Known in the cycling world as Crosby, Tom Newton was an elite and international rider in the late 1990’s in to the 2000’s, he rose rapidly through the junior ranks and quickly progressed on to the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) now British Cycling’s academy. He competed in many pro and u23 international races throughout the world but called time on life as a full time athlete aged 22 after a measly manner of existence on the French circuit. He now lives in Sheffield with his Wife, Jo and daughter Annabelle. It is here he rediscovered his love for the bike and whiles away any free time in the Peak dreaming of being a full-time rider all over again. 

How did you get into the bike? Were there any people in particular who were influential?

For me it all came about in the mountain bike era. Living in the sticks in Leicestershire I had a longer than normal paper round. With the money earnt from that I saved for a half decent GT MTB and before long my mates at school got me off road and racing. Winning the first MTB race I entered by 4 minutes. From here I was hooked and soon progressed onto the road winning a local 3- J’s race at the first attempt. The biggest influence on my career (if it deserves that tag) was my family and in particular, my Dad, without his unwavering support and belief I would never have got to the level I did. We spent many happy hours travelling the length and breadth of the UK in the early days, great memories that will live with me forever.

What ride or result were you most happy with from your time racing and why? 

3^rd overall & KoM in the Junior Tour of Wales was memorable in my first season racing as a one man band for Hinckley CRC and the following year runner up in the National U23 series.  As I progressed on the international stage results became hard to find, I was fairly consistent though…… I got my head kicked in every week. In all seriousness though, I suppose my overall resounding success was winning a club 10 on an MTB with knobbly tyres as a junior in baggy shorts … my time, it was 23 minutes something. I remember it also cheesed a few of the regular testers on “lo pros” off.  

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

Definitely, I used to go out and smash it all the time and do big hours, now I very rarely “smash it” but still like a good five hours, one hour on the bike and four in the pub. 

Has it always been about the bike or have you been into any other sports? 

As a youth I was into anything active, the usual rugby, cricket, football, golf, cross country running & athletics, as well as, skateboarding for a while but cycling really struck the right chord with me. I liked it back then because it was something different to do rather than the usual mainstream sports…. How times have changed. 

How about stuff other than sport? Have you been seriously into anything else? 

Post cycling, when I finally got a life, it was all about new music. My closest mate from the cycling fraternity, Jonny Mason, (also ex WCPP)  and I spent many hours watching the latest acts in the north of the UK and were pro festival goers. Happy Days.

Nowadays it's my family, my wife Jo and daughter Annabelle are my world. 

If someone gave you 50 grand in the morning with the condition that you had to spend it by tea time, what would you spend it on? 

I’d set up a micro-brewery (would 50K cover it?) 

What is your favourite professional race to watch? 

Le tour….three weeks of the world’s best riders in peak condition…. can fault it.

Who are your favourite pros (from now or in the past) and what is your favourite bike racing era?

From the past…. Andrea Tafi was seriously cool and a remarkable rider. I remember in the Tour de Langkawi before helmets were compulsory he cut the top out of his race cap to make it into a visor and the rest of the peloton followed suit, myself included, I only wish our soigneur had warned against the use of sun in (dodgy hair product). I ended up finishing that race with a (G)injury. 

From the present era it has to be Geraint Thomas… versatile, immensely talented and has a great sense of humour.  

My favourite era has to be the Indurain years. Pure class.

Do you prefer putting a loop on before work or after? 

Both, mainly to avoid the busy roads. 

Which are your favourite stretches of road to ride locally and what is it that you like about them?

So many we are very spoilt here in the Peak. Anything that is uphill and gives time to admire the beauty. The view from Longstone Edge, Beeley Moor as you come through the trees at the top and any of the views as you climb out of Bradfield looking back over Dam Flask Reservoir spring to mind.

What do you like to talk about when you are on a ride with friends/team/club mates? Do you prefer to keep the subjects lightweight or get your teeth into something contentious or controversial? 

The usual unpredictable stuff…music, beer, women and sport and not necessarily in that order.  

Do you have any cycling pet hates? 

Hundreds…. A gap between leg warmers and socks is a big NO, cyclist out in short sleeves and shorts when its below 20 degrees is a bigger NO but my top pick is the in-fighting between French teams and French riders to be the best French rider in any given French race, but most notably Le Tour de France…..  a classic French attitude…. I still regret to this day not signing for Jean Delatour ;0).  I could go all day on this question. 

Do you enjoy a cafe stop or do you prefer to ride straight round?

Get round when its winter time, pub in the summer… Preferably next to a cricket pitch. 

What tip or advice would you give to your 20 year old self? 

Get a grip and push a bit harder for that Jean Delatour contract (ha ha). 

All photos provided by Tom Newton. 

Carlos Verona is a Spanish cyclist who currently rides for Etixx-Quick Step. Whilst on holiday in Lucca, Italy, my good friend Bruno Schooling managed to ride with Carlos and persuade him to answer the Mamnick local riders questions. His answers are below. Big thanks to Carlos (and Bruno) for his time and co-operation and Etixx-Quick Step for providing images. 

As a racing cyclist, which results are you most proud of and why?

At the moment I have limited myself to work for others so I have not had so many chances to ride for myself and get results. If I have to say one maybe is the stage in La Vuelta when I was top 10 last year. 

