1. Tell us a bit about yourself
I like to get into things. Obsessed some say, but I prefer to think of it as enthusiastic.

2. What got you into cycling?
My brother and I rode bikes everywhere as kids — to school, to squash on the weekends, to friends’ houses, towing skateboards, to work. What really got me into cycling was the idea that a bike could take me anywhere. I was 16 when I talked my brother, cousin and mate Wayne into riding with me from Katoomba to Kiama — “it’s all downhill” — took us three days.

Later (mid 90s), a very nice policeman helped me back into cycling after stopping to admire my car. That six month driving suspension resulted in a commute between Ashfield and North Ryde on an incredibly heavy Shogun rigid-fork MTB. A few years later I bought a Giant ATX 890 aluminium hardtail, rode all over the blueys, and started a long, solo commute between Avalon and North Ryde via Church Point and McCarrs Creek Road, 40 kms each way. Nearly killed me the first day. Took 3 hours — I was an hour late for work — sat at my desk in a daze and got a lift home with a mate.

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
Started riding again in January this year after about 15 years. Was gasping and wheezing up the highway one afternoon when Sat Nav cruised past and tried valiantly to strike up a conversation. In the end he handed me a card and I looked Easy Riders up on the web. Rhodes run the next day, and ridden pretty much every (work) day since.

4. Tell us about your bikes.
Speedwell Scout 24 (1975). I really wanted a Dragster but Dad insisted on “proper” bikes. I think that thing was made out of solid steel rod. The trusty Bennett Super Sports (1979), faithful servant for many years, long since retired. I pulled my brother’s bike out from under Mum and Dad’s house after 25 years at Christmas this year, pulled it apart, painted it, put it all back together again and set out on the one true path. In the meantime, there was that Centurion rigid fork MTB (stolen from the car park at work) and the Giant aluminium hardtail (stolen from the garage at home.) The Peugeot was sitting under a work mate’s house for 20 years or so. Pulled that apart, cleaned it up and replaced a few bits and pieces. We’ve done over 3000 kilometres together since July.

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
New Zealand. Wait, Moab. Or Marin. No, no, the Pyrenees and the Alps. The Dolomites? Canada! Arg. Yes please, I would like to ride anywhere in the world.

6. Tell us a riding story.
I’d had my shiny new Bennett for about a week, so I was fifteen years old and riding for the first time with gears: belting down my road flat out in top, pedalling furiously along the main drag then swooping in and out of the side streets. I felt like I was flying, until a bloke drives past and yells at me — get off the road you idiot, or words to that effect — my first GOTF token, which he delivered along with an empty beer can, I guess to emphasise his point.

7. Do you have any advice for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
Um, it’s quite nice at the back of the peloton. Otherwise, ride home with Clutters and Bam Bam.

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.
I once presented on stage with Bill Gates? Or, I like climbing things too — this is Mt Aspiring in New Zealand.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a qualified tradie.  An electrical fitter.  NB: I do not own a ute.  I changed from the Electricity Supply Industry to Banking IT about 17 years ago.  I apply electrical circuit theory to business processes and computer systems to make them work. Mix in a modicum of engineering rigour and some analytical pisaz and I can usually find a way to have some fun working with the mundane.

I like outdoor endurance type sports like bushwalking, kayaking, back country (and alpine) skiiing (see below).  Cycling fits into that pretty well. One of my all time favourite holidays was a 10 day back country ski trip through the middle of the Kosciusko National Park. In my late 20s, I climbed a Himalayan Trekking peak called Mera Peak (6800m).  That was seriously hard yakka.  After that, other physical challenges are shorter and hopefully as much fun.

B1 on Mera attempting a hand stand at 6800m and 0.45 of an atmosphere. I’m not able to keep my feet together. Everest in the background

I have a broad taste in music and have recently seized upon Jazz after listening to my boys play in some very good school jazz bands.

