Ali 'enjoying' motherhood

Alison Palmer. Photo / Getty Images

There is no indication how quickly baby Lucas might be able to scorch around a track - he still has a few balance issues at the moment, to be fair.

But his mother, former world champion cyclist Alison Palmer (nee Shanks), can confirm her 4-week-old son does have good lungs and long limbs, so the raw material is there.

Alison and Craig Palmer with their son, Lucas. Photo / Kay Shanks / Otago Daily Times

Mrs Palmer and her husband, BikeNZ sports scientist Craig Palmer, welcomed Lucas into the world on September 28.

He weighed in at a healthy 3.8kg and ''is a pretty good wee boy'', Mrs Palmer said.

Life was great, she revealed, but it was certainly a change of pace for the Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

''We've been getting out and going for some walks. But maybe when Lucas is big enough to sit on a bike seat we can get out on the bike.''

It is unlikely Mrs Palmer will be coming out of retirement even when Lucas is older.

''I've moved on. It is another chapter closed and time for motherhood and I'm really enjoying the time. But we have already taken him to the velodrome.''

In December, the couple moved from Dunedin to Cambridge, where Bike NZ is based.

Lucas timed his arrival superbly. The family's new house had just been completed a few days earlier.

It was a lovely home but a long way from her family, she said.

''At times like this, Cambridge feels a really long way away from Dunedin. But Mum and Dad have already been up to stay and then also my sister Nicky and her husband Ben came up for a few days.''

Mrs Palmer plans to visit Dunedin in December.