Adam Whitaker

1.  How long have you been cycling?

A.  Around 7 years.  Always been fairly sporty but fancied something new and tagged along with the local club who truly took me under their wing!

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

A.   A 12h TT in on the cards.....

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

A.  Bike touring! Absolutely the best way of seeing the world! Unfortunately COVID is limiting things to these shores but plenty of stunning places to explore.

4.  What do you love about cycling?

A.  Getting outside and seeing the roads around you... on the way to a cafe!

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

A.  The cost.

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

A.  Titanium frame road bike.

7.   Have you a cycling hero? 

A.  Chris Froome

8.  Favourite food?

A.  Toad in the hole.

9.  Favourite drink?

A.  Cider

10.  Favourite film?

A.  Harry Potter

Thank you Adam!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

C.  I have been a a cyclist for 10 years but have only been riding a tandem for two years since losing my eyesight.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

C.  My main cycling goal for this year is getting onto the world-class program with GB cycling.

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

C.  My favourite outdoor ride definitely has to be a cyclocross ride!

4.  What do you love about cycling?

C.  I love the speed of the tandem!

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

C.  I hate the pain of crashing...

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

C.  On the cycling equipment list definitely has to be a full carbon fibre tandem.

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

C.  Peter Sagan

8.  Favourite food?

C.  It definitely has to be pizza for me.

9.  Favourite drink?

C.  A flat white coffee.

10.  Favourite film?

C.  Cool runnings

Thank you Chris!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

J.  Mountain bikes 11 years, Road bikes 5 years.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

J.  First TT event and a few road race top 10s would be nice. 

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

J.  Anything around the Black Mountains is pretty special to me, especially Gospel Pass. 

4.  What do you love about cycling?

J.  You can do it anywhere and you get to really see your local area. 

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

J.  Different part standards...

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

J.  S works Tarmac....that’s cycling equipment right? 

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

J.  Mark Beaumont, he’s done some crazy stuff. 

8.  Favourite food?

J.  Thai

9.  Favourite drink?

J.  Coffee in the morning, Ale/Cider in the evening. 

10.  Favourite film?

J.  Back to the Future!

Thank you Jamie!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

S.  I have been riding for about 5 years.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

S.  My main goal this season is to get to cat2 Road and hit the XC circuit.

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

S.  Throwing my mtb down Exmoor trails in summer.

4.  What do you love about cycling?

S.  I love the tan lines!

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

S.  Headwinds and cold feet.

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

S.  A Wilier Filante.

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

S.  Greg Lemond - he won the year I first watched the tour de France.

8.  Favourite food?

S.  Toast and marmite.

9.  Favourite drink?

S.  Gin and tonic

10.  Favourite film?

S.  Aliens - I say we take off and nuke them from orbit... Its the only way to be sure!

Thank you Sasha!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

M.  Nearly 4 years.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

M.  Main goal for this season is to beat some of my PBS that were all set in 2018.

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

M.  Favourite outdoor ride, that’s an easy one for me Cap de Formentor, fab road, great weather and always there with really good company.

4.  What do you love about cycling?

M.  The pain lol!

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

M.  The pain lol! 

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

M.  A reliable power meter.

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

M.  Graeme Obree.

8.  Favourite food?

M.  Chinese!

9.  Favourite drink?

M.  Crabbies ginger beer

10.  Favourite film?

M.  Groundhog Day.

Thank you Mark!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

W.  6 and a half years.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

W.  PB on the local 10tt. 

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

W.  Any of the roads around Villeneuve-sur-Lot in France, in summer!

4.  What do you love about cycling?

W.  The combination of fitness and tech, I love both!

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

W.  There is always something else you 'need' to buy! 

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

W.  Electronic shifting for the summer bike. 

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

W.  Current day - Alex Dowsett.  Past, bit controversial, Lance Armstrong (not all of his endeavours though, but I do find that whole era fascinating).

8.  Favourite food?

W.  Has to be chocolate!

9.  Favourite drink?

W.  Coffee or red wine, can't choose between them? 

10.  Favourite film?

W.  Inglourious basterds!

Thank you Will!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

A.  I got my 1st road bike in Feb 2020 (the 1st time I've ever sat on one!).  Before that I would just commute on my hybrid.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

A.  Increase my power.  Take part in some events as I haven't been able to yet due to Covid. 

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

A.  I absolutely loved cycling in the Brecon Beacons last summer, especially climbing Rhigos.

4.  What do you love about cycling?

A.  I think its amazing for the body and soul!  I love that its a healthy sport (low impact) and clears the mind when you need to.  You can cover so many miles on a bike and see so much that you wouldn't look at in a car.

