Bio

I was born in '69 and started cycling with a club in '81, aged 12years. Back then, the best riders had just got six sprockets at the back, 531 was the frame of choice and the pro's had cycling shoes with leather soles. I spent my weekends and school holidays working in SId Barras's bike shop in Harrogate lacing Campag Record on Mavic GP4's, selling Barum tubs, Duegi cycling shoes and San Remo crap.

Through the 1980's and early 90's I rode road races, on a road bike, and rode time trials....on a road bike. That's what we did back then. Long before the days of power cranks, I didn't know that I have decent aerobic power and a weak sprint. If I'd known this, I'd have tried much harder at school, because I was never going to make a decent living racing a bike.

After a couple of years away from the sport in the mid 90's, I made a comeback to competition in 1997, but this time the penny had begun to drop. I dropped regular road racing and focussed on time trials. Things went well for me with plenty of open event wins and countless top three placings. In 2007, I was 6th in the British Best All Rounder and I won the Yorkshire Best All Rounder. I have my coach and mentor of fifteen years, Pete Read, to thank for keeping me on the rails and being my first port of call through the sporting bad times.

Since 2001, I have become ever more committed to cyclocross racing, having ridden full cross seasons for the last three winters. In 2012, I rode the National Trophy Series and managed to progress into a regular point scorer in these events. Whilst I am significantly weaker at 'cross than time trialling, I now see this as my primary discipline.

In all aspects of cycling, I have been a steady developer. Perhaps I should listen more and talk less... My cross racing is on an upward trajectory. It is my ambition in 2013/4 season to break through into the top 10 for a National Trophy. If I achieve this and nothing else, the countless hours of training and cold evenings gluing tubs on that cost me an arm and leg will be worth it.

I receive support from a network of contacts in the cycle trade who do their best to keep up with my relentless destruction of equipment and kit. If I'm going to break something, it usually happens two days before a major event!

Lastly, it would be remiss of me not to mention my girlfriend, who is the most utterly unselfish support to my sport. Were it not for her, my scrawny, peculiar body would have achieved little. Her unending love is probably my biggest motivator. One day I will finish fitting skirting boards, I promise.....

I hope you enjoy reading my ramblings and forgive me, I'm simply living the bike rider's dream.....