyclists, and certainly not doing too badly on the road as well. He’s gone from a local rider in youth races, all the way up to being on a pro team. Dylan, how’s it going?
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah, I’m good. How are you?
Andrew Paradowski:
I’m not too bad. We’re super happy to have you here. Dylan is here as part of our UCI racing block. We’ve got four UCI races happening here in the month of June in 2022, while the last one’s in July and he’s been here for the entire block and looking forward to completing the last one, which is coming up in just a couple of days now, collecting some points and looking to improve his status and, of course, win some of the cash that we have on offer here today. Before we get to that, I just wanted to talk to you a bit about your history, where you came from, where you went, how long it took to get here, the sort of trials and tribulations of what it took to rise to the point where you are today. Tell me and our audience, how did all of this start?
Dylan Bibic:
I guess I was about nine or eight years old and I just really loved riding my bike so I asked my dad, “Could I have a racing bike to go enter races?” And I guess he just didn’t really know what racing was so he looked up racing bike and bought like the first one on Kijiji that would fit me. I showed up to my first race and I got, I think, third or second and I really enjoyed it and I liked the feeling of doing well so I kept going with it.
Andrew Paradowski:
Right on. As some of you, listeners, will know, I’m also from Canada. Dylan and I are from the same part, down near Toronto. I actually think I was there at that first race when you and your family showed up, I think it might have been the Newmarket Eagles race, the youth race?
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah, my first proper road race. That was it. Yeah.
Andrew Paradowski:
And I remember having a chat with your dad about it and saying like, you know exactly what you just said like, Hey, we’re new to this whole thing. What do we do? Where do we go? So, you’ve got this career now where you’re certainly on the rise. And there’s been a lot of people who have been involved in that from coaches to the cycling federation and all the other different people who’ve helped you get here. I’ll lay a little bit of claim to say all I discovered you after having gone to that first race and told you where to start your journey but of course that was it. That’s all I have everybody. There’ve been a lot of people helping you along your way. So tell us a little bit about that. Like after that first race, what kept you going? Did you get the bug, what was your sort of motivation after that first race?
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah I remember after the race, like you said, you recommended me to go to Midweek Cycling and I did their Monday night learn to race program. And that took me like up a step in my racing you could say, and it made me understand it a lot more and it developed me really well. Yeah, it was good.
Andrew Paradowski:
So you started off with road cycling, but that, isn’t your big passion though. I would say your big passion would be track. Is that right?
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah, I’m definitely better at track.
Andrew Paradowski:
Well, we’ve certainly seen some of your action here. The last couple of weeks. You’ve certainly put on a couple of clinics here in the Omnium and in the Madison races with Mattias when he’s down here with you as well. So yeah, you definitely are really good at that at track cycling. So, where did that come from? I mean, I know when, if you started, I guess it was back in the early tens, there were no real Velodrome in Ontario at that point. Where did it go from there?
Dylan Bibic:
Well, I guess when I was that age, I probably rode the track in London, Ontario once or twice, but what really started it for me in 2015, they completed the Mattamy National cycling center for the Pan Am games. And that’s when I really started the riding the track a lot and consistently, and I had my own bike and I remember they had really good programming for me back then. And I was just riding with a lot faster people was really encouraged me to keep going and always wanted to beat the next fastest guy, the next fastest guy until I get up there.
Andrew Paradowski:
Right on. So they built the Velodrome in 2015. That was seven years ago. And last year so six years after you started riding the cathedral in Milton, Ontario, you had the opportunity to ride at junior world championships. Tell us a bit about that.
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah. Junior championships was really interesting. I didn’t really properly train for it. I was in Belgium most of the time, so I didn’t actually ride a track like five months before going. I just used my general knowledge of the track and fitness from the road. And I showed up in Chiro, Egypt. And I guess I signed up for as many races I possibly could, I was doing the Kirin, the Omnium, the elimination race, and points race, the one I won and it was just a good experience. I found the deeper into racing I got, the faster I got and the more I got back into the track cycling. I think it was really good that I got to go and I’m very happy.
Andrew Paradowski:
Well, I’m sure you were being able to jump up onto the top of the podium and put the rainbow stripes on. Tell us about that. What did that feel like? The moment that you got to go on the podium in front of the entire world and put on what would ostensibly be one of your biggest, if not top five, career goals as a cyclist?
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah, it felt really good in the moment. Probably one of the coolest feelings having it handed to me just before I go up to the podium, but I always want the next thing, the next thing until I’m the best in the world out of elites.
Andrew Paradowski:
So what is the next thing for you then?