Which are your favourite stretches of road to ride on locally and what is it that you like about them?

Actually I have been living in so many different places during the last 5 years, Madrid (Spa), Barcelona (Spa), Girona (Spa), Lucca (Ita) and La Massana (And). I always try to find quiet roads, without trafic to enjoy as maximum as possible the ride.

When I am in my hometown in Madrid (San Lorenzo de el Escorial) I love to ride Abantos climb. A long mountain but little traffic and in the forest. It is simply wonderful.

When I am in Barcelona I love to go on training to Montseny climbs. It is just 50km from the big city of Barcelona and you can find a really quiet and long climbs where to enjoy a hard but at the same time beautiful ride.

During my time in Girona I loved to go to the road which goes from Tossa de Mar to Sant Feliu de Guixols. The best road of Costa Brava.

And now that I live in the small country of the Pyrinees called Andorra, I like to ride Coll De Ordino. It is just beautiful and the views from the top are awesome.

The same question for roads anywhere in the world?

That´s a good question. Luckily thanks to my job I have been traveling quite a lot during the last few years around the world. If I would have to choose a place where comeback just for some tourism on two wheels would be Basque-land. It is a cycling paradise.

What is your most memorable moment on the bike or involved with cycling?

Be part of a team victory, it is always beautiful wherever it is.

Has racing affected your relationship with the bike? If so, how?

Yes, it does. At the end ride your bike becomes in a job, and sometimes you have to ride also when you don´t want. But I feel really fortunate to be procyclist, so I try to enjoy always as much as possible my ride. No matter if it is raining or snowing. I love cycling now too.

Do you agree with Mickey Goldmill's advice to Rocky that 'women weaken legs'?

Hahha, not really. In my case my girlfriend just make me stronger. 

We are in the midst of a well publicised boom in cycling in the UK at the moment. Has it affected you? Do you have any thoughts about why it has happened and whether it will continue? Do you see any negatives to the increase in popularity?

To be honest, I don´t know so much about this matter because I don´t visit too often UK. Maybe it is because Team Sky, Cavendish, Wiggins, Froome, Grand Depart of Le Tour... I think this popularity increasing just can be positive.

All cyclists, whether they race or not, seem to obsess over the weight of their bikes. Why do you think this is?

It is normal. As ligheter is your bike, faster you can climb. Everyting is about watts per kilogram.

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

Now it is a job, when I started at age of 12 was just a game. The perspective is different but the feeling is the same.

Who has been your favourite pro riders over the years and why?

Pablo Lastras. He´s still ridding for Movistar Team. For me he always has been an example. Always attentive with the young riders, polite, a good team capitan, with more than 20 years of experience in the bunch.

What was you favourite era of professional bike racing?

The present. Present is always the best.

Do you think Bradley Wiggins looks cool despite his long socks or because of them?

Of course, I think whatever Wiggins does is cool. He is an icon.

Mudguards, mudguards and mudflaps or racing bike with clip on guards through winter?

I don´t use mudguards. I never train under the rain, I live in Spain. And if it rains while racing, mudguards are not a solution.

Do you enjoy a cafe stop or do you prefer to ride straight round?

Actually I love the coffee stops. I always do it on my recovery rides (2h max) and on my endurance rides I always do a coffee stop after 2 or 3h training.

Assos, Rapha or neither?

I have not tried it yet. I always ride on my team outfit powered by Vermac, which by the way is very comfortable too.

What is your favorite piece of cycling kit (either something you currently own or have in the past)?

My first WT jersey from Omega Pharma - Quickstep 2013.

Do you prefer to get your head down on the A6, keep a good tempo going on the B roads or get onto the back wacks? What about the rough stuff on your road bike?

Get onto the back wacks!!

What do you think about Strava?

I love it. I think Strave gives the possibility to share your rides with the others, discover new roads and also is a way to mark all the roads where you have been ridding. 

What do you think about Sportive rides?

I like them. I think it is a good way to combine sport, friends, gastronomy and culture. What else you can ask for?

Do you have any cycling pet hates?

Not really.

Are there any cycling traditions that you think have been, or are being, lost as a result of changing attitudes and behaviour? And are we better off or worse off as a consequence?

I don´t think so... bikes has improved, but the essence of cycling is the same. 

Cotton cap or helmet?

This can not be a question!!! Always helmet, safe first!!!

The benefits of spinning a low gear compared to mashing a high gear is often discussed. Putting aside the serious, physiological and mechanical aspects, what cadence you think looks right?

90 rpm. For me it is the optimal one. 

White, black or coloured socks?

Black!

Frame pump or mini pump?

Mini pump.

What do you like to talk about when you are on a ride with friends/team/club mates? Do you prefer to keep the subjects lightweight or get your teeth into something contentious or controversial?

I like to talk about cycling news, and I always prefer to keep the subjects lightweight...

Who would be/is your perfect tandem partner? Would you ride captain or stoker?

Would be my girlfriend, but I would ride as capitain :-)

Which three words best describe you?

Constant, worker and human.

Did you used to listen to music before a race? If so, did you have a favourite tune or playlist?

I don´t listen so much music. 

When were/are you most happy?

When I am surrounded by my family and girlfriend.

