Who are you and tell us a little about yourself?

Richard, 41 years old, father of 2 girls, Partner to C.  

What’s your motivation to get on your bike?

Fitness, fresh air, nice views.

What brought you into cycling?

Stride-and-ride toy aged 2, followed by a Raleigh Budgie.

Dad was a keen cyclist, out most mornings in his youth, toured around France.

Grandparents were CTC members, Tandem riders, honey-mooned by riding London-Cornwall and back.

I  was always encouraged to cycle through my early years and have just carried on.

What are your short, medium and long term cycling goals?

Do a 100km ride every month, ride  5000 miles this year, do a lot more Beeston rides and chain gangs as time allows, reduce my bike pile to 3 bikes, ride a few 10 mile TT’s and improve my PB as often as possible.

Do a 25 TT just to measure myself, and experience how hard going ‘under the hour’ must be.

LEJOG one day, maybe this year, maybe next.

Do you have any strengths / weaknesses on the bike?

I like hills, and don’t mind bad weather.

I go with the saying ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’

What was your first bike?

Raleigh Budgie, followed by a Grifter, Olympus road bike, Marin Pallisades, Cannondale SM1000, and then a steady stream of mountain bikes and later road bikes.

And what is your favourite bike that you have owned?

It’s ‘Horses for courses’  so my Focus, Mercian, P7, and Dronfield.

What bike/s do you currently own?

Focus Cayo.

1964 Mercian with fixed wheel.

1996 Orange p7 mountain bike.

1988 MB Dronfield 531/ Shimano 600 Cyclo-cross bike.

If money where no object what bike would you buy?

I’d like to think that I’m happy  with what I’ve got, but  I would possibly sell what I’ve got and get a custom Titanium frame built, with Ultegra, clearance for cross-tyres, Cantilever brakes, mudguard eyes, horizontal drop-outs to run it fixed when I wanted, a real do-it-all bike. It would doubtless be a very expensive mistake.

There are a lot of early 90’s mountain bikes which I’d like to ride but not own.

What disciplines of our sport and to what degree do you participate in? (ie road / mtb /cross)

I ride pretty much every day for fitness, leisure and to commute to work.

I’m on the road a lot, ride most weekends, and find time to ride a 100km ride each month. I’ve done a few Audax and Sportive rides, but I resent paying to ride public roads unless it’s for a good cause.

I have done a couple of TT’s but just for fun. I’ve neither time nor inclination to race. Although I  raced Mountain bikes back in 1992, and I’ve also done a bit of cyclo-cross (Over 40’s are the vets. which nearly tempted me again this season.)

I mainly use my cross-bike for winter rides along the Trent and Beeston canal, and don’t ride my mountain bike nearly enough, although I have been out with the ‘Retrobike’ crowd to Cannock which was good fun.

What’s your funniest moment/thing you’ve seen whilst on a bike?

I rode into the back of a parked van racing around the block when I was 6, broke the Budgie frame and concussed myself trying an Evil Kneivel jump over a ditch, and had an incident with a loose saddle riding ‘no-hands’ that resulted in me landing on the back wheel.

None of these were funny and I would not wish them on anyone.

Raleigh were good enough to replace the Budgie frame, and despite the saddle incident I have fathered 2 great children.

Do you have any favourite rides?

Stanton-Stanley-Cloves-Heage-Crich-Cromford-Starkholmes-Riber-Matlock-Rowsley bar-Beeley-Winster-Via Gellia-Cromford-Wirksworth-Belper-Milford-Breadsall-Spondon-A6005-Home.

On the rare days when I can pull in all those climbs I really feel good, but any variation on them that takes me through Crich is good enough.

Have you achieved any significant rides?

See above. I’ve ridden the ‘Phil and Freinds’ ride out of Sheffield a few times, in some horrible weather for August.

Describe your ideal ride.

Early Spring, weather such that no jacket is required and I’m able to wear mitts, with a whole summer of riding to come.

