Rider of the Week #4 – Virgin

1. Tell us a bit about yourself
South African born POM now happy living on Sydney’s lower north shore married to an Aussie and have two lovely little kids. I work in Talent acquisition for want of a  better definition. Oh and not the Wallaby “Andrew Blades” however most of the estate agents in the area convinced that I am and they played Junior rugby with them at Lindfield and I think I’ll have use that to my advantage at some point.

2. What got you into cycling?
I have lived on a bike from a very early age, BMX’s MTB’s but a always has a love for road. Moving to London post Uni and spending most of my time working my way round all the pubs and bars the City had to offer put paid to my cycling for a few years. I was keen to take it up again when I moved to Sydney, started commuting in just over a year ago.

3. How did you come to join the Easy Riders?
I was keen to join a cycling club/group of sorts, but didn’t feel ready for a full on road club. Looked around the area and didn’t see any group that took my fancy.  I kept on seeing the post 6pm ER bus stragglers fly past me on their way home, followed the website address on someone’s Knicks liked the vibe and here I am.

4. Tell us about your bikes.
Only have the one at the moment, my much loved Scott CR-1 (I think there are is still a collection of MTB’s, BMX’s and a few odd Peugeot road bikes in dad’s shed back in Blighty)

5. If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would love to follow the TDF one year and ride the route. I know a few ER’s are thinking of doing the 100th  but I’ll have to wait for a lot of planets to line up before this ever happens.

6. Tell us a riding story.
On my first commute into Sydney’s CBD.  I was feeling a little smug with all my new gear on and thinking that I was  looking every part like Mark Cavendish’s double, also very happy that I had arrived into town at the same time as my usual bus.

I was however very quickly taken back to a slice of reality when,  after arriving on York Street, I was cut up by a Beamer forcing me to brake suddenly.  A few evil glares were thrown at the Beamer driver to let him know of my thoughts on the matter. I had however forgotten that I was now experiencing the joys of riding with cleats and while concentrating on making my feeling know to the driver I had forgotten to unclip. I’m sure a few of you have experience the feeling of time standing still as you start to falling slowly towards the deck. I was now a sprawling mess on the floor in full view of the alighting passages on my usual bus. I still get a few comments when I bus in.

7. Do you have any advise for the riders at the back of the ER peloton?
Sit back and take it all in, mind the pollution coming from up front and don’t stress about taking Flash’s KOM he’ll only kill himself trying to get it back.

8. Lastly, tell us something we don’t know about you.
This is a hard one, as a newbie there’s a lot still to tell. I once was McDonalds employee of the year!

and Virgin has been brave enough to answer BT’s extra questions…

9. What is your next bike..
Quite keen on a ARGON 18 Gallium PRO DURA ACE, (don’t think I’m worthy of dreaming of a Pinarello Dogma quite yet) also keen to get my hands on and Raleigh Chopper for a bit of retro comedy value

10. When is your next bike..
Ask the wife

11. Does your spouse know the answer
to 9) probably not and 10) too scared to ask

12. Have you ever lied about being late at work but really just taken the “long” way home to get a few more hills in..
Forgotten to lie a few a times and paid the price

13. Where are your wiggle orders delivered to ?
Always the office (too much explaining to do), it’s like Christmas every day

A Young Virgin – London to Brighton bike ride c1990

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