Who would be your guests at your perfect dinner party (dead or alive)?

hahha this would be Mark Cavendish, and alive, of course!!!

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

I like live the present, I would never go back.

When was the last time you cried?

I don´t do it so often, so when I do it is due to personal circunstances that are private.

When did you laugh the hardest?

Listening any history from our sport director Brian Holm... he´s so funny.

Are you the type of person who likes to have a plan? Or do you prefer to wing it?

I love to have a plan, otherwise it costs me everything double. 

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

Anything. Everything happens for a reason.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

Have the bakery in front of my home and not down into the valley. I live in a hill and every time I want to go to the bakery by bike I have to climb a climb of 2km at 8%.

images provided by Carlos Verona / Etixx-Quickstep 

I first came across the work of Camille McMillan when I saw Le Metier, the book of ex-Team Sky rider Michael Barry. A full season in the world of a pro-cyclist. The images stood out to me, as it wasn’t your usual ‘sports photography’. How the pro’s prepare, behind the scenes images, have always interested me. It's as close as some will get to being on the 'inside' of the sport and images of this ilk I've always found interesting and inspiring. 

There was something different about the details and aura of the images that Camille captures that were different to what I’d seen before. Not just your standard reportage you find in the weekly magazines, something altogether more stylish, more artistic. 

Me and Camille chatted over email about some bike-related things and his new project ‘The Circus’.

Firstly, what's go you into cycling and cycling photography?

When I was a young lad my old man used to take me to the 6 days in London. Trips over to Belgium on the Hovercraft. I am a second generation cyclist.There is that old expression, “once you have raced your a racer for life”. Or is it “Once a bike rider always a bike ride”. Something like that.  

So, did you race? What did you take from that?

My first race was at 8, cyclo cross. I started at the top of a hill straight down through a river. The old man put me in a Junior event! Good work! I cried. What did I take from being a bike racer? The body has no memory of the pain, only the emotions surrounding it.  I don't stop until I literally can't move. As long as I breath, I attack etc.

Since your so close to the ‘pro-scene’, is there anything that surprises you? Or should I re-phrase that? What have you been most surprised by?

Just how transitory everything is, nothing is fixed. One reason for the name ' The Circus’. Also, there are ring masters.

I'm glad you've mentioned your book 'The Circus'. Perhaps you could say a bit more about that and what is your criteria for a photo 'making-the-cut' lets say?

Just because its ‘a name’ in the picture doesn’t mean it makes the cut. A picture has to have something other. A moment, a story, an insight.. a ‘what-the-fuck!’. I like a WTF picture best.

Do you have any cycling pet hates, or photography ones for that matter?

Cycling pet hates. The usual, half wheelers, stems under 110cm and nodders. Photography. In the context of reportage and cycling, I hate faux reportage, selective sharpening, a long list. Shooting into the sun, exposing for the highlights, de-saturating. Would you like the full rant?

What's the best context for your work? Do you find that the social media sites such as Instagam and Twitter hinder or help the way in which your work is seen? 

Best context for my work is book or on the wall. Social media is fun, it can help for sure, but Instagram is mostly ‘not’ about photography.

What challenges does a sports photographer face?

Challenges for sports photographers hmmm, I don't see myself as one actually. I'm a photographer / artist that is obsessed with cycling.  I would imagine the hardest part of being a sports photographer is dealing with the boredom of it. Can you imagine being a finish line photographer?! Also, most cycling and sports photographers are looking not just for a moment, but brands to flog their images to.

You say you don't see yourself as a sports-photographer, more an artist. How do you feel your work fits into the art-context? More-so, what posses you to photograph bike-racing?

Art context, hmm.  I'm into finding things, exploring. Why bike racing? Bike racing set me off on my path in life. I left school at 16 and went and raced. That was it. I went back to school to study Art at 22 years old. Bike racing never leaves you. The thing is it’s ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’.

Whats your process? Do you like to wing-it? or is there a set-plan for every race? Are you in the team cars or just roaming like a spectator?

I'm on the back of moto's, on my own moto, in team cars, with mechanics, hitch-hiking. Whatever way to get the things I want. I always go with an idea. I focus just on that, just that. I’m an Artist you see.

If you would like to pledge funds to the Kickstart project of 'The Circus', please follow the link below. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/541205917/the-circus-a-book-of-cycling-reportage-photography

Photographs by Camille McMillan. 

I feel proud that the majority of the Mamnick Inventory is made in England. It allows me to share stories like this about the people we work with.

The Hibell and Ecton shoes are made in a small family-run factory in Derbyshire, a forty minute bike-ride from my home in Sheffield. The 'closing' lady's name is Pat Helliwell and she has been working there for over 50 years, only having a break from the boot factory when she had her family. Pat has lived in the village all her life.

Closing boot uppers is the traditional process of sewing the individual leather pieces together to form the upper. At one time a team of ladies, some related to Pat, did this work but now Pat is the only closing lady who works full time upstairs. Pat does a variety of jobs that are involved in the upper closing stage:

Skiving - thinning certain areas of the leather to be sewn together.

Stiffening - fitting the stiffener into the uppers to form the shape at the back of the boot / shoe. (This is what Pat is doing in the above photo.)

Closing - the whole process of stitching the various leather pieces together to form the upper - done on several different machines.

