<![CDATA[Malene Degn

<![CDATA[Malene Degn - Stories]]>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:26:23 +0100Weebly<![CDATA[The AND philosophy.]]>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:12:19 GMThttps://www.malene-degn.com/stories/the-and-philosophyI change diapers at 3am, and I dream of trails 3pm.

I became someone’s mother last December. It’s the most beautiful thing, it’s exhausting, it´s overwhelming love, and it’s all-consuming.
For the past months, my social media has been kind of just a collection of little rectangular photos from my camera roll, that I snapped here and there, without much text. But in reality, I have had so many more thoughts, feelings and challenges that I just haven’t shared.

Now spring is arriving, and I feel it. I want to start the new season by opening up more, more about motherhood and my experience in this new chapter of my life.

I want to start with challenging the idea of what a mum should do or be. One of the reasons I have held back a bit and kept things somewhat ‘polished’ was because, when I first started to post a bit after giving birth, people started to message me, ofc many lovely texts, but also some quite pointy ones – pointing out that I “shouldn’t think about riding but focus on my baby”. When I said I only had time for very short rides – “Welcome to real life!”, “Why do you care about that? You are a mum now”.
It made me somewhat insecure. But also frustrated. Am I only allowed to be a mum now and stop doing anything for myself? And will that be the only thing that defines me?

The "and" philosophy

It made me realize I want the “and”. I can be gentle and nurturing, and I can be driven and gritty. I’m patient and persistent. I’m a mother and a cyclist. I change diapers at 3am, and I dream of trails 3pm.

Starting a family will inevitably change my page, but I hope you guys will still find it interesting and fun to keep being part of it. Cycling is an anchor in my life, and it’s still a huge part of me. I just got an insanely cool addition to life with Leo’s arrival.

I don’t care that I’m slow or weak right now, because I just gave birth to a tiny human and I’m keeping him fed and happy, which feels like the biggest privilege and job I’ve ever had.

I plan to come back to do some fun racing events later in the year, but for now, training is like a self-care moment for me. When he naps, I can quickly jump on the home trainer and feel my heart pumping. Or when Nino’s not riding, it’s my turn to take the MTB out for a quick trail ride or run. I don’t care that I’m slow or weak right now, because I just gave birth to a tiny human and I’m keeping him fed and happy, which feels like the biggest privilege and job I’ve ever had.
(side note. ps. For anyone who has tried to give birth, what in the world was that, haha, the most primal experience I have ever had. Our bodies just take over, zero control, just instinct!)

Life changes. Our bodies change. We change. But the bike can remain as a constant. It’s a tool for sanity, fun, friendship, challenges, and a way to remember who we are besides our titles. I want to connect with you in all the messy and beautiful corners of life. Whether you're navigating motherhood, a career shift, just trying to find an hour for yourself, or something else entirely – let’s ride through it together (okay, that sounded cheesy, but you get it).

Cheers to AND’s and changes.
/Malene

]]><![CDATA[A look back: 1st & 2nd trimester]]>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:14:14 GMThttps://www.malene-degn.com/stories/november-07th-2025Here's a little write about my pregnancy.
Being pregnant has been a wild experience. From seeing two lines on a test, to see a mini human on a screen, who supposably is inside of me, to then feel this little human moving and kicking around. What the h(b)elly, it’s crazy that the female body can do this (with a bit of help from a man yea).

Before I start, thanks for being here, and reading along. You’re probably reading this because you’re interested in pregnancies, pregnant, or perhaps having a partner that potentially could be. But I just want you to know, that this is my experience, and pregnancies comes in their own unique way. And I'm still not finished :)

We’re in Nove Mesto Na Morave, I had gotten the opportunity to do a world cup. I felt great leading into the event and actually also doing the race itself, but I had a feeling something was different inside of me. On Monday when we got home, I took a test and realized that’s maybe why things had felt a little different. Because things were different.

The first 3 month I felt quite normal, I saw myself as an incredible lucky individual, knowing how ill some women get. Training wise I could keep an average of 14hours of training per week, with intensities, I couldn’t handle more though, because I had to nap a lot, and my recovery time went up. Around two months pregnant I won the national title on the marathon distance. I felt great on the day, and I was so proud of my body. Should I have won the tandem category instead?

An intersting thing I observed on my watch was that my resting HR went 10-15 beats up, after only a few weeks and it haven’t gone down since. Meanwhile my HRV did actually stay in ‘green’ in its quote-on-quote normal zone, and has just now dropped complete into the red zone. Which I think will be like that for the next months.

I felt a bit nauseas and I saw the power to HR on my Garmin had been very different to normal. That day I realized it was time for a new normal.

A couple of weeks later I also attended a gravel race, The Octopus, but there I decided to let the distance (6,5hours), be the challenge and not the intensity, again I felt goood.

Heading into the 2rd trimester I felt a shift. I went out to do an interval session, 4x10 minutes sweet-spot/low threshold, a training zone I had felt quite good about for the past weeks, but that day was different. I had for weeks not looked at power output, only heart rate, but that day my heart rate went up to 180bpm within the first minute without I felt it in my legs really.
Normally I need to puuuush to reach 180bpm, but that day it felt different. I tried to slow down the pace, but I was still determined to finish the training. When I got home, I felt a bit nauseas and I saw the power to HR on my Garmin had been very different to normal. That day I realized it was time for a new normal.

