Climbing to 5000m. Abra del Acay, Argentina. January 2012
What’s your name? Robert Frank Sargent
Do you have a cycling name? If so, who gave it to you and why? Crazy Legs. I think it was Lowell the first time he saw me ride up a hill.
What do you do when you’re not riding a bike? Once a web developer, turned sailor, who is now becoming an Oceanographer.
What bicycles do you own and, importantly, why do you own them? I have a Cinelli Estrada for the weekends and for making Lowell jealous, a fixed Surly Steamroller for bombing around town, an old Giant Peloton 7200 which I’ve owned since the age of 14 and which now, sadly, is used exclusively for trips to the pub, a Trek 4300 mountain bike which I bought in Colombia and rode to the bottom of Argentina on, a beautiful Colnago Super from the late 1970s which spends most of its time hanging on the wall in my workshop, and a 1982 Peugeot “Record du Monde” Tandem which really needs to be ridden more often.
What’s your cycling history? For as long as I can remember I’ve always been able to ride a bike and there have been various times in my life when, because of circumstance, I’ve cycled a lot. I rode quite a bit when I was about 14, then again at university and even worked as a bike messenger when I first moved to London in 2005. However, it wasn’t until I moved to London for the second time in 2007 and met the original B-boys that my passion for it really took off. Since then I’ve commuted many miles in the pouring rain, ridden up Mont Ventoux in the middle of the night, and cycled 15,000km through South America.
What have been you favourite and worst moments on a bicycle? I lost the plot a bit when we rode the Mont Ventoux stage of the 2009 Tour de France. We started foolishly late and didn’t arrive at the summit until well after dark. Despite the jubilation of reaching the top, I couldn’t keep my eyes open as my body started shutting down. Knowing we still had about 30km to ride and desperately needing an energy boost I started fishing around in a bin hoping I might find something edible. After digging through a mass of cans and empty chocolate bar wrappers I pulled out an unopened ham and cheese panini. It was the single-most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted and, in an instant, one of the worst moments I’ve ever had on a bicycle had turned into one of the best.
Guilty as charged, I’ve seen you ascend like your legs are actually climbing wheels! Proud to have shared some of these trying and great moments with you, Crazy Legs. The adventure has just begun!