Riveting / Eyeletting - fitting the appropriate eyelets, rivets and buckles to the uppers.

The black sleeves on Pat's fingers are made from foam top-banding material (found to be the best after years of prototypes) that she wears to protect her knuckles and fingers from all of the 'scissor work' she performs during the day, trimming threads and neatening leather edges etc.

All photos by India Hobson

Words by Thom Barnett 

My favourite poem is by Charles Bukowski. ‘Roll the dice’ it’s called, and if you don’t know it you should go and read it. It may not change your life, but it could certainly make you think about it. 

The opening lines are a doozy.  

‘If you’re gonna try, 

go all the way, 

otherwise don’t even start.’ 

When I think of Tao Geogheghen Hart, a guy I first met as an ambitious 15 year-old, and have seen develop into one of the best U23 riders on the planet, I often think of that line.

Tao is a kid who I’ve seen work towards his goal of becoming a top professional bike rider, and I have no doubt that he is prepared to go all the way, and that he will, with a dose of good fortune, do just that. 

A young bike rider needs a lot of things to succeed, the aforementioned luck, support, physical talent, but more than anything in my mind they have to have the right mental attitude. Cycling takes and takes and takes; it takes your time, it takes you away from the security of your home and your family, it takes away some of the freedoms of youth, and it can keep on taking all the way through your life. 

It is not a bad thing because I have seen (and experienced) cycling giving back much more than it has taken. But, for me, a rider has to be prepared to lose before he can win. And more than anything Tao has always had that: he has been prepared to go all in.

‘All the way

all the way

you will ride life to perfect laughter.

It’s the only good fight there is.’

As a racing cyclist, which results are you most proud of and why?

One part of Charly Wegelius book has always stayed in my mind. Charly tells how Eddy Merckx had said in the press that if Axel (his son, my boss) had had a teammate like Charly, he would have won that day. I'd like to have something like that myself, respect from a real great, one day. Still chasing it.

For now, I'm not really sure to be perfectly honest. I think it is more about looking forward, as cliche as that sounds.

Which are your favourite stretches of road to ride on locally and what is it that you like about them?

I love the first little lump up to the roundabout in Epping forest and then left from there up to High Beech in the forest. That's home roads for me. It's fairly busy on the weekends with a biker cafe and further up lots of cyclists and a busy pub. It's the first time you are really out of the city, a gateway to the countryside. When I started that was about the furthest I rode, now it is just the start. I guess the fact the Tour passed by a matter of months ago adds to it all a little more now too.

The same question for roads anywhere in the world?

Anything along the coast. I grew up in the city but have always loved the sea. Similarly any mountain pass or road, the more isolated the better. Both are very foreign and different to the surroundings I grew up in in London.

What is your most memorable moment on the bike or involved with cycling?

Riding in to the Roubaix velodrome at the front of the race in the Juniors last year was a little special. That's a pro race I have always watched intensely, it's an iconic finish. I remember the last few seconds of my few big wins and the ten or so exhausted seconds after crossing the line with real clarity too. I guess that's when the emotion comes. And often the relief.

Away from races my team training camp this year lingers in the memory. It was my first proper team camp and we had a really great group this year. It was a lot of fun both on and off the bike and a I would regard quite a few of those guys as life long friends now. Mind you that is something you will hear teammates say a lot, true or otherwise. This evokes great memories - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e5q-Lj5KSE&list=UUw4MuKOhQ-pqHMB1D7avDow

Has racing affected your relationship with the bike? If so, how?

Without a doubt. Loosely, it is my job. I make somewhat of a living from it. But equally it is still a huge passion of mine and that overrides anything else. Both are just as important.

Do you agree with Mickey Goldmill's advice to Rocky that 'women weaken legs'?

Maybe the mind, for some guys. My girlfriend makes me a better person and in that, a better bike rider.

All cyclists, whether they race or not, seem to obsess over the weight of their bikes. Why do you think this is?

Most people are keen to look for short cuts, it's human nature right? Ironically, sometimes naively, I love cycling for it's lack of shortcuts to the top.

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

Yeah it's pretty numbers and science now. But looking back I always liked that anyway - chasing average speeds or something. It's all just a little more complex now.

Who has been your favourite pro riders over the years and why?

Too many.

Two easy ones are Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish. Together they changed the sport, specifically road cycling, unrecognisably in the UK. I think that is most recognisable in day to day dealings with people, there is a far better understanding of what Cycling as a sport is. For that alone I think the next British generations of riders, mine and those to come, owe them and their success a lot.

I like Lachlan Morton, who has featured on here, and his approach to the sport away from the bike. It's a little different and he brings a creative perspective to professional sport that is often completely absent.

I've been lucky enough to make a few friends already in the pro's and there are a great deal of guys I look up too. 

What was you favourite era of professional bike racing?

Every era you look back a little with envy. Seeing the different kits, the cotton caps, the bikes, and most importantly the characters.

Mudguards, mudguards and mudflaps or racing bike with clip on guards through winter?

None. Girona is normally pretty kind to the soul. And when it's not, it's only for a day or two. That is why I am based there.

Do you enjoy a cafe stop or do you prefer to ride straight round?

Last winter I had a long discussion with David Millar about how you can step in to a cafe or bar one man and exit with a completely different outlook on the days training. I'm all about a good coffee.

