1.  Tell us a bit about yourself

Very much English and proud of it. Lived in Singapore and didn’t want to move to Australia but was forced to as threatened with a single life and high maintenance payments. Moved here in January 2011 and it was the best decision I ever made! Now I wish we had moved earlier!

2.  What got you into cycling?

I guy in my office used to commute into work and so after practising one Sunday, I gave commuting a go on a hybrid bike I bought in Singapore.  After being dropped on the way home before the bridge by my colleague every day, I realised I needed a road bike to at least give me a chance of keeping up with him. After a trip to Turramurra Sports and a new Giant, I joined the club and started riding with the C’s.

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

I was picked up by Bullet one morning in Chatswood and he told me about the Easy Riders and asked for my email address and said he would send some details. Later that day I was copied on this email! He seemed so normal when riding with him!

I acknowledge the traditional owners of this email and keystroke with respect on this hallowed turf.

‘Twas the late bus form me this morning.

Taking a leaf out of Flesh’s manual: “Trawling – the commuters guide to the Backdoor”, I happened across an very smart Giant saddling a distinguished gent by the name of Nick Hardcastle. Nothing to report as Scribe de Bullet was busy regaling captive audience with bold tales of his exploits a’ la Old Spice. There is a chance we will never see or hear of him again, though I sincerely hope not.

Some points to note regarding New New New Nick:

• Recently ex-Singapore and currently residing in Killara – Mr Sulu, please note
• About to re-locate to St Ives – Schleck and El Conejo, please make yourself known to NNNN
  To the best of my knowledge he has not been made aware of standing St Ives rules that apply in relation to car keys and dinner parties – but maybe that’s just me; child of the sixties with questionable  parentage…..
• Currently working in the city but about to transfer to North Sydney where he will be anointed in the ways of the Bullet Point, the Flashpoint, the Back Door, the quiver of “Blasts” and all manner ancient druidic Easy Riders rites
• Most importantly he had heard or “a bunch of blokes who meet at Gordon Station” as evidence that the Easy Rider brand is in significant need of investment. Alternatively we could re-brand as “The Bunch of Blokes Who Meet and Gordon Station” – The BBWMGS (that’s catchy….). Might need to let SatNav know on this one as he is in deep pow wow with the Chinese re new kit.
• His name is Nick. Another one. How many is that? What is the collective noun – a Knack of Nicks? Discuss.

Anyhoo, seeing Drastic’s too sulky to give me admin privs, could one of the “inner sanctum” be so kind as to invite Nick into the Google Group as I’m sure we all extend our heartiest welcome to the Peloton.

4. Tell us about your bikes.

Pinarello Paris with Di2  and a Giant TCR 2 which is for sale as I like the Pinarello so much, the Giant now doesn’t get used.

[Editor’s note – this boy needs to learn that you never sell bikes, you just acquire more. Keep the Giant as a “wet weather bike”]

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

I have only been riding about 15 months so I am still happy riding around Sydney

6, Tell us a riding story.

My first ride with Peloton Sports was on a Saturday to West Head with the C’s so having pulled up ok, a little stiff and shattered, I joined them for the Sunday ride to Calga. As a number of club members were in Italy, turnout was low so they decided that A’s, B’s and C’s would all roll out together. I was knackered by Hornsby but pride forced me through the pain barrier and I hung on with the group until Mount White where some B’s and the C’s turned back. I was completely exhausted and could hardly turn pedals and was dropped pretty much immediately and had to ride home alone. That 30k took forever, when I eventually got home, I was so tired I had to go to bed and didn’t get up until Monday lunchtime having had to call in sick as I couldn’t move my legs as they were so sore.

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

I have only been riding about 15 months so it isn’t for me to give advice, I am still learning from the wiser ones around me.

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

I represented England at full senior level at Cricket. ( England Ladies came to my club for a warm up match prior to an overseas tour and they were one short so I played for them against my club)

1.    Tell us a bit about yourself?

Born in the 50’s (along with Sting) in Manchester (unlike Sting). Met wife to be in London, married Hunter Valley and moved to Sydney in 2000. Three kids 7,8 and 10. Who have all ridden the Bright railway line in Victoria. It was their induction with Tom (6) doing 35km on his first real day on a bike !

