1. Tell us a bit about yourself
I was born in (^%&^$% [problem with denial], ok ok it was 1962. I grew up in Durban in sunny South Africa. I’ve been fortunate to work and live in a few countries since, some nice and some not so nice before moving to Sydney in 2005. Have a wife [Aihesha] and 6 year old son [Joshua] and work in project management in financial services.
2. What got you into cycling?
I grew up cycling everywhere as a child and loved the sense of freedom [over used cliché I know but true] and exploring the neighbourhoods, so it was probably a natural place to return when I got older. As I like bushwalking I first started mountain biking and then started riding on the road when I began commuting. Since then I have been slowly morphing into clipless, lycra and carbon.
3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
When I first started riding to work I often used to pass the ER at Gordon a few minutes before their departure on the OTP. I never stopped as they looked a bit hard core with their carbon bikes and lycra for my flat pedals and trainers. They would overtake me before we cleared the hills of death and disappear into the distance rather rapidly in those days so my early cycling aspirations revolved around getting fit enough to join them for more than the first 100m. Over time Larri, BT, Brownie and Satnav all asked me to join ER [they didn’t realise I had been trying!] so eventually when I felt fit enough to formally join I did, hanging off the back to BT’s encouraging smiles!
4. Tell us about your bikes?
I have a Niner mtb, a Genesis Croix de Fer cyclocross bike for commuting and Trek Madone. All use the same 1960’s engine so variances in speed are slight.
5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I’d really love to ride ‘The Great Divide’ or ‘Tour Divide’, mtb rides/races from Canada to Mexico but as that’s a bit further that the OTP I’ll go with the Alps for now. Next year with ER hopefully?
6, Tell us a riding story
I’m about 11 or 12, I’m riding my blue 3 speed Raleigh in a new unexplored place miles from home and far away enough to be excited, anxious and at peace all at the same time. No GPS, tool kit or hydration pack, just the wind, the view and my tires rolling over the road, and I am very happy to own a bike.
7. Do you have any advice for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
Don’t stress about it, we’ve all been there sometime and when you’ve improved enough to ride at the front, you’ll probably chose to ride at the back again anyway.
8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.
Hmm..what come back to bite me! I was once sunk at sea when an oil tanker hit our ship during re-fuelling exercises in a storm. I spent 4 hours in a life raft 140km from Cape Point in the pitch dark in sea state 6..cured me of sea sickness as well!