Assos, Rapha or neither?

Rapha. They are a brand that I hold a great affinity with and who have supported me for what feels like a long time.

What is your favorite piece of cycling kit (either something you currently own or have in the past)?

I think kit is to be used and worn out. I love my current Bontrager shoes for instance, they really stand out, but you can't get too attached because two race days later some asshole will have torn the side off them...

Do you prefer to get your head down on the A6, keep a good tempo going on the B roads or get onto the back wacks? What about the rough stuff on your road bike?

They all have their uses. I like tiny little lanes. But equally when you are dead to the world and absolutely spent, there is nothing better than getting straight home on the quickest road you can find.

What do you think about Strava?

Each to their own. If it gets people out the front door...

What do you think about Sportive rides?

See above.

Do you have any cycling pet hates?

Recently, those who evidently care a lot about how cool they look on the bike, but don't have the decency to return a friendly wave. There is definitely a loose correlation between the two.

Are there any cycling traditions that you think have been, or are being, lost as a result of changing attitudes and behaviour? And are we better off or worse off as a consequence?

I couldn't comment. I'm a product of my time. Whilst I would like to think I'm a bit of a student of the sports past, I wouldnt really know about those often hidden traditions.

I guess there doesn't seem to be such a 'patron' of the peloton these days though? I couldn't say if that was for the better or worse.

Cotton cap or helmet?

I'd love to a lot more but unfortunately it's rarely just a cap on my head.

The benefits of spinning a low gear compared to mashing a high gear is often discussed. Putting aside the serious, physiological and mechanical aspects, what cadence you think looks right?

Whatever is natural and not a strain to maintain, to a degree.

White, black or coloured socks?

White. Black on occasion and when the weather is bad.

Frame pump or mini pump?

I like my frame pump, it's always there, until it falls out of my frame and in to my wheel. And then I take a pocket one out the next day...

Did you used to listen to music before a race? If so, did you have a favourite tune or playlist?

No particular repeat favorites.

When were/are you most happy?

With good friends.

Who would be your guests at your perfect dinner party (dead or alive)?

Neil Amstrong. To ask if he actually went and then what it was like.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

London and specifically Hackney in the 60s and 70s would be very high on my list. I think post-war Britain would have been incredibly interesting too. There aren't many people left to recall what that time was like.

When was the last time you cried?

I trapped a nerve in May and cried almost every day for two weeks from the pain.

When did you laugh the hardest?

On holiday.

Are you the type of person who likes to have a plan? Or do you prefer to wing it?

Both.

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

Not much.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

A round the world road trip with my best mate.

Words: Tom Southam // Images provided by Tao. 

I only ever think, ‘there is no way.’ 

In the dark, in that first pre-dawn moment, it’s the first thing I can articulate. But it doesn’t come from nowhere, it’s an answer; an instant riposte to a question that to me seems so ancient that it doesn’t even have to be formed. It is the same question I have asked myself every day for the last twenty years, a question that is so much a part of my psyche that by virtue of just opening my eyes it has already been posed. 

Am I going to go cycling today? 

And the answer, once the days have drawn short and the leaves have been turned to mush, by the layer of cold water that sits unmoving and unmoved on the surface of the roads and trails for the next three months, is always, without fail, the same. 

‘There is no way.’

There is no way that I am getting out of this bed, breaking the spell of sleep or the cocoon of warmth that my body has enveloped itself in.  There is no way that I am leaving this comfort now, this the last place I’ll be for eighteen or so hours where no one can reach me or make demands of me, and where the world is yet to begin. 

I sleep with the window open, and I know the weather. I am used to its sounds and its patterns. I can hear the water running from gutters, the tree branches swaying and the sound of the falling rain landing on the brickwork by the window. 

There are no exceptions in winter, the clouds will cloud and so on. Even at it’s best winter is moist and dark in the only moments that I have to ride. I hate putting on overshoes, and I hate the damage that all that filth does to my bike. I hate gilets, and having too much stuff in my back pockets. 

‘There is no way.’ 

I don’t have to be out in it these days either. I ride my bike purely for fun, and to keep myself in respectable enough shape that when the opportunity to go and ride a hundred miles comes up, or the chance to take part in a mountain bike race in the local woods presents itself, I can do it. I don’t need to be out there, no one will know, least of all care. The nagging senses of guilt, fear and competitiveness that drove me out the door for so long have faded to the point of (almost) being extinguished. There are no longer any rivals to worry about, or races to prepare for. I simply don’t have to do it.  

From where I lay I think of myself out in that weather: water in my shoes, wind burning my cheeks, the dark, the layers of clothing that I’ll need to wear to go out in it that add up to make that weight of winter. 

But even to get the outside world from where I am seems impossible. From the bed to my clothes - layers of kit to get into, then from the bedroom to the kitchen – water and espresso to drink, my bike to take out and get out of the front door. Each step a potential stumbling block, my Stations of the Cross.

‘There is no way.’ 

 And then something weird happens. Everyday – almost without fail, before I’ve even had time to know what I am doing, I find myself riding down the street rolling away from my house. 

