• Source: Melanie Cline
    • Melanie R. Cline (born June 29, 1975) is an American former amateur "Old/Mid School" Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were from 1982–2004 and 2009 to the present.
      Born in Westland, Michigan, 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 Cheri Elliott. Melanie Cline could more than hold her own against the boys, often racing in the "Open" class at nationals in which boys and girls raced in the same age bracket—9- and 10-year-olds and 11- and 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 class. 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 stopped competing in 2003 after conceiving her first son shortly after the NBL Grand Nationals.
      In late 2009, Melanie returned to racing with her five-year-old son joining her. She and her son have quickly become two riders to watch out for during the 2010 NBL season.


      Racing career milestones




      = Career factory and major bike shop sponsors

      =


      Amateur/Junior Women


      Reggie's Schwinn BMX: January 1983 – November 1983.
      Kam Marketing/Champion Racing Ptoducts: November 1983 – December 1985.
      Reggie's Schwinn BMX: January 1986-Late 1986
      Hardee's: Late October 1986 – December 1987
      Cyclecraft: December 1987 – 1990
      DK (Dad and Kids) Bicycle Company: 1990–1991
      Revcore: 1991 – November 1992
      Canondale: 1995
      Ross: 1995–1996. She would turn pro with this sponsor. The NBL reintroduced the girl's pro class in 1995.


      Professional/Elite Women


      Ross: 1995–1996
      Profile: 1997


      = Career bicycle motocross titles

      =


      Amateur/Junior Women


      National Bicycle League (NBL)

      1984 8–9 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1984 8–9 Girls National No.1
      1985 10 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1985 10 Girls National No.1
      1986 11 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1986 11 Girls National No.1
      1987 12 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1987 12 Girls National No.1
      1988 13 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1988 13 Girls National No.1
      1989 14 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1989 14 Girls National No.1
      1990 15 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1990 15 Girls National No.1
      1991 16 & Over Girls Grandnational Champion
      1991 16 & Over Girls National No.1
      1991 16 & Over Girls Cruiser Grandnational Champion.
      2009 30–34 Women's Cruiser Grandnational Champion
      2010 35–39 Women's Cruiser Grandnational Champion
      2010 35–39 Women's Cruiser National No.1
      American Bicycle Association (ABA)

      1983 7–8 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1984 Michigan District #1 (Mich-1) No.1 Girl
      1985 10 Girls "Race of Champions" Champion
      1985 10 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1985 10 Girls National No.1*
      1986 District Mich-1 No.1 Girl
      1986 11 Girls "Race of Champions" Champion
      1986 11 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1988 13 Girls Grandnational Champion
      1989 14 Girls Grandnational Champion
      United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)

      1984 National No.3 Girl

      International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*

      1983 7 & Under Girls Murray World Cup II Champion
      1985 9 Girls Murray World Cup IV Champion
      1987 12 Girls World Champion
      Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*

      1988 13 Girls World Champion
      1989 14 Girls World Champion
      1990 15 Girls World Champion
      Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*

      None


      Professional/Elite Women


      National Bicycle League (NBL)

      None
      American Bicycle Association (ABA)

      None
      United States Bicycle Motocross Association (USBA)

      None (Defunct)
      International Bicycle Motocross Federation (IBMXF)*

      None (Defunct)
      Fédération Internationale Amateur de Cyclisme (FIAC)*

      None
      Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)*

      1995 Elite Women Bronze Medal World Cup Champion

      Pro Series Championships and Invitationals


      = Notable accolades

      =
      She was instrumental in persuading the NBL to provide the girls a Cruiser class separate from the boys. 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).


      = Significant injuries

      =
      Broke finger in early 1984 just before the NBL national season at eight years old. she raced anyway despite having to wear a cast that reached up to her elbow for four weeks.


      = Racing traits and habits

      =


      = Miscellaneous

      =
      She has two sons, Ty Anthony Bialobrzeski, born on June 5, 2004, and Gage Kele Bialobrzeski, born on July 26, 2006.


      Post BMX career




      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.
      "NBL National Number 1's" Bicycles Today January 1985 Vol.7 No.1 pg. 14 Short biographical blurb in sanctioning body newspaper for becoming NBL National No.1 8-9 Girls class in 1984.
      "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.


      BMX magazine covers



      Minicycle/BMX Action & Super BMX:

      None
      Bicycle Motocross Action & Go:

      None
      BMX Plus!:

      None
      Bicycles and Dirt:

      None
      Snap BMX Magazine & Transworld BMX:

      None
      Moto Mag:

      None
      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):


      Notes




      External links


      The American Bicycle Association (ABA) Website.
      The National Bicycle League (NBL) Website.
      Cline's UCI Rider details of NBL and UCI race results between June 28 & 29 2003.

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