2. What got you into cycling?
I have ridden short distances on and off over the years, mainly as a way to wear the kids out on the weekends. Dragon talked me into the Gong Ride last year.  Reckoned I’d have to train for it by riding to work. I did the Spring Cycle standing on my head (and so did the kids), the Gong Ride couldn’t be that much harder, could it?  I started riding a “safe” route which we know as the Epping Chapter today. While the route was fairly traffic free, it involved two crossings of Browns Water Hole and Rothwell Ave (22%) each day.  After the Gong Ride, I kept riding a few times a week.  Eventually, I was persuaded to buy a “proper” bike, the Aluminium Giant I have now.

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
I had just started riding the “proper” bike and was looking for a route that was shorter and less demanding than Epping/Browns when I bumped into SatNav at the SSHB.  He sold me on the OTP, and the rest is history.

4. Tell us about your bikes.
I have an old MTB I gained from a friend who left it to me as payment for things I bought for him while he was sailing a small yacht around the world.  I used it for ages to take the kids shopping with a Tag-Along.  I used that bike on the Gong Ride.

A young Keith on a Tandem with my brother Andrew

My wife found a T bar thing on the footpath in a Council Cleanup.  It worked and has skinnier tyres than the MTB, so I started riding that.  Some of you will have seen it – described as my paddock basher.  Weighs 15kg like the MTB.
I have an Aluminium Giant Defy I. The one most of you will have seen.  Much lighter than the other two.  I’m concerned I’ll wear it out pretty quickly clocking up over 1000 km a month.

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Riding around Sydney is growing on me.  It doesn’t scare me as much as when I first started.  Should I still be scared?  OK, I’m still scared, I started off terrified.  The Red Flag event from Merimbula to Mt K is most appealing.  As a skiing nut (see below), I like alpine style challenges and that ride certainly does it.

6, Tell us a riding story (or two).
About 20 years ago, I did an over-night riding trip with an outdoor group called SPAN. (Doesn’t stand for anything. Means unlimited SPAN of activities.) It was four days in the Barrington Tops.  The biggest hill was 1300m straight up.  Had to push the bike up over your head while on foot.  Jam the brakes on.  Take two steps up.  Repeat.  The ride down was worth it.  I fell off going over a causeway in soft mud.  I did well lining up a touchdown on some soft greenery on my back.  Perfect flat landing skidding along a bit so that my tee shirt rolled up my back exposing it fully – to the stinging nettles – the green.   The pain was – well.  So I just got back on the bike and rode off without a word – what could I say?

Another story: I was holidaying with our kids on a farm near Gloucester. I had the Tag-Along and took Keith for a Climb up Tipperary Mountain.  It was up a very steep dirt road.  As we approached a high ridge, a storm broke with thunder, lightning and horizontal rain. (Keith was 4 years old.) I thought “He won’t like getting too wet, so we’d better head back.”  I took the direct route down, knowing it was fairy safe, having driven it in a Land rover previously.  The grass was about 2.5 feet tall.  This made for a relatively slow descent.  But the grass was hiding all the cow pats which were slippery and sprayed up every where.  The descent was so steep I had to hang off the back of the bike, as you do on steep stuff.  The rain was pelting in so that we were soaked on just one side.  Somewhere on the way down, one of the buttons on my shirt popped, allowing the bike seat to get into the front of my shirt.  When we got to a flat bit near the bottom, I found I was stuck hanging out the back of the bike with the seat jammed inside my shirt.  While this was happening, Keith was yelling “Yeee Harrr! Hey dad, get your wet bottom out of my face.” at the top of his voice.

7. Do you have any advice for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
It’s like when you are skiing (see below) in a white out.  If the guy in front suddenly disappears, you know its time to stop or take evasive action to avoid that cornice or white ute.  You only get that by riding at the back.