The truth is, even I don’t believe it when I tell myself that there is no way, because as soon as I’ve thought it, it is already too late. I know that my body will do it anyway, even if my mind tries to resist – and the more that my mind tries to resist, the faster my body takes me out of the door. 

You see while I was thinking about how much I don’t like the winter weather, my legs were putting on shorts and my arms were putting a base layer over my head. And even while I was thinking about how much I hate overshoes, my body was in the bike room taking my bike out, and then when I was firmly deciding that I would stay in bed after all I was already walking out the front door. 

I find that worrying about what it is like outside is the worst way to never get anything done, ever. So I tell my mind not to worry, because I’m not going to go out, but I rely on my body to do the right thing and get out there anyway. 

And I never get annoyed with myself for leaving the house, because I know that once you are out, it really isn’t ever that bad, it really is just a matter of getting past the front door.

Tom Southam

Do one thing at a time; as beautifully as possible.

I heard this advice 15 or 20 years ago from a Buddhist monk. I would like to be able to say it was in some exotic, remote Tibetan monastery, but it was in Hathersage just outside Sheffield. (I say that as a Sheffielder. Perhaps a Tibetan would prefer to hear poetic pearls of wisdom in Hathersage.)

Regardless, it’s the most eloquent expression of the idea of living life in the moment that I know of; the idea that one of the keys to happiness, fulfilment and enjoyment is to commit yourself to whatever you are doing without distraction. 

It’s easier said than done. Most of the time, people’s brains are leaping between different thoughts and emotions; from big worries to trivial concerns, recollections and memories to future plans, the highfalutin to the understated, from thoughts and feelings that relate to the moment to those that don’t. 

Apart from a lucky few for whom single mindedness is natural and distractions are alien, those of us who believe in the idea of doing one thing at a time need to practice before we can expect to do those things beautifully.

Some things lend themselves to being in the moment. Being in an awe inspiring cathedral, looking at a painting that you love, being with someone you are in love with, watching a film or sporting contest from the edge of your seat, challenging work, stimulating conversation. Tremendous scenes and bike rides.

Bike riding is peppered with things that concentrate your mind. Handsome countryside, gauging your effort up a climb, picking your line and controlling your speed down the other side, filtering through city traffic with your wits about you.

Enough of your brain is occupied while riding to mean that conversations on the bike are often less distracted because there isn’t the spare capacity for other thoughts to sneak in. Conversations during a bike ride can be amongst the most fulfilling as a consequence. 

Conversely other things distract. Yapping dogs, garrulous chums, faffers, flappers, pub quiz masters and bingo callers and strangers with loud voices. And smart phones. Anyone from the above list with a smart phone is a double distraction. Although a yapping dog with a smartphone is a whole that is more than the sum of its parts and deserves full attention.

Boring moments themselves invite your brain to look elsewhere for the laugh; boring things, boring places or boring people. If you can’t follow the advice from the kids TV programme ‘Why Don’t You’ and ‘do something less boring instead’, you need Zen Master skills to prevent your mind from wandering.

Maybe life is too short to beat yourself up if your mind wanders in dull moments. But maybe the Buddhist monk I met in Hathersage would reveal his Shaolin monk kung fu skills and do the job for me for saying that.

Antoine Venthouse

Mike Cuming is a professional racing cyclist currently riding for Rapha Condor JLT. He was born in Macclesfield and started riding at the age of 15 with his local club, Macclesfield Wheelers. 

At Condor-JLT he has been developing into one the countries top riders, winning some great races including the National Under 23 Road Race in 2012 and the Tour of Korea, following in his dad’s footsteps (David Cumin) to be one of three British riders to ever win a national tour. 

He is also an avid Liverpool FC fan! 

As a racing cyclist, which results are you most proud of and why?

My results that I'm most proud of are probably my Tour of Korea win in 2013 which was a shock to me and probably everyone else. Then this year I won Stage 5 in the same race (Korea) having had surgery on a broken collarbone 3 1/2 weeks beforehand from a small group.

Which are your favourite stretches of road to ride on locally and what is it you like about them?

Its’ a busy road but probably the Cat & Fiddle. It’s probably the road that made me want to become a cyclist when i was younger. My dad took me up there and i loved it (even though he dropped me).

The same question for roads anywhere in the world?

Probably a road in Tenerife that I call Masca Climb. It’s absolutely epic. You climb nearly 500m in 3.5k. You've been climbing all day and when you get to the top the view is absolutely ridiculous, in a good way. 

What is your most memorable moment on the bike or involved with cycling?

Probably winning the U23 National Road Race. I’d never won anything big and to win that was decent.

Has racing affected your relationship with the bike? If so, how?

Defiantly sometimes you feel like a robot. Just training and racing and for me this year I’ve had 4 crashes, 3 of which I’ve broken a bone or dislocated something, so I have felt like throwing my bike in the garbage a few times. Times like that I just forget about training and just go out and enjoy myself on the bike. Ride where i want, how long/hard I want and just enjoy it. Stop at the cafe as many times i want.

Do you agree with Mickey Goldmill's advice to Rocky that 'women weaken legs’?

No! If lots of women came to watch a race I’d try extra hard to impress her (not enough women watch bike races in my opinion, thats why i never win!)

We are in the midst of a well publicised boom in cycling in the UK at the moment. Has it affected you? Do you have any thoughts about why it has happened and whether it will continue? Do you see any negatives to the increase in popularity?