Dylan Bibic:
Next thing for me would be this T-Town race. And then I go to Pan American championships and my goal is to win the Omnium there. And then I want to win nationals for track for Canada and then go to worlds. And then I want to get a medal at the Omnium in elite worlds.
Andrew Paradowski:
Those are some pretty impressive goals you have there and judging by the way that you’ve been racing they’re not out of the realm of possibility, that’s for sure. Now, have you noticed Canada not being one of the bigger cycling nations in the world that as you are starting to branch out internationally, how do you find the shift in the caliber of the racers that you have to compete against?
Dylan Bibic:
It’s definitely different from racing in Canada. When I race in Canada, I honestly get like a little bored in the races and kind of toy with the race a little, but here I have to actually pay attention and in the Omnium you have to be very patient, especially in the last points race. Like if I were to just go out and win the first five sprints, then someone could attack me and I might not be able to follow.
Andrew Paradowski:
Right. So you’re also riding for a development under 23 team. That’s a premier tech.
Dylan Bibic:
Yep.
Andrew Paradowski:
How did that come about? How did you get to get on that team?
Dylan Bibic:
I had some okay road results last year. And with one of the directors, Kevin Fields, he contacted me about the team and it’s a really great opportunity for me. And I got a really good block of road racing this spring in training. And it’s definitely like showing this half of the season, I guess. My endurance is just, compared to what it was before, is so much better.
Andrew Paradowski:
Very cool. All right. I’m going to hit you with some rapid fire questions.
Dylan Bibic:
Sounds good.
Andrew Paradowski:
Favorite bike race.
Dylan Bibic:
Ooh, that’s a hard question. Like, favorite bike, race I’ve ever done, or favorite bike race I’ve ever had recurrent?
Andrew Paradowski:
All right we’ll split it in the two. What’s the favorite of race of yours to do, like style of race?
Dylan Bibic:
I guess where I have the most fun would be like at the end of an Omnium and a points race where I can just really mess up the field and put big gaps into people.
Andrew Paradowski:
Cool. What about favorite big international race? Road track, whatever, anything.
Dylan Bibic:
Junior Worlds was cool, but here’s pretty cool too. I mean, it’s cool to win in the elite field and it’s good to know where I stand.
Andrew Paradowski:
Favorite bike racer or your hero?
Dylan Bibic:
Whew. I guess Steve Bowers always, I’ve always looked up to him as probably the best Canadian cyclist of all time, but right now it’s like maybe Mark Cavendish, he’s pretty cool.
Andrew Paradowski:
Okay. Favorite bike?
Dylan Bibic:
Favorite bike I’ve ever ridden or like…?
Andrew Paradowski:
Yeah.
Dylan Bibic:
Ooh, it sounds weird, but my favorite bike I’ve ever- if I could only have one bike, it’s just a fun bike I use at my house. I probably in all honesty, it’s probably the bike I have the most kilometers on. I’ll go do training all day at the track then I’ll come home and hang out with my friends and ride that bike around for another 15 kilometers every night. Just for fun.
Andrew Paradowski:
Nice. I have it on a good authority that you also know how to ride a unicycle.
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah. I add a unicycle phase for a while. The only time these days I really ride unicycles if like a guest comes over and they’re like, oh unicycle. And I’m like, yeah, I can ride it.
Andrew Paradowski:
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done with unicycle, like race wise or event wise?
Dylan Bibic:
I got okay at tricks. I could do like 360s and like jump off things. But besides that, I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever done any crazy unicycle events.
Andrew Paradowski:
No, I could have sworn I heard somewhere that you entered a race, like Paris [inaudible 00:11:05] on a unicycle, no?
Dylan Bibic:
I showed up to the Midweek Cycle Cross once on a unicycle.
Andrew Paradowski:
Is that what it was? Okay.
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah.
Andrew Paradowski:
Yeah. Do you do cross as well?
Dylan Bibic:
Just mostly just for the bike handling scale. I’m not very good at it, but yeah, I’d say it’s one of the more important things to do as a track and road cyclist, because the skills on the track bike have saved me in a lot of road races.
Andrew Paradowski:
So actually that’s an interesting point because a lot of people say that it’s good to have diversity of skill when it comes to cycling. And then also other sports. Are there any other sports that you like to do in your spare time?
Dylan Bibic:
These days not so much. Like I said, most of my free time when I’m around is just riding my bike for fun. I’ve gotten pretty good at doing tricks, I can wheelie forever. I can do tricks while wheeling. It is one of my things I like to do.
