Cycling name?
Thor
Why do you ride your bike?
It makes me happy, relaxed, tired, satisfied and everything in between.
Favourite place to ride?
Hmmm, tough one. Norway is top of my list as this is where I first got into road cycling proper. The roads out there are simply the smoothest in the world. Even abandoned roads, hugging steep sided fjords put any British road to shame. If only the weather was reliable, Norway would be the number one riding destination in the world! A very close second is Menton, on the French Riviera. You really can’t beat climbing from the sea to the top of the Col de la Madone at ~900m in 13km. Plus you might spot a pro!
Up or down mountains?
Definitely up – it’s quiet, still and hard.
Best moments?
Making it through the full hour of RePa laps without getting dropped!
How long does it take you to change a flat?
5 mins on the road (if it’s not raining and my hands are warm). 15 mins at home – any excuse to faff, I will take it!
Advice to a new cyclist?
Use chammy cream. Focus on the engine, not the car.
Steel, Carbon, Alu, Magnesium, or Ti?
Aluminium in the winter, carbon in the summer.
Grand Tours or Classics?
There’s nothing like Le Tour, best three weeks of the year!
Gels or potatoes?
I have a big appetite. Potato covered in a gel (the Torq rhubarb and custard ones are delicious!!)
Fav pro, or retired pro?
G is an absolute legend and I would love to see him win another Tour. I’m also rooting for MVDP for the classics – the man is a machine!
Headwind or rain?
Headwind, always.
Disc or rims?
I’ve just acquired hydraulic discs and I’m now wondering what I’ve been doing with rims all these years! Although, rims do have their merits in the fact that they’re a lot easier to maintain.
I wish I had been told that…
…you should always use chammy cream.
What is it like being a Baroudeur? (not a trick question 😉
It’s great knowing that there’s always somebody to ride with, no matter what you want to do! If you want to chill, you chill. And if you want to rip your legs off, join in on Thursdays. Also, always having somebody to ride with is great for motivation. There is no way in hell I would be getting up at 5am to cycle around RePa if I wasn’t joining a group who were doing exactly the same as me!
What advice would you give someone wanting to join the Bs?
Go for it – joining a cycling club is one of the best things I have done (in cycling). It’s great for motivation, you’ll meet some great new like minded people to ride with!
What does your cycling future hold?
With the arrival on our baby girl, I’m not making any big goals – I’m just keen to maintain and build my fitness throughout the year.
GC prediction for 2020?
Gilbert to win the MSR, MDVP to win Flanders, Sagan to win Roubaix and G to win Le Tour.
:: Meet more of the Baroudeurs