I think it’s obviously a good thing. I think after Wiggins won the Tour de France in 2012 it peaked. I remember doing the Tour of Britain and it was absolutely mental. The only negative is that Britain is so busy that so many cars and so many bikes on the roads only leads to more and more accidents. We haven't got the same cycling structure as Holland or Belgium or France, one that fully accepts it and I personally don't think we ever will.

All cyclists, whether they race or not, seem to obsess over the weight of their bikes. Why do you think this is?

I like to make sure it’s not ridiculously heavy but i always think if you've got the legs, you've got the legs. If i obsess about weight, it’s normally my own weight.

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

Now it’s a little more of a job and you change your riding style to suit, but generally I just enjoy riding and racing, like always.

Who has been your favourite pro riders over the years and why?

Sean Kelly - Hard as F***!  / Miguel Indurain - Road to his strengths well and well calculated / Frank Vandenbrock - Wins races with his mouth shut / Carlos Sastre - Quiet and relaxed / Andreas Kloden - Keeps his head down and says nothing in the press, just rides his bike / Phillipe Gilbert -  I love his attacking style / Peter Kennaugh - He looks so classy on a bike / Alejandro Valverde - He can do everything and makes it look good / Steve Cummings - Because he sits at the back.

What was you favourite era of professional bike racing?

That’s a difficult one. I like the 90’s / 2000’s because of the amount of absolutely ridiculous attacks that had you saying, time and time “That was unbelievable!”, which in some cases they were! I like the scene right now where your starting to see riders cracking rather than attacking and it looks a lot more painful.

Do you think Bradley Wiggins looks cool despite his long socks or because of them?

Yeah he looks cool. He has a beautiful style on the bike. He pulls it off well.

Mudguards, mudguards and mudflaps or racing bike with clip on guards through winter?

Clip-on mudguards for me.

Do you enjoy a cafe stop or do you prefer to ride straight round? 

I always have a cafe stop, if I’m not soaking wet.

Assos, Rapha or neither?

Rapha! :)

What is your favorite piece of cycling kit (either something you currently own or have in the past)?

Rapha Pro-Team winter jacket. When the temperature drops, she comes out to play.

Do you prefer to get your head down on the A6, keep a good tempo going on the B roads or get onto the back wacks? What about the rough stuff on your road bike?

if I’m by myself i don’t mind just cruising on a main road but if I’m with company its gotta be down little lanes. I never go on rough stuff on the road bike.

What do you think about Strava?
I have it and sometimes I put a ride up but I don't use it regularly. I think its a good idea i suppose, people will always find it interesting to compare themselves to others.

!What do you think about Sportive rides?

I get the sportive rides like the Etape, Liege and the big italian granfondos where you can ride closed roads and safely over famous roads. But I’m not a massive fan of them in the UK. I can see why people do them, as sort of something to aim for.

Do you have any cycling pet hates?

Other cyclists not waving back when your out training.

Are there any cycling traditions that you think have been, or are being, lost as a result of changing attitudes and behaviour? And are we better off or worse off as a consequence?

I don’t know really, when I was younger i used to go out on a lot of chain-gangs and group-rides but I don’t see that many anymore. Maybe because of the amount of cars. I’d like to see more of it. 

Cotton cap or helmet?

Cotton cap.

The benefits of spinning a low gear compared to mashing a high gear is often discussed. Putting aside the serious, physiological and mechanical aspects, what cadence you think looks right?

I reckon anywhere between 90-100rpm looks about right. You see some people hauling over a massive gear all day and I think “your gonna give yourself a hernia mate”, or spinning at 130rpm, “your gonna rip a tendon mate!”

White, black or coloured socks?

White socks, brand new white socks. Every ride!

Frame pump or mini pump? 

Mini pump

What do you like to talk about when you are on a ride with friends/ team/club mates? Do you prefer to keep the subjects lightweight or get your teeth into something contentious or controversial?

I normally keep it fairly light, maybe talk about our last race, have some jokes. I’m not a very controversial bloke.

Who would be/is your perfect tandem partner? Would you ride captain or stoker?

I’d be the stoker and I’d have Scarlett Johansson as captain!

Which three words best describe you?

Laid back, works hard, jokes about !

Did you used to listen to music before a race? If so, did you have a favourite tune or playlist? 

I’m a varied music fan, before a race I'm into rap/hip hop (M.O.P, Wu-Tang Clan, Jay-Z) maybe some dance/house music. After the race it’s onto Bob Dylan, Kendrick Lamar, Arctic Monkeys.

When were/are you most happy?

This year in the Tour of Korea at the end of the race singing karaoke on our bus on the way home. Hugh Carthy won the race overall, Rich Handley won a stage and spent a day in the yellow jersey; both close friends of mine. I had won a stage. It was the perfect trip.

Who would be your guests at your perfect dinner party (dead or alive)? 

Will Ferrell, make for a funny meal. We would go out into town after - Frank the Tank!

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

I’d go back to 2005 and buy tickets to watch lLiverpool FC in the Champions League final.

When was the last time you cried?

