Melanie Cline

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Melanie R. Cline (b. June 29, 1975 from Westland, Michigan USA) was an American amateur "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1982-2004.

She was one of the first generation of female BMX racers to become well known after the 1980-1986 era dominated by Debbie Kalsow, Kathy Schachel, Gaby Bayhi and particularly Cheri Elliott. Like Cheri Elliott, Melanie Cline could more than hold her own against the boys, often racing in the "Open" class in which boys and girls raced in the same age bracket-9 & 10 year olds; 11 & 12 year olds for example-compete as opposed to the girls only division. She regularly made those Open mains and even won many of them. She won five such Opens at nationals in 1987 in the 11 and 12 year old classes.[1] Her nicknames "Swell Mel" or just "Mel" are obvious plays on her first name Melanie. She was also known as "Speedqueen". Melanie went on to win 4 World Championships as well as 10 National Championships during her racing career, the most of any one person at that time. She retired in 2004 after conceiving her first son shortly after the NBL Grand Nationals.

Contents

[edit] Racing career

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.

Started Racing: July 4, 1982 at the Salt Creek BMX track in Winchester, Indiana.[2] Age 7 years.

Sanctioning Body: American Bicycle Association (ABA)

First race result: 1st place at Salt Creek BMX

First win (local): 1st race at Salt Creek BMX

First sponsor: Champion.

First national win: She won the first seven nationals she entered.[3]

Turned Professional:

First Professional race result:

First Professional win:

Retired: Sept 2004 after conceiving her first child

Height & weight at height of her career: Ht:5'4" Wt:141lbs (Size 4)

[edit] Career factory and major bike shop sponsors

Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage at the time in question.

[edit] Amateur

  • Champion: January 1984-December 1986
  • Reggie's Bike Shop: January 1986-1987
  • Hardee's: January 1987-1988
  • Cycle Craft: January 1988-1991
  • Revcore: 1991-
  • Canondale:
  • Profile:

[edit] Professional

[edit] Career bicycle motocross titles

[edit] Amateur

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

  • None

National Bicycle League (NBL)

  • 1984 9 Girls National No.1
  • 1985 10 Girls National No.1
  • 1986 11 Girls National No.1
  • 1987 12 Girls National No.1
  • 1988 13 Girls National No.1
  • 1989 14 Girls National No.1
  • 1990 15 Girls National No.1
  • 1991 16 & Over Girls and overall National No.1

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

  • 1985 10 Girls National No.1 (Note: She was No.1 for her age group only. Cheri Elliott was the overall National Girls No.1 for 1985).

Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)

  • 1988 13 Girls Champion
  • 1989 14 Girls Champion
  • 1990 15 Girls Champion

International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)

  • 1987 12 Girls Champion

[edit] Professional

National Bicycle Association (NBA)

  • None

National Bicycle League (NBL)

American Bicycle Association (ABA)

  • None

United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)

  • None

International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)

Pro Series Championships

[edit] Notable accolades

  • She was instrumental in persuading the NBL to provide the girls a Cruiser class separate from the boys.[4] Not that she wanted not to race the boys, but she wanted to retain female involvement in BMX racing. This is in keeping with her penchant to be pro active. She was on the drama club, active in all sports activities in school and carried a 3.8 Grade Point Average (GPA).[5]

[edit] Significant injuries

[edit] Peccadilloes

[edit] Post BMX career

[edit] BMX magazine covers

Bicycle Motocross News:

  • None

Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:

  • None

Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:

  • None

BMX Plus!:

  • None

Bicycles and Dirt:

Snap:

  • None

[edit] BMX press magazine interviews and articles

  • "Mini Kids" Bicycles and Dirt September 1984 Vol.2 No.10 pg.29. Very brief profile of her and 11 other 10 years old and under racers.
  • "5 World Champs: Who are these people, anyway?" BMX Plus! December 1988 Vol.11 No.12 pg.50 Small profile article along with four other 1988 FIAC World Champions.
  • "Melanie Cline: Sponsored by Cycle Craft" BMX Plus! October 1990 Vol.13 No.10 pg.49 Mini interview.

[edit] Miscellaneous

She has two sons, Ty Anthony Bialobrzeski born on June 5, 2004[6] And Gage Kele Bialobrzeski born on July 26th, 2006.

[edit] End Notes

  1. ^ BMX Plus! December 1988 Vol.11 No.12 pg.50
  2. ^ BMX Plus! December 1988 Vol.11 No.12 pg.50
  3. ^ BMX Plus! December 1988 Vol.11 No.12 pg.50
  4. ^ BMX Plus! October 1990 Vol.13 No.10 pg.49
  5. ^ BMX Plus! October 1990 Vol.13 No.10 pg.49
  6. ^ BMXmania.com announcing the birth of Melaine Cline's son Ty Bialobrzeski.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../m/e/l/Melanie_Cline_d048.html"