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.
I believe back country skiing is the second best way to start the day – you know – snow camping.  The breathtaking scenery, the need to get moving fast so you can warm up in the morning, the exhilaration of going so fast with such little effort.  Skiing in Sydney is a bit hard.  Bike riding is a very good proxy.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself

Originally English, was transported here in the mid eighties, and brought tears to Bob Hawke’s eyes as he swore me in as an Aussie citizen on the Bicentennial Australia Day. ( Well it was actually September that year but I like the story ) Known to stretch as much value out of as few facts as possible my role as Scribe seems to suit ER purposes well.. Any serious attempt at acquiring wealth has been thwarted by expensive hobbies, Aviation first love, unrequited and divorced once children and mortgage took first precedence.. Divorce…what more needs to be said, and now flirting with the mistress Cycling.

2. What got you into cycling?

See above. Very few things can deliver so much pleasure for so little cost. When gym membership is a stretch too far after mortgage and kids, there is nothing like a good hard ride to put a spring back into your strides.

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?

I was pedalling on the Pacific Highway and was overtaken by HB, once he heard I was heading into town, there was no getting away, I had to follow him and onto the back of the ER peloton, ( then consisting of about 5 regular riders ).. then spent the next twelve months being coached by Satnav to hang in there..no one could be as slow as me forever.

4. Tell us about your bikes.

Giant CXR3 …Silver, flat bar, mudguards, panniers, retired to a life of leisure and currently accompanies me to the shops for the weekly groceries..named Doris by Bullet at a time when irreverent and non PC jokes were rare.

Giant TCR Advanced1..black, imported from the UK this was a first serious carbon fibre bike. It catapulted me from the rear of the peloton all the way to about half way up the ranks..so shot to mediocrity. Once I went to have a proper bike fitting it was soon described as “too big” and  the search for a more shapely and svelte model was on, reluctantly I set foot inside the Turramurra Cyclery, only to be released once they had introduced me to a new Italian, with curves in all right places, and price tag YHC could actually afford.

[editor’s note – BT has been extremely restrained here not mentioning the Giant’s bottom bracket problems]

Wilier Izoard XP 2010 …White with go faster red stripes on it..loves to be ridden in the French countryside, has mounted some of the iconic TDF cols, and is now earning its keep along the one true path.

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I think it should be possible to ride the entire world, apart from the wet bits there is road joining just about every major city on the planet…Sydney to London ( only about 15000 km which is  a year and a half of  daily OTP mileage )

6, Tell us a riding story.

“There I was, nothing on the clock but the makers name, sucking the last remaining vapours from the tanks..” sorry that was an aviation one…

One frosty morning in June a couple of years ago, I was heading to Gordon as one does, and as it was dark, bitterly cold, I decided to kick the pace up a notch to generate a little heat..on the slope off the railway bridge going towards Asquith, I realised there was a car on a collision course coming in from the left, so as I had the give way sign, ( since changed to a stop sign ) I hit the brakes hard…both wheels locked up no braking, somehow I managed to turn side on and put a BT shaped dent into the driver’s side door…ended up bouncing off, unable to get feet out of the cleats, and hit the deck with the other hip…with 2 “dead legs” I was assisted off the bike by two passers by, and the driver…they wanted to call the ambos but I had already called the wife …one of the most difficult conversations to have while slightly concussed, shocked and with a possible deep vein thrombosis swelling nicely..

7. Do you have any advice for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?

Caveman used to slide off the back to offer me this pearl of wisdom..”You gotta try like hell on the hills and take what respite you can get on the downside.”

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.

I also enjoy reading books / studies about diet, food, nutrition, and will talk ad nauseam on this very subject given half a chance..

1. Tell us a bit about yourself

I am 41 years old and 6’2” tall. I am not keen on Baked Beans which means I am often ostracised by my family at the dinner table.

2. What got you into cycling?

Between Christmas and New Year last year the widening of the Boundary Road rail bridge meant there were no train services to the City. Welchy and I struck out on our bikes and made heavy work of the light vacation traffic. I could not be bothered to get out of the habit of riding and have cycled ever since.

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?

SatNav rode beside me as I struggled up a hill one evening and suggested I could be breathless in good company.

4. Tell us about your bikes.

I have a silver road bike and a heavy grey one. Neither of them have nicknames yet.

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?

In and around Sydney

6, Tell us a riding story.