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

A.  There's always something to buy and its never something cheap!

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

A.  We could be here all day!  But top of the list is a power meter and new GPS computer. 

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

A.  So many!  Alice Barnes, Lizzie Deignan, Evie Richards... basically any female who's smashing it!  I take my hat off to Geraint Thomas too.

8.  Favourite food?

A.  Chocolate brownies all day long!

9.  Favourite drink?

A.  Chai latte with oat milk please....

10.  Favourite film?

A.  Forest Gump!

Thank you Alice!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

D.  I've been cycling since forever.. first bike Rayleigh Ladies Folding bike 1980s style.... Sadly it folded in on me as i was pedalling down chiltern close.... :)  First real road bike 2014 my brothers old race bike. 2018 my mate Nick Hill taught me how to pedal properly, the rest is history. 

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

D.  Race in some tasty TT's, wearing our FTP club kit.

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

D.  Cheddar Loop.

4.  What do you love about cycling?

D.  I love feeling really bike fit, being out on the road and really testing yourself. I'm a psychiatric nurse so my job can be intense. Cycling clears and cleans away the fog and makes me feel rejuvenated and fresh, plus, the awesome people and friends I've made sharing the same passion. 

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

D.  Punctures in the rain.

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

D.  TT bike with fast wheels...

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

D.  Graeme Obree amazing athlete despite his battle with mental health, he shows true diversity relentlessly.... He's my hero.

8.  Favourite food?

D.  Favourite food Eton Mess with raspberries and white chocolate... Delicious 

9.  Favourite drink?

D.  Favourite Drink hands down Yorkshire tea.

10.  Favourite film?

D.  The Hangover... I never ever tire watching this film :)

Thank you Dotty!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

T.  I was super keen in the late nineties..  then life took over... I've now been back in the saddle since May 2020

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

T.  Some decent 10 & 25 mile TT results would be nice. 

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

T.  Rides around the Mendips / Cheddar, or the roads toward Usk are great!

4.  What do you love about cycling?

T.  I just love the level of fitness you can achieve.  I rate cycling as one of the toughest sports...

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

T.  I'm a bit 'fair weather' not a lover of cold wet days :)

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

T.  A direct drive turbo would be nice - just struggling to part with almost 4 figures! :)

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

T.  I'm a bit old school - Ive met, and like, - Eddy Mercx, Sean Yates, Big Mig and Stephen Roche... One of them....

8.  Favourite food?

T.  Sweet tooth! Love chocolate... or Mexican food....

9.  Favourite drink?

T.  Singapore Sling...

10.  Favourite film?

T.  Don't make me choose between Rambo, Predator, Starwars, Goonies... Please!

Thank you Tony!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

T.  Started cycling as a child then “got into it” after university. But that was all Audaxes and riding around the Dales when I lived in Leeds. I was planning to do Paris- Brest Paris in (I think) 2011 when I tried out a pair of new shorts on a 400k across Wales. I couldnt sit on the bike for the next month and so missed my 600k qualifier. Did my first race later that year  (CX) and found that I was not that bad. 

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

T.  30mph 100?

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

T.  The coast road from St Ives to Sennen through St Just. Though we are pretty spoilt in Cornwall. I’m as land locked as you can get, and can do a coast to coast and be back before lunch!

4.  What do you love about cycling?

T.  Going fast! And when I’m not head down on a dual carriageway, chewing the fat out in the countryside.

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

T.  Hills. And soggy feet. And waxing my chain on a near daily basis through the winter.

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

T.  A new pair of legs?

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

T.  Graham Obree. Or my mate Ben who introduced to me to road racing, the Tour and showed me that Lycra wasn’t a badge of sexuality

8.  Favourite food?

T.  Peanut butter

9.  Favourite drink?

T.  Peanut butter/ banana/ oat smoothie. Or coffee

10.  Favourite film?

T.  Singing in the Rain.

Thank you Tim!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

T.  I started cycling again after many years of not looking at a bike in September 2020.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

T.  Just to get fit and improve my strength and stamina

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

T.  I haven't done many yet! I like the Bristol to Bath cycle route, and our local lanes are really pretty...

4.  What do you love about cycling?

T.  I love the sense of freedom, I feel exhilarated when I'm out,  it's a real stress buster.

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

T.  Cold feet!

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

T.  So many things! I'd like a gps computer, more clothes, and sunglasses that I can actually see where I'm going! 

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

T.  I was quite impressed with Bithja Jones' performance at the Hill Climb last year, but no real heroes... yet! 

8.  Favourite food?

T.  Chocolate

9.  Favourite drink?

T.  Hot chocolate, and maybe the odd glass of red wine 

10.  Favourite film?

T.  Deadpool ! :)

Thank you Teri!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

D.  25 years on and off. Mostly mountain biking but the last three years have mainly been road.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

D.  Improve my 10mile TT times to sub 22min. Enter some 25miles events too. 

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

D.  I love my local roads in North Somerset and over the Mendips but also around the Wye valley and forest of Dean. 

4.  What do you love about cycling?

D.  I love the physical and mental health benefits. Feeling like an athlete even though I'm pretty average. Being part of a club of like minded people. 