Always been keen on high places. Topped 6000m in Peru on honey moon. Snow holed on Ben Nevis. Trekked round Patagonia.

Picture of Torres del Paine with Lady Wilson

And still hold out hope of the 7 summits … although I have yet to do Koziosko !

2.    What got you into cycling??

Ridden since a kid, but nothing competitive. I wasn’t really sporty, although quite into alpine sports (Skiing, mountaineering, ice climbing …). But I quite liked the idea of being a jack of all trades so tried a few triathlons in UK; started with mini-tri’s, then Olympic ;London, Bath, Windsor, up to long course Weymouth half IM. Then finally Iron Man Australia 2001.  I then more or less packed in cycling for about 7 years. Finally got back into it as a health thing after the doc declared me clinically obese in 2010  !.  I’ve dropped about 10kgs, resting HR down to about 54, stopped nibbling my nails etc.  Scheduled for IM70.3 Port Macquarie this August 28.

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

After commuting solo for best part of a year, via BWH, I ran into SatNav at cubs one night and rest is history. Although it still took me a further few months to transition from BWH to the OTP in. I have also never seemed to be able to summon the energy to be at Gordon at 06:45.  I usually make the 17:15 bus home several days a week. After joining the bus home it was a short mind step to say no to the Barry, I have been clean for 3 months now !

4.    Tell us about your bikes.?

Oldest bike is Giant OCR 1 bought in Dec 2000, just in time for Ironman Australia early 2001.  Still use it as my wet weather bike. Although it now feels ludicrously long compared to my recent acquisition.

Mountain biking was my real passion before coming to Australia. Several bikes; Marin County (no suspension), then Specialized Rockhopper (hard tail). This latter beast made it to Sydney, only to be stolen from Turramurra station a few years back. It is the model on my Strava pic, from the Glenbrook classic. (this pic was used as the proof of ownership to get the insurance claim from me Westpac home insurance !).

Pic from Glenbrook ….

Replaced with Specialized XC Comp FS full suspension, recently overhauled by TSS and waiting for Manly induction.

CFO OK’d carbon upgrade mid-2012, splurged a little on Pinarello Paris DI2 BoB. Lovely. This lives in my man cave, underneath the Strat and ES335.

Soon as I can find somewhere that’s do Shamal’s for around AU$800 I’ll be upgrading … although the best strategy here seems to be to seek forgiveness rather than permission.

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

It’s got to be Glacier riding at Saas Fee , it looks awesome. Any one up for this next year ?

Think Woody sent this link earlier in the year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I5WXkbOzSA

6. Tell us a riding story.?

I have story similar to the rider formerly known as Flash’s boat epic. On the way to my first mini-tri it started to rain and I put my head down … just for a sec. Looked up in time to see the parked car … I did contact it but managed to carry on to the race.

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

Challenge yourself to stop at your second lowest gear, just say No to the granny . It’s a small incremental effort. That’s how I built up riding up kissing point road on my early days commute home in 2011. Took me about 4 days before I even made it without getting off and pushing. Then it was the granny, eventually I got so I could do it in a middle gear.

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

Take your pick….

I appeared in a bike advert aged about 6.  It was shoved into camera on a Moulton small wheel bike, shorts, socks round ankles. Slogan was “He doesn’t care about the steel but Moulton  do”.  The advert was really about the steel used to manufacture the bike, rather than the brand.

(That’s not me age 6 !)

Prior to moving into finance industry, I was a software developer in flight simulation for many years. One of our installations was a BAe Hawk for the Swiss Air Force.  I spent several months on site and most lunch times I would decry the schnitzels and bratwurst to fly the hawk (sim) through the Alps.  We even modelled a non-existent tunnel through one of the mountains,, now that was a little tight to fly through.. You had to lock the joystick between you knees and just use the trim controls.

I also have an interest in nature and photography… Half Dome in Winter