9/8/2010

Select a Rider

Mark Affuso (Treasurer)
Paul Ashdown
Tom Bailey (Club Run Secretary)
Shaun Bailey (Webmaster)
Rob Barker
Robin Bellamy (Youth Development Officer)
George Bridge
Robert Draycott
Bob Hill (Club President)
Gavin Hinxman (TT Secretary)
Andy Laing
Steve McGarry
Josh Monger
Mike O' Connor
Colin Pountney
Michael Rogers
Jamie Scott (Kettering Amateur Friendly CC 1991)
Bernard Smith (Press Secretary)
Adrian  Tilley (Club Secretary)
Robert White (Magazine Editor)

Robert White (Magazine Editor)

No ImageI have been a member of Kettering Cycling Club since about 2004. I’m the magazine editor. Before cycling I didn’t take part any other sports, just sport at school, cricket, football, rugby, the usual stuff.

I’m a Jeweller by trade and cycle to work because I refuse to pay £7.00 to park in Northampton and it’s quicker!

I have always been interested in cycling. As a child we didn’t have a car, my father cycled to work and we often did a bit of leisure cycling. As a result I cycled a lot as a child, but started racing in 1984. I enjoy cycling above all other sports because swimming up and down a pool is a little boring, and why run when with cycling you can go further and have nice kit!

My favourite cycling run is from Northampton, I find the West (out towards Daventry and the North (towards Market Harborough) the most rewarding. For longer rides I sometimes ride to Uppingham which is about a sixty miles round trip.

I do around five time trials a year, two or three road sportives but my main competitive discipline at the moment is mountain bike, cross country. My best cycling performance was The Marin Rough Ride last year, it is not a race but a tough off-road sportive in the Welsh borders, I came within the top 20% of timed finishers. The longest distance I have ridden was The High Clere sportive which starts just outside Newbury, 115 miles, all in country lanes. I remember my first race being on a bitterly cold February morning. It was a club 10 for Northampton Invicta, I did it in just over 32 minutes.

My sporting ambition is to do a big European sportive as it’s a bit too late for time trials. Sean Kelly, is the cyclist I most admire because he won just about everything except the Tour, Giro and the World Championship. I also admire Bernard Hinault, five times Tour winner who unlike Lance Armstrong won many single day races.

Aside from cycling, I swim in the winter (non-competitively). I also enjoy music, both rock and classical. I play the piano a tiny little bit. I’m very keen on good fish meals with good red or white wine to go with it.

In the future in the UK I would like to see more people ride to work, far too many people take the car for just a few miles.

Last Updated: 28/02/2010