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

D.  Always wanting one more bike that I can't afford. 

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

D.  Custom painted TT bike (watch this space) 

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

D.  Can't say I do. I've never really followed the pro scene or anything like that but just respect anyone who is down to earth and has their head on their shoulders. Nothing worse than an over-inflated ego! 

8.  Favourite food?

D.  Chocolate

9.  Favourite drink?

D.  Coffee, tea, hot chocolate,

10.  Favourite film?

D.  Interstellar

Thank you Dan!

1.  How long have you been cycling?

M.  Been cycling since I was a kid but mainly off road or commuting. Got seriously into road cycling and racing from 2010 when I joined Dursley road club.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

M.  Main goals this year are competing in national TTs and 50 mile pb. 

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

M.  We’re lucky where we live with some greats routes but by far my favourite is a route through the Forest of Dean Wye valley and Tintern. 

4.  What do you love about cycling?

M.  The freedom and speed.

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

M.  Cold hands and feet on winter rides 

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

M.  New road bike, but we always need a new bike of some sort!

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

M.  Would have to say I have two, Sir Wiggo and Mark Cavendish these two are the main reason I got into road cycling and seeing the yellow jersey lead the rainbow jersey out in Paris in 2012 is still one of the best sights in cycling.

8.  Favourite food?

M.  Pizza

9.  Favourite drink?

M.  Coca Cola, it’s saved me many times on long training rides. 

10.  Favourite film?

M.   Quadrophenia...

Thank you Mike!

1.  How long have you been cycling? 

M.  Probably for around 9 months now - part of the Covid rush!

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

M.   I would like to try and tackle a longer ride (100 miles) as well as try and go for a weekend adventure!  

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

M.   Cheddar has been the nicest so far but I've got so many other routes I want to try now! 

4.  What do you love about cycling?

M.   Love the freedom and it gives me a good outlet in lockdown. 

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

M.  Battling the cold has been a challenge this winter and making sure I've got the right equipment. 

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

M.   Lots really!  Like to upgrade my turbo to a smart one, I'd also like to get a nice outfit for when we can head back out. 

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

M.   Nope don't really follow cycling at the mo. 

8.  Favourite food?

M.   Pizza (with a beer) 

9.  Favourite drink?

M.   Beer (with Pizza!) 

10.  Favourite film?

M.    300 - classic! 

Thank you Marcus!

1.  How long have you been cycling? 

A.  I’ve been cycling since the age of 3 and have competed in triathlons since I was 9 but I have now decided to focus solely on cycling as it’s the best discipline.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

A.  My main goal for 2021 is to gain experience and I am also targeting the 76VE 3 day stage race in late August. 

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

A.  I do love riding around the local roads and routes in wales and I also love cycling in France. My favourite type of ride probably has to be a long group ride.

4.  What do you love about cycling?

A.  I love railing descents and corners as well as riding in a group fast along the flats. I also like seeing improvements from training.

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

A.  I hate that the UCI have banned the super tuck position that’s the only thing I would change.

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

A.  I am currently borrowing a tt bike however I would love one of my own where I can properly dial in the position.

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

A.  I do love watching Mathieu van der poel race and I also admire Marc hirschi.

8.  Favourite food?

A.  I do like a good pizza as well as pasta. I also like a good cake at the cafe.

9.  Favourite drink?

A.  I love an ice cold squash or a J2O.

10.  Favourite film?

A.   I enjoy action films but I also like documentaries about sport and cycling such as Eat, Race, Win or documentaries about cycle races such as the behind the scenes of the Tour de France

Thank you Alistair!

1.  How long have you been cycling? 

S.  Since May 2018.

2.  Any cycling goals for this season?

S.  Top 15 in any sort of national, getting abroad to race and win a local crit or road race.

3.  What is your favourite outdoor ride?

S.  Riding in Dubai in 2019, 26km climb with 1.900m of elevation. Lovely.

4.  What do you love about cycling?

S.  Riding with mates and getting fit. 

5.  What do you hate about cycling?

S. The amount of money for racing and kit.

6.  Anything on the cycling equipment wish list?

S.  Pinarello f10 with di2

7.  Have you a cycling hero?

S.  Bradley Wiggins, class act. 

8.  Favourite food?

S.  Anything sweet

9.  Favourite drink?

S.  Diet Coke.

10.  Favourite film?

S.  Anything marvel...!

Thank you Syd!