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.