Andrew Paradowski:
Okay. So let’s go back to sort of the beginning again and talk a bit about your history. There’s a lot of youth out there who, they start riding a bike and they all have dreams and aspirations of turning pro or going to worlds or getting up in development teams, national teams, all that kind of stuff. What would you say to someone if you could go back and you talk to 12 year old Dylan and said what are the things that are important to know about that journey? If you become successful enough and you’ve got the talent and skill to go there.
Dylan Bibic:
I guess just at a young age, I think it’s most important just to learn tactically everything. I think that’s why I’m also pretty good on the track. I like to think I’m tactically better than most people along with my power. So it’s really good, important to teach kids at the young age, all the little tricks and stuff. And then always just I don’t know, keep motivated, I guess, or I’d say maybe at a young age, don’t take it too seriously. Just do it for fun. That’s what I would think.
Andrew Paradowski:
And then looking towards the future. So you just, I guess you just finished high school recently.
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah.
Andrew Paradowski:
And so you’re looking to take a few years off and see where this pro thing goes then?
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah. I mean, I’m banking on going pro or making a living at a cycling.
Andrew Paradowski:
Cool. Well, you certainly have the skillset to take a good run at it and that’s for sure.
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah.
Andrew Paradowski:
So a lot of this, especially when you’re a young racer, depends on having parents that are at least committed to helping you, if not being involved. Can you tell me a little bit about that? Like have your parents been involved in your career and how they helped you?
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah, but I’m very thankful for my parents. They do everything, a lot for me. They always get me, drive me to the races I need to be at. They get me the little things, if a part breaks in my bike, my parents will help me get a new part or just being supportive and things like that.
Andrew Paradowski:
Very cool. All right. Let’s do another rapid fire. Let’s find out a little bit more about Dylan, the guy. So favorite movie?
Dylan Bibic:
Oh, it’s a hard question. Maybe like Star Wars?
Andrew Paradowski:
Star wars? The whole thing or do you have a specific one?
Dylan Bibic:
Oh, Episode Three.
Andrew Paradowski:
Episode Three, Revenge of the Sith, very cool. Yeah. What about music? What kind of music you into?
Dylan Bibic:
Oh, I like Oliver Tree. Okay. I liked him before he was cool. He’s gotten very popular, but I always like listening to his music.
Andrew Paradowski:
Do you listen to it when you train?
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah, it’s good to hype me up before races and stuff.
Andrew Paradowski:
Video games?
Dylan Bibic:
I played a lot of Fortnite, not so much anymore, but it was mostly just during the pandemic. I had nothing better to do. These days I don’t really play too many video games.
Andrew Paradowski:
Okay. And then what do you like to do in your spare time?
Dylan Bibic:
Oh, I just ride my bike around for fun, like wheely and just hang out with my friends.
Andrew Paradowski:
Nice. So you mentioned the pandemic there. How do you feel like that has affected your cycling career?
Dylan Bibic:
I don’t think too much. I got enough training throughout the pandemic. I really like 2020 the year. It was probably one of the better years of… It was probably the most entertaining year of my life. I consistently trained enough to keep my fitness and there’s no stress with racing so I could go bike packing or I could go just camping and do a bunch of crazy things without having to focus on racing. It was entertaining.
Andrew Paradowski:
Oh, I’m sure it was. But now that it’s over, we’re back to it.
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah.
Andrew Paradowski:
We’re super glad to have you down here in T-Town. And like we said, we’ve got one more race coming up this weekend and I’m going to guess that your focus will be get once again on the Omnium and also the big Madison, right? We got the big Madison points coming up now you’re riding the Madison as well?
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah. I’m riding with Riley Pickrell.
Andrew Paradowski:
Okay.
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah.
Andrew Paradowski:
Okay. So you’re going to change it up a little bit.
Dylan Bibic:
Yeah.
Andrew Paradowski:
Yeah, we hear that team Canada’s coming down in big force this weekend. So it should be really interesting. And once again, I’m sure you’ll put on a good show for us. So thanks Dylan for coming in and sitting down with us for our podcast here, I’m sure our listeners were thrilled to learn a bit more about you and I’m sure we’ll be watching your career with some keen interest. Before we go is there anything else you want to say or give a shout out to somebody?
Dylan Bibic:
I guess just the track it’s such good racing here. Such a pretty, really deep field. I haven’t not enjoyed a race here. I love it. Thank you.
Andrew Paradowski:
Very cool. Well, folks that was Dylan Bibic from Canada, who is down here for our UCI racing block, a young phenom who has done really well so far. And like we said, at a career that we’re really going to be watching with some interest. So join us again next time as we continue interviewing riders who have come down here to join us for our UCI block. My name is Andrew Paradowski. Today’s host for Talk of the T-Town and thank you for listening and we’ll see you all soon.
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