So, in the second trimester I was done with the structured training and went completely on feel and mood (and sunshine). I went down to 11 hours of training/moving per week on average and without any intensities, just me having a good time. Now also including hiking, beside the riding. Luckily, I still felt great on my bike, even on the mountain bike. Felt so comfortable and strong, it was great.

And also, somehow freeing? Well, both freeing and scary. Freeing because this trimester took the pressure of performance off my shoulders, but somewhat scary because who am I when my life is not centered around training and racing?

Who am I when my life is not centered around training and racing?

I was and I am forced to slow down and live life at a slower pace. Makes me feel incredible restless, but I deep down think it’s an opportunity for me to learn. Coming to peace with the fact that my fitness curve and my weight curve is going steadily in two opposite direction and that is exactly how it’s supposed to be.

People asked me how it felt to step away from the World Cup circuit in the beginning of the year, was it difficult? Yea it was strange. But it felt like the best thing I could have done for myself. I must say, getting pregnant as an athlete has for me been a mentally much harder challenge. That really puts your athletic identity under pressure. Who is this version of Malene? Who suddenly can’t just ride here, there, go racing anywhere. She needs extra snacks on demand, nap constantly and needs to sit down whenever it’s possible. Which now when I read it sounds a lot like an athlete, haha, but trust me it’s not the same.

I’m now in my 3rd trimester and I know I’m on the home stretch. It might just be the countdown to the biggest athletic event of my life. Which preparation does not consist of Vo2Max killer intervals, for a change, haha.
So as of today, with a resting heart rate as low as 63bpm, I’m sitting here in front of my word document, and it felt great to write this. I was so unsure about what I should share. But maybe I would have liked to read this 6 months ago and that’s what matters.

There is a Malene 2.0 version coming next year, mum and athlete, and I have come to the conclusion that I’m so excited to meet her. Hope she will be cool.
Lots of love
Malene

Still able to ride the Bike Park at 3,5 months!

]]><![CDATA[Need to have - tools]]>Sun, 06 Jul 2025 14:20:35 GMThttps://www.malene-degn.com/stories/need-to-have-toolsSo here’s a list of what tools you really do need. Like not the nice to have the actual need to have.

First things first, as a general concept, the longer the tool is, the better – as they say… – no but for real, the bigger the tool is, the easier it will be to use (more power!). Okay, I don’t know if that sounded better, but you get the point…

I’m writing this to you, who might not own a tool, but started cycling and doesn’t know where to start. All the screws on your bike will be either be Torx or Allen keys in a few different sizes. Allen keys can also be called Hex, referring to the 6 sides. As I’m an ambassador for the Tool (and bike-packing) brand Topeak, all my recommendations will be from this brand.

So, while we are still on the topic of big tools, let’s start there.  . I would recommend that you get some big allen keys in size 6 and 8. Why? Because these two sizes will often be used for you pedals and crank. Maybe you will never try to take out your crank – but to take off the pedals is quite useful (and they get stuck so easily). Could be these, strong and a good handle:
www.topeak.com/global/en/product/555-DUOHEX-TOOL-6---8---10-MM

The Torx, which is looking more like a star, can be used at your handlebar, the stem, brakes and also often the seatpost. It differs from bike to bike, so check yours. But you need a Torx set whatsoever, it’s a must. A set will have different sizes, could be this: www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1810-TORX-WRENCH-SET-DX

Alongside the Torx set, you could also purchase an Allen key set, which can also replace the big single ones (6,8,10). An idea could be to start with the key set from 1,5 to 10, and see if you need bigger handles, for a couple of sizes. I personally like to have the extra ones. A set could be: www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1811-DUOHEX-WRENCH-SET-DX

Next up: A multi-tool. A multi-tool is a tool which has multiple functions, as the name kind of reveals. This is a must, because it’s something you will also bring with you when you ride. It could be stored in a saddlebag together with a spare tube and tire levers. I like this one: www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1627-BURRITO-PACK-slim. It’s kind of cute in the burrito style. For a mulit-tool the Tubi 18 is a good option.
www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1343-TUBI-18 , quite doable. But there is so many good choices, just make sure that one of the tools can take off your wheel! Uh, reminds me you also need pumps.

A to-go pump for your rides you can have in your pocket, or fix on your bike together with one of your bottle cages. I like this one:
www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1446-GRAVEL-2STAGE
and there is also mount included, so your pockets can be empty. With a pump and your saddle bag with all the stuff – you will be unstoppable ;-)
But for your home, you need a floor pump. The small pump can do, buuuuut a proper big pump will change your life, haha. A floor pump is so good, I got this one;

www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1562-JOEBLOW-MOUNTAIN-EX

Now, when we are in the tire area, two bigger tire levers are nice to have, if you don’t have so much finger strength and you like your nails, two big ones can be quite powerful to have at home, for tire changes and so on (https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1620-SHUTTLE-LEVER-PRO)

This I’m not sure the name of, but it’s useful. Actually, there are two, maybe even three types. It’s kind of sizers, but not. https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1807-6%22-DIAGONAL-CUTTING-PLIERS + https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/1806-6%22-LONG-NOSE-PLIERS

These are the tools I use the most. You can always get more, of course, but these I feel are essential. You can make your own little toolbox or get a premade one.

Hope this was helpful!

All the best
Malene

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