What is your favourite bit of kit?

None, combined it all just serves a purpose.

Where is your favourite café?

Stonehurst farm, Mountsorrel, to be fair I like to eat on the bike usually and prefer Nutrigrain and Orange juice to Coffee and cake.

What do you do when it rains?

Ride my Mercian, it has lovely Bottle green Bluemel mudguards, and appreciates the wash.

Do the walk, talk, gear freak or fashion victim?

Ride.

What wouldn’t we know about you just by looking at you?

Most of the non-cycling stuff.

What activities could Beeston CC do that would be of interest to you?

Child/Youth development, I’ve seen the way Bramcote swimming club get so many youngsters swimming and develop them, cycling has such a profile coming up to 2012 and I’d love to see more kids experience it. We have some great safe off-road paths in the local area and so many parents in the club.  

For sale/ Wanted board.

Is there anything else about you, that you would care to share?

Thats it for now.

 

Who are you and tell us a little about yourself?

27 years old, married to Liz, no kids, 1 cat Alfie, live in Chilwell, work in Derby as a Senior Structural Technician for a small consulting engineering company, been riding bikes since shortly after I could walk

What’s your motivation to get on your bike?

Health, fitness, escaping from stresses of life, and seeing different places, socialising

What brought you into cycling?

My next-door neighbour when I was growing up and he was 3 years older than me so I wanted to do everything he did, still good friends and try to ride together as much as possible despite living over 100 miles apart.

What are your short, medium and long term cycling goals?

Short – get fit again (had about 3 months off any sort of physical activity)

Medium – Few weekends away seeing and riding new places (MTBing on Dartmoor anyone?)

Long – To keep riding as long as I can

Do you have any strengths / weaknesses on the bike?

Strengths – not sure I have any

Weaknesses – technical skills let me down sometimes, usually at the worst possible time

What was your first bike?

First grown up bike was a British Eagle something-or-other but my first ‘proper’ bike was a Ridgeback 606 MTB with a whopping 50mm of elastomer-tastic front suspension!

And what is your favourite bike that you have owned?

The Ridgeback probably as it was very comfortable but it could also be a bit of nostalgia. Wish I’d never sold it. But like all my current bikes.

What bike/s do you currently own?

MTBs – Pipedream Sirius hardtail and Boardman FS Pro

Road – MikeW’s old Claude Butler Torino

Liz has a Raleigh Tundra

If money where no object what bike would you buy?

Ooh, tough one. Maybe a Lapierre Zesty 914 or Trek Fuel EX 9.9. Not sure about a road bike, maybe a Madone

What disciplines of our sport and to what degree do you participate in? (ie road / mtb /cross)

Mostly mountain biking and a bit of road. I’d say over past 6 months split has been 80/20 in favour of MTBing but planning to do more commuting this year by road.

What’s your funniest moment/thing you’ve seen whilst on a bike?

3 things spring to mind:

1. not on the bike but once saw some guy riding along the road carefully 1 foot from the kerb and kept going right into the back of a parked car, fell over, picked himself up and looked at the car as if it had just appeared as if from nowhere!

2. on the bike, a couple ‘getting to know each other’ in the longish grass about 20 yards from the 9th tee on Woodfrod Green Golf Course

3. happened to me on my commute to work, fell in canal from the towpath. Spent a day at work a bit soggy and wondering if the cut on my thigh was going septic

Do you have any favourite rides?

Wouldn’t say favourite rides as such, more favourite sections of trail/road. E.g. Roman Road out of Hope up to Hope Cross in either direction works for me, the decent off Minch Moor at Innerleithen or the road from Wirksworth to Duffield.

Have you achieved any significant rides?

Did the Marin Rough Ride (48km in the Cambrian Mountains) last year which I enjoyed and managed a top 40 place (out of 450 riders) but would probably would have been top 20 had I not stopped for my mate. Was planning on doing the 75km this year but have arranged weekend in Lakes for same weekend). 100 mile charity ride last September, off0road Duathlon a couple of years ago. No real biggys, just personal achievements.

