| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Melanie R. Cline |
| Nickname | "Swell Mel", "Mel", "Speed Queen", |
| Born | June 29, 1975 Westland, Michigan, United States |
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 64 kg (140 lb) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Bicycle Motocross (BMX) |
| Role | Racer |
| Rider type | Off Road |
| Amateur team(s) | |
| 1983 1984-1985 1986 1986-1987 1987-1990 1990-1991 1991 1995 1995-1996 |
Reggie's Schwinn BMX Kam Marketing/Champion Reggie's Schwinn BMX Hardee's Cyclecraft DK Revcore Cannondale Ross |
| Professional team(s) | |
| 1996 1997 |
Ross Profile |
| Infobox last updated on July 14, 2008 |
|
Melanie R. Cline (b. June 29, 1975 from Westland, Michigan U.S.) is an American former 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 and 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 & 12 year old class.[1] Her nicknames "Swell Mel" or just "Mel" are obvious plays on her first name Melanie. She was also known as "Speed Queen". Melanie went on to win 4 World Championships as well as 16 National Championships during her racing career, the most of any one person at that time. She retired in 2003 after conceiving her first son shortly after the NBL Grand Nationals.
In late 2009 Melanie returned to racing with her 6 year old son joining her. She and her son have quickly become two riders to watch out for during the 2010 NBL season.
Contents |
Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.
| Milestone | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Started Racing: | July 4, 1982 at the Salt Creek BMX track in Winchester, Indiana.[1] Age 7 years. | |
| Sanctioning Body: | American Bicycle Association (ABA) | |
| Sanctioning body district(s): | ABA Michigan District #1 (Mich-1) (1984) | |
| First race bike: | ||
| First race result: | First place at Salt Creek BMX | |
| First win (local): | See above. | |
| First sponsor: | Reggie's Schwinn BMX 1983. | |
| First national win: | She won the first seven nationals she entered.[1] | |
| Turned Professional: | 1996. This was the first year that the NBL reintroduced professional woman's races into BMX since it originally ended in 1987. | |
| First Professional race result: | ||
| First Professional win: | ||
| First Junior Women* race result: | ||
| First Junior Women win: | ||
| First Elite Women** race result: | ||
| First Elite Women win: | ||
| Height and weight at height of her career : | Ht:5'4" Wt:141 lbs (Size 4) | |
| Retired: | In September 2003 after conceiving her first child. | |
*In the UCI Junior women are ages 15 to 16 years of age, regardless if they are professional or not in another organization. Senior Women are from 17 years old and above, again regardless if they are professional or not in another sanctioning body.
Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous ever changing co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and sponsor's advertisements at the time in question. When possible exact dates are given.
Note: Listed are District, State/Provincial/Department, Regional, National, and International titles in italics. Only sanctioning bodies that existed during the racer's career(s) are listed. Depending on point totals of individual racers, winners of Grand Nationals do not necessarily win National titles. Series and one off Championships are also listed in block.
National Bicycle League (NBL)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
*Beginning in the 1985 season the ABA made it possible to earn an amateur national no.1 plate in the age group of the racer, similar to NBL practice. However, the ABA still had an overall National No.1 Girl. Cheri Elliott was the overall National Girls No.1 for 1985.
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*
*See note in professional section.
National Bicycle League (NBL)
American Bicycle Association (ABA)
United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)
International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*
Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*
Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*
Pro Series Championships and Invitationals
She has two sons, Ty Anthony Bialobrzeski born on June 5, 2004[6] And Gage Kele Bialobrzeski born on July 26, 2006.
Note: Only magazines that were in publication at the time of the racer's career(s) are listed unless specifically noted.
Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:
Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:
BMX Plus!:
Bicycles and Dirt:
Snap BMX Magazine' & Transworld BMX:
Moto Mag:
Bicycles Today & BMX Today (The official NBL membership publication under two names):
ABA Action, American BMXer, BMXer (The official ABA membership publication under three names):
USBA Racer (The official USBA membership publication):