Back in the UK, a week before our second son was born, I was rushing home. I executed a 90 degree right hand bend too quickly and came off and broke my arm. It threw our birthing plans out a bit as I could not drive Suzanne to the hospital so she ended up having William at home, on the bed where it all started. Does that qualify for two riding stories ?

7. Do you have any advice for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?

Perhaps consider leaving home a few minutes earlier ?

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.

I went on a German game show in the early 90’s and went on to win a Rubik’s Cube and a date with a girl from Finland

1. Tell us a bit about yourself
When I was young I was not allowed to have a bike but was allowed to have a scooter.  So on weekends off I went on what I thought were long rides down to the bush at Chatswood Golf Course. I was gone for 3 – 4 hours and my parents never really knew where I was.  That is where I learnt one is not a lonely number.

Later in life took myself off on day walks in the Blue Mtns. One day just stopped myself short from falling over a 30m cliff.  After that thought bushwalking alone was dangerous. So took up solo skiing for 20 years. Then started to go with others but decided that was too dangerous also when one trip I lost my skiing buddy in a whiteout!  I rang my sympathetic wife Annette (Mrs Newell for some of you) to tell her I will not be home as lost my ski buddy and need S&R to find him dead or alive.  She said don’t be silly you are parked outside the house. The Doctor in the medical centre flirting with the nurse did not help my cause.  Annette heard the giggling in the background. it was only when I rang the second time did she believe me that I was not coming home that night.

2. What got you into cycling?
Hating to drive in Sydney traffic and staying fit for skiing. Meeting this guy called Nick who was my inspiration15 years ago who made me work a little harder than just going at my pace. He also said there will be a group forming in the near future and they will be wearing egg and tomato kits.
If you think riding on the cycle way over the bridge is something special you should try the actual deck which I used to do every morning going to North Sydney pool from Clint territory.  Till one fog bound May I almost ran into a broken down car.  Thought if I cannot see the car then how could a driver see me!

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
25 years of cycling generally on own got to me one February at lights on Pacific Highway at Roseville.  Saw a group of guys wearing egg and tomato.  Jumped the lights and landed next to SatNav who promptly gave me the hard sell. The rest of the ride home was a bit of a flogging for me but joined the group the next day at Gordon and have not looked back since.

4. Tell us about your bikes.
Scooter (does that count as a bike – got two wheels) broke in two on a steep downhill run.  Managed to run down the hill holding the handle bar and front wheel.  Cannot remember what happened to the back section.
First real bike was a Raleigh bought from Grace Bros in Canberra and served by a Mrs Slocombe look alike of Are You Being Served.
Next went for a hybrid and used to be flogged by this guy called Nick.
Next was my SS that I still have and which has been rebuilt about 2.5 times.
My pride and join is my Colnago that was stored next to the good wife’s car for 3 months before she noticed.

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Good question.  Somewhere where there is a positive incline that goes for kms and kms without a downhill section.

6. Tell us a riding story.
Living in Canberra I was a only a few kms from work so used to go in opposite direction to add the kms on. Later on found some hills to also include in my commute. One day was riding up this hill, head down (as one does) and the next thing I know I’m in the middle of the road. No injuries to me or the bike, but there was some poor sod in the gutter and he looked like he had just been hit by a bike. I laughed but he was not impressed.  He was walking up the hill because it was too steep!

7. Do you have any advice for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
Stay with SatNav or get up front of peloton, but whatever you do, I repeat whatever you do stay away from Zlatko!

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.
I don’t really like the cold but camp out in the snow and have a fear of drowning although I used to swim 4km each day at North Sydney pool religiously. I also don’t like needles, just like the nurses at the other end.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m short, hairy and don’t need any arm and leg warmers to get me through the winter months. I think I typify the real HMOTN.

2. What got you into cycling?
Being able to exercise and commute to work in the same time it would normally take me just to get to work.