Describe your ideal ride.

A good mental and physical challenge, some good banter with mates along the way followed by a good brew and a feeling of achieving something good.

What is your favourite bit of kit?

Hardware: RockShox Revalations with U-Turn

Software: Endura BaaBaa or Montane Marathon Featherlite

Where is your favourite café?

Woodbine Café in Hope, the one at the trail head at Llandegla or The Bean in Beeston (controversial I know)

What do you do when it rains?

If I’m riding, keep riding. If I’m not riding, think twice about riding or generally stay indoors. Don’t mind running in the rain though.

Do the walk, talk, gear freak or fashion victim?

Try to walk it, but can be a bit of a fashion victim too.

What wouldn’t we know about you just by looking at you?

Not a lot, most people can read me like a book.

What activities could Beeston CC do that would be of interest to you?

Some more MTB rides, but I’m planning on promoting a few once I have got the house in some sort of order and can afford a couple of hours weekend mornings.

Is there anything else about you that you would care to share?

I don’t normally have anything useful to say, why should now be any different.

Who are you and tell us a little about yourself?
I’m Steve, 45, married to Tam (who’s into Triathlon, can’t persuade her to do too much cycling), no kids, one dog (Jinx, a rather exuberant German Wire Haired Pointer) live in Wollaton, work in Beeston – my own little graphic design company (www.dandycollective.co.uk) – and that’s about it.
Love cycling, like to run, swim, anything to get out doors and keep fit – without taking it too serious.

What’s your motivation to get on your bike?
Health and happiness!

What brought you into cycling?
I’ve always cycled a bit, mainly to commute, it just seems a logical extension to that.

What are your short, medium and long term cycling goals?
I don’t have goals, I just want to enjoy cycling in all it’s forms

Do you have any strengths / weaknesses on the bike?
My strengths are buying Rapha kit, my weakness is buying Rapha kit!

What was your first bike?
God knows, I’m 45, my memories not that good!

And what is your favourite bike that you have owned?
It varies, currently my Felt Breed singlespeed CycloX – it’s hard work, but great fun.

What bike/s do you currently own?
Cannondale R1000 road bike (2005)
Cannondale F800 MTB (2001)
Felt Breed, singlespeed CycloX (2009)
Condor Pista, Fixie (2005)
Claude Butler ‘vintage’ Tandem (our wedding present!)
Cannondale Hoologan! Random hybrid thing for riding the dog to work on.
Oh and an old Cannondale Bad Boy in bits in the loft.

If money where no object what bike would you buy?
Not into all the fancy Carbon nonsense, so probably some sort of classic super thin steel steed, like the Enigma Extensor, but I have enough to be going on with!

What disciplines of our sport and to what degree do you participate in? (ie road / mtb /cross)
I road bike, mountain bike, CycloX, and commute on my fixie.
I compete in mountain bike Trailquests and the odd race, I’ve entered the odd sportive, the odd triathlon, but my current favourite is the local CycloX league, the most fun I’ve had on a bike, and a great work out without being gone for most of the day.

What’s your funniest moment/thing you’ve seen whilst on a bike?
I did check behind me whilst cycling in a speedy chain gang during the BikeRadar sportive last summer, only to turn round to see I was heading straight into the hedge/ditch – straight over the handlebars, luckily soft landing in 5ft high stinging nettles. A close escape.

Do you have any favourite rides?
Any ride if it’s crisp and sunny with the least amount of cars bothering me as possible – on or off road.

Have you achieved any significant rides?
I attempted the Exmoor Beast in the Autumn, but the 80mph winds on top of the moors blew me off, so that put pay to that. Oh, and I cycle to work with my dog a few times a week, believe me that’s quite an achievement.

