1. Tell us a bit about yourself
A 45 year Pome import of some 13 years standing down under, married to Toranz (Mrs Schleck) and Dad to Rish (Master Schleck) and soon to be Dad to Peanut.
An academically challenged but lucky bugger who started working life as a taxman for Her Majesty’s Inspector of Taxes as it seemed like a good way to get into the foreign office and land a cushy gig working in an embassy somewhere exotic. You cam imagine my horror when not only did I find out that this was not going to happen but they expected me to study as well. Eventually made my way into a career recruiting tax people for others and found my niche.
Now doing my best impression of an upstanding member of the north shore, living in St Ives, and working for Deloitte.
2. What got you into cycling?
Getting a proper job!
As a kid I cycled everywhere, my blue Grifter is still the most exciting Xmas present I ever received, and I stayed on that until I eventually was lucky enough to graduate to a Peugeot road bike when I was 13. This was used to transport me to and from school, weekend sports, around to the houses of my mates and eventually to those of girlfriends too. It started out electric blue and was later resprayed white before losing its drops to be upgraded with a set of ‘Cow Horns’. Go figure but at the time I thought it looked really cool… Unfortunately once I learned to drive the Peugeot was relegated to the shed until it was rescued by my late grandfather, Bill, who did the decent thing and converted it back into a proper road bike and used it to commute around Taunton for some 20 years until he was about 90.
Roll the clock forward 25 odd years and I was moving back from semi-retirement to gainful employment (at Deloitte, 5 years ago). Concerned at the likely consequences of losing my considerable opportunity for exercise I decided that the 2.5kms commute from Taylor Square to the city would be just the ticket to get the heart started and take away some of the pain of turning up to work every day. And I loved it!
Affairs of the heart required a move to St Ives to live with the beautiful Mrs Schleck (like I said, I am lucky) and with a big gulp (and the purchase of Luigi) I decided I could ride from St Ives to the City, well maybe drive to Gordon and then ride to the city, maybe once a week and then head home on the train.
3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
On the 22nd July 2009 I was riding over the bridge and recognised the ER jersey from a photo I had seen in the Bicycling NSW magazine, as the bunch swept passed. Just before the sweeper disappeared ahead, Satnav of course, I breathlessly enquired if they were those Easy Rider commuter blokes. Back in the day the ERs only had time for coffee once a month so regrouped at the SSHB meeting point and having got my breath back email addresses were swapped and I was invited to join them for the ride home that evening on the 6pm from SSHB, only as fast as the slowest rider etc. With a lot of support and encouragement I made it back to Gordon – Thank you Tef and Larri!
Decided to give the morning bus a go the next day, which to be honest was not so slick. RTG and I both turned up as virgins to join the bunch, Ravi (RTG) slipped on grate broke many bones (hence Ravi the Grate) and changed the course of the OTP, and as a consequence of this drama the group split and I got stranded someone near Crows nest. Having only recently moved north and only ever ridden to the city on the highway I had no idea where I was and didn’t arrive at the office until mid-morning.
Convinced the missus that they really did seem like a nice crowd, gave the morning bus another chance and that was that.
4. Tell us about your bikes.
If you hadn’t guessed already I am into the aesthetic as much as the bikes as much as the riding.
My first born, Luigi. A custom sized Columbus Spirit steel framed bike built for me by Europa Cycles in Kingsford. Luigi started life as a flat bar Surrey Hills cruiser, then converted to a classy drop bar north shore commuter and now fresh from an extreme makeover vying to be one of the most striking steelies in Sydney. The groupset is Campagnolo; the wheels Ambrosio Excel light rims with vintage Record hubs (built by TSS), the seat post and stem from Nitto, the bars & from Cinelli and the saddle a Brooks. We don’t talk about the pedals, but they are very practical.
Although striking Luigi is no show pony, he serves as the commuter of choice with 3 years of rain and shine on the OTP under his belt and was the prime training bike for 3 Peaks earlier this year. Luigi weighs a tonne.
And yes Bucky the colour code remains a secret.
Next came Sparky, a Scott Spark 20 dual suspension MTB. Awesome machine and was purchased on the plan to do more off road stuff now that I live next to a national park and maybe an endurance event or two . Only rarely used, Sparky has seen duties as the ‘St Ives House of Pain’ school of commuting bike of choice but is lucky to see the dirt once a year. Maybe next year?
Finally came along Giovanni, a Pinarello Dogma2 in Movistar Blue. A reward for completing 3 Peaks and at a cost it is best not to ask. The group again is Campagnolo with some Shamal wheels. No Brook’s on this one, the saddle is a Specialized based on a recommendation from Half and amazingly comfortable it is too. Meant to be my weekend only machine and never in the wet but when a bike is this much fun to ride…
5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I feel amazingly lucky with the riding here on the North Shore but at some stage I would love to experience a ‘grand’ tour in Europe taking in some of the legendary climbs, mountain bike in the USA through some proper big country and a do tourist adventure in SE Asia.
6. Tell us a riding story.
Hard to choose, joining ER has had a big impact on my interests, fitness, friends and day to day life. One of the more memorable commutes was a ride home on the 6pm bus, the choice of the discerning ER, last year in the pouring rain. The harder the rain fell the more elated the group became as we charged up the fast flowing rivers of North Sydney and down the debris strewn bike paths until we eventually reached Archer Street to be greeted with proper pedal deep water. At this point the whole bus broke out in some very enthusiastic choruses of ‘I’m singing in the rain’ as our feet became even wetter and the bikes almost boats, neither a feat I had thought possible at the time. The conditions were horrendous but there I was riding home with a bunch of mates having an absolute ball.
7. Do you have any advice for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
Keep pedalling and have fun. If you want to get fitter, faster or just be more comfortable on the bike then ask for tips and help from the likes of Brownie or Drastique & co, but don’t feel you have too, that’s the beauty of this bunch. And remember, even when it hurts it is better than the train.
8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.
I have a secret passion for Rapha…