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
Teflon once said to for me watch out for a group in egg and tomato that will be coming your way sometime in the future. So for 15 years I ploughed Chippo’s back door in the mornings and Luton Highway in the afternoons looking for this illusive group. Then one summer night a shining light appeared at Roseville, it was SatNav!  SatNav promptly took me under his wing and the rest is history.

4. Tell us about your bikes.
My work horse is the trusty Giant TCR that I use as my SS for rain, hail and shine commutes.  My beloved Big C, The Colnago for those long rides on sunny, dry road days.

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Anywhere there are no land locked boats

6. Tell us a riding story.
On a training run with Dominator and SatNav got flogged.  Was determined to catch them up at Asquith and with head down (as one does) cycled as hard as I could but forgot about the boat that is always parked 100m north of the station. Lets say I came off second best!

7. Do you have any advice for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
Look ahead and listen for the call “boat” as that means Flash is near by

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you
I don’t like hot weather.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself
I am Chief Foundation Member – Global of Easy Riders Inc (soon to listed on the ASX).

Ride name “Captain”, after Captain Merrill Stubing of the Love Boat: A nickname which I have had for over 25 years – and one that I was proud to have until Chippo pointed out its more modern meaning…

My day job is wander around the offices of Allens in the city looking important and waving my arms around.

I am a proud Queenslander who has now spent 15 years deep behind enemy lines. I am 25 years married this year (to Tennille – Love Will Keep Us Together)

and have two children – Simba and Nala.

2. What got you into cycling?
As I say, I am Chief Foundation Member – Global of Easy Riders Inc, hence I was commuting from Gordon as Adam and Eve were cavorting in the gardens of the Upper North Shore. In fact, they might have been seen around the pool at Coopz place on Burns Road.

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
See the Book of Genesis.

4. Tell us about your bikes.
It is well known that I am not a Bike Worshipper. I pour most of my money into a hole in Pittwater which I sail on the weekends. Hence my daily (okay monthly) commuter is a very trusty (and cheap) Avanti Carbonio 1.0.

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
The Captain’s Route (we were into double entendres in the early days when it came to naming rides), since renamed The One True Path, but I am also looking forward to riding in France next year as part of the Easy Riders 100th Tour de France trip.

6, Tell us a riding story.
Now that you ask Drastic; one memorable ride home with Coopz and you was when you decided to take us via some circuitous route through the back streets of Pymble, including across a slippery wooden bridge in the crevasse which is at the bottom of Vista Street. You were riding at your usual break neck speed, with Coopz in hot pursuit and me in slightly luke warm third position. As we attempted to cross said bridge, you hit the deck, Coopz went over the top of you and almost over the guard rail and 20 minutes later I arrived. Hence you were named “Drastic” Measures. [editor’s note – it is said that the shouts of “clear” at the top of Vista Street were when they attached the defibrillator to the Captain’s heart].

7. Do you have any advise for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
Keep pedalling – I need the wind break.

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.
I am incredibly secretive…

Il Capitano

1. Tell us a bit about yourself
Aside from hanging out with a bunch of old blokes with pony tails (Le Bullet – it is truly an honour) I am studying a Doctor of Physiotherapy and I am trying to tackle the German language in my free time. Most in the peloton will know me only as Simba.

2. What got you into cycling?
Unfortunately I have had a mid-life crisis at the ripe old age of 22. A series of injuries including stress fractures in the back, shoulder surgery and a broken leg, combined with a slightly worrying new interest in Kenny G albums and red wine have led me to embrace the transition from 22 to 47 years old and take up cycling in the process.

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
Many may be unaware that I am actually a direct descendant of one of the original FM’s (Captain). Dad’s constant incorporation of cycling terms such as ‘rolling’, ‘car back’ and ‘runner up’ into everyday life provided the initial spark in seeing if the morning roll along the One True Path truly was the second best way to start the day. Having an Egg and Tomato of my own was also a large incentive.

4. Tell us about your bikes.
I ride an Avanti Giro 3. It is a great first bike to start out on and I’m loving every km spent on it.