Describe your ideal ride.
(See favourite rides)

What is your favourite bit of kit?
Bike kit: My Brooks Alpe d’Huez Saddle on my fixie, gorgeous. Bike clothing kit: Anything Rapha!

Where is your favourite café?
Woodbine Cafe, Hope, Peak District

What do you do when it rains?
I swim

Do the walk, talk, gear freak or fashion victim?
Eh? I’m clearly a fashion victim with my weakness for Rapha, but quality last, and a man should be allowed to look good off, and on, the bike.

What wouldn’t we know about you just by looking at you?
Not much, what you see is what you get.

What activities could Beeston CC do that would be of interest to you?
They seem to be doing a good job at present, although it does seem to have got a little more serious ‘race’ focussed.

Is there anything else about you, that you would care to share?
All done.

Who are you and tell us a little about yourself?

Steve Playford, husband to Katherine and Daddy to Thomas (5) and Edward (3). Senior Test Analyst at Siemens Metering Services and former employee of the now extinct Ericsson/Marconi/GPT. I have been a governor at Beeston Rylands School for about 7 years. I used to be really into minis (the propper old ones) until they became impractical. I used to play hockey for Mansfield and then Beeston (at a very low level) until Edward came along.  I do a bit of running for fitness and have done the Jagermister 10k twice. I love to get the spanners out on the bike and will give anything a go

What’s your motivation to get on your bike?

I love to get out there, it’s transport and enjoyment, I especially love riding in the national parks, it’s like going for a great walk, but getting fit, travelling further.

What brought you into cycling?

I’ve always cycled, like most people from being a child, but mostly from a practical point of view, to get places, do the paper round and travel to work. About 4 years ago a Mountain Bike ride was organised through work with a couple of experienced guys and a bunch of newbies, I’d bought my first decent Mountain Bike just a few months earlier to commute on with the hope of doing some proper off roading. They took us down what I now know are some of the hairiest descents in the Peaks near Ladybower and I was hooked.

In October 2008, my mate asked me if I fancied doing the Etape with him, I said yes, what’s that? That was the origin of the road cycling bug.

What are your short, medium and long term cycling goals?

To have fun.

Do you have any strengths / weaknesses on the bike?

Probably lots, but I just like to get out and enjoy it

What was your first bike?

A Raleigh Budgie

And what is your favourite bike that you have owned?

My 2007 Commencal Meta 5.5.2

What bike/s do you currently own?

A 2007 Commencal Meta 5.5.2 – Big off road bike.

A 2004 Marin Palisades trail (not many original bits left on it though) – Commuter.

A 2007 framed, but bought in 2009 Schwinn Fastback Pro from TS Bikes.

If money where no object what bike would you buy?

An Orange 5 SE

What disciplines of our sport and to what degree do you participate in? (ie road / mtb /cross)

My favourite is mtb, but I only manage to get out every couple of months, so the road gets most use.

What’s your funniest moment/thing you’ve seen whilst on a bike?

My mate falling off the edge of a trail and proceeding to roll down the steep bank

Do you have any favourite rides?

Anything with great views and a fast descent.

Have you achieved any significant rides?

Etape du tour 2009

Describe your ideal ride.

Something with a fast technical descent, on or off road

What is your favourite bit(s) of kit?

Merino clothing, Camelback Mule, Bar mounted video camera.

Where is your favourite café?

Any cafe at the end of the ride that will do a great big mug of tea.

What do you do when it rains?

Get wet.

Do the walk, talk, gear freak or fashion victim?

Absolute gear/gadget freak (and not just with bikes)

What wouldn’t we know about you just by looking at you?

I have a thing for tyres, especially the 26″ ones!

What activities could Beeston CC do that would be of interest to you?

Until recently I’d have said a regular shortish evening ride in the week starting after 7:30, but the Tuesday night Chain Gang satisfies that one!

Is there anything else about you, that you would care to share?

I really like beer and curry especially together, you can probably tell!

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