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Places like Alpe d’Huez, Mount Tourmalet and the Stelvio would be amazing however I can’t go past a casual stroll out to Palmy and back (maybe throwing in Akuna Bay and West Head) and finishing at the Bilgola beach cafe for an Egg & Bacon Roll and a coffee.

6, Tell us a riding story.
Having only had 3 months in the saddle I don’t think I’ve had the time to develop any good riding stories. I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone in the ER so hopefully a few memorable stories are to come.

7. Do you have any advise for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
Well I think a lot of the guys at the back of the peloton (a.k.a. Sat Nav) seem to be the best riders in the pack so I’m not sure I’m going to be much help there. If I have one piece of advice for Sat Nav it would be to lose some of that calf size. Those things must weigh him down on the hills.

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.
I spent 3 months last year in Africa doing surgery and lived for a week with David Livingstone (the Great Great Grandson of the David Livingstone). Dad obviously thought it was funny for me to ask “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” It didn’t get quite the reception that Dad believed it deserved.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself
South African born POM now happy living on Sydney’s lower north shore married to an Aussie and have two lovely little kids. I work in Talent acquisition for want of a  better definition. Oh and not the Wallaby “Andrew Blades” however most of the estate agents in the area convinced that I am and they played Junior rugby with them at Lindfield and I think I’ll have use that to my advantage at some point.

2. What got you into cycling?
I have lived on a bike from a very early age, BMX’s MTB’s but a always has a love for road. Moving to London post Uni and spending most of my time working my way round all the pubs and bars the City had to offer put paid to my cycling for a few years. I was keen to take it up again when I moved to Sydney, started commuting in just over a year ago.

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
I was keen to join a cycling club/group of sorts, but didn’t feel ready for a full on road club. Looked around the area and didn’t see any group that took my fancy.  I kept on seeing the post 6pm ER bus stragglers fly past me on their way home, followed the website address on someone’s Knicks liked the vibe and here I am.

4. Tell us about your bikes.
Only have the one at the moment, my much loved Scott CR-1 (I think there are is still a collection of MTB’s, BMX’s and a few odd Peugeot road bikes in dad’s shed back in Blighty)

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would love to follow the TDF one year and ride the route. I know a few ER’s are thinking of doing the 100th  but I’ll have to wait for a lot of planets to line up before this ever happens.

6. Tell us a riding story.
On my first commute into Sydney’s CBD.  I was feeling a little smug with all my new gear on and thinking that I was  looking every part like Mark Cavendish’s double, also very happy that I had arrived into town at the same time as my usual bus.

I was however very quickly taken back to a slice of reality when,  after arriving on York Street, I was cut up by a Beamer forcing me to brake suddenly.  A few evil glares were thrown at the Beamer driver to let him know of my thoughts on the matter. I had however forgotten that I was now experiencing the joys of riding with cleats and while concentrating on making my feeling know to the driver I had forgotten to unclip. I’m sure a few of you have experience the feeling of time standing still as you start to falling slowly towards the deck. I was now a sprawling mess on the floor in full view of the alighting passages on my usual bus. I still get a few comments when I bus in.

7. Do you have any advise for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
Sit back and take it all in, mind the pollution coming from up front and don’t stress about taking Flash’s KOM he’ll only kill himself trying to get it back.

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.
This is a hard one, as a newbie there’s a lot still to tell. I once was McDonalds employee of the year!

and Virgin has been brave enough to answer BT’s extra questions…

9. What is your next bike..
Quite keen on a ARGON 18 Gallium PRO DURA ACE, (don’t think I’m worthy of dreaming of a Pinarello Dogma quite yet) also keen to get my hands on and Raleigh Chopper for a bit of retro comedy value

10. When is your next bike..
Ask the wife

11. Does your spouse know the answer
to 9) probably not and 10) too scared to ask

12. Have you ever lied about being late at work but really just taken the “long” way home to get a few more hills in..
Forgotten to lie a few a times and paid the price

13. Where are your wiggle orders delivered to ?
Always the office (too much explaining to do), it’s like Christmas every day

A Young Virgin – London to Brighton bike ride c1990