Not that long ago actually. I was struggling with form and not sleeping at all and i went to France for a stage race, i was so tired i fell ill. I did 10k of the first stage, threw my bike in the grass and just sat there waiting for the broom wagon, then fell asleep in there. I travelled home, went for coffee with Felix and burst into tears. Tiredness, feeling shit for so long and getting my head kicked-in at every race felt horrible.

When did you laugh the hardest?

It was probably the same afternoon when my house mate (Felix English) probably asked me some outrageous question or made some outrageous comment. Theres really isn’t a day when i have a mouthful of tea that it goes everywhere because I'm laughing!

Are you the type of person who likes to have a plan? Or do you prefer to wing it?

Wing it

If you could edit your past, what would you change? 

I’d try harder in school. (Stay in school kids)

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

An Xbox 1 and FIFA15.

Ed Clancy's talent on the bike spans across both road and track disciplines. He is the current reigning Olympic and European team pursuit champion and in the London 2012 Olympics, he claimed a bronze medal in the Omnium. Born in Barnsley, Ed is a four-time world champion (2005, 2007, 2008 and 2012) and twice European champion (2010, 2011) in team pursuit; he also won World and European titles in Omnium (2010 and 2011 respectively). 

He is currently riding road for Rapha Condor-JLT. 

As a racing cyclist, which results are you most proud of and why?

Two olympic golds from Beijing and London are the two results I'm most proud of. Simply because it was the end result of a lot of hard work and pressure over many years and to finish the job on the big day was a dream come true. It was a truly enjoyable process too with some top guys. 

Which are your favourite stretches of road to ride on locally and what is it that you like about them?

I love lots of roads where I live in Holmfirth. Theres loads of small twisty lanes. The roads over Strains moor that go towards Sheffield are possibly my favourite stretch. They're generally pretty quiet, the scenery is nice and as a bonus they've just been resurfaced for the Tour de France!

The same question for roads anywhere in the world?

I love Majorca, I guess its just familiar as I've been there so many times over the years. I like the variety, you can go flat, hilly or a combo of both. Well surfaced roads, quieter than at home most of the time and generally better weather too. 

What is your most memorable moment on the bike or involved with cycling?

I suppose it would be the Olympic stuff again. But there so many memories over the years. Good and bad!

Has racing affected your relationship with the bike? If so, how?

Im not sure. I guess I see my team road bikes and track bikes just as work horses these days. I still have my own personal mountain bikes and training bikes and I guess I feel a little more for those bikes. But its really like a working relationship with my team bikes. 

Do you agree with Mickey Goldmill's advice to Rocky that 'women weaken legs'?

I'm a big believer in the saying  "A happy bike rider is a fast bike rider". So if women or a particular woman makes you happy then I reckon it makes your legs stronger in fact. 

We are in the midst of a well publicised boom in cycling in the UK at the moment. Has it affected you? Do you have any thoughts about why it has happened and whether it will continue? Do you see any negatives to the increase in popularity?

For sure cycling has come a long way in recent years. It has defiantly impacted on my career in a positive way. 

I think the London games obviously did a huge amount for myself and cycling in general but also the success of Brad, Cav and Froome on the road has boosted the sport in Britain massively. 

All cyclists, whether they race or not, seem to obsess over the weight of their bikes. Why do you think this is?

I'm not sure all cyclist obsess over bike weight do but the vast majority possibly do. 

I guess if its you're hobby or passion then people just want the best kit possible irrelevant of wether they're racing or not which is fine. 

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

For fun rides or low key races I approach it with a similar approach to when i was a young. Obviously for the  bigger races and serious training sessions theres a level of commitment and dedication that was absent when i started out. I suppose the thing that hasn't changed is the fact that I love riding bikes both competitively and non competitively. 

Who has been your favourite pro riders over the years and why?

Im good mates with Geraint Thomas he's a fun guy, he's got great positive attitude and morale that he takes to his riding and life in general. 

I'm also a big Steve Cummings fan, I don't know him as well personally but I really admire the way he does things his way and keeps his head down races his bike. 

What was you favourite era of professional bike racing?

To be honest I know very little about cycling history. Im not from a cycling background and got started in the sport relatively late. 

Theres good reason to believe this is the cleanest era right now - so this is my favourite. 

Do you think Bradley Wiggins looks cool despite his long socks or because of them?

He's a cool guy whatever he decides to wear!

Mudguards, mudguards and mudflaps or racing bike with clip on guards through winter?

Steel race bike with clip ons for me, Condor kindly built up a winter bike for me recently which suits bad weather riding perfectly for me. I understand the need to stay dry but its got to be a bike you want to ride!

Do you enjoy a cafe stop or do you prefer to ride straight round?

Depends on the ride. For recovery rides, cafe stop every time. For training rides where you're going to be tired and sweaty, I prefer to get straight home. 

Assos, Rapha or neither?

I currently ride for team Rapha Condor JLT. So I think you know the answer! I've been with the team for four years and I've been very grateful to receive loads of brilliant kit from Rapha!

What is your favorite piece of cycling kit (either something you currently own or have in the past)?

The Rapha merino wool undervest in longsleeve are awesome in winter. Thin, but super warm and comfy. 

Apart from that Paul Smith once designed a one off special skin suit for me to wear in the London nocturne when I was the current national crit champion. I hardly ever keep my kit at the end of the year but I plan on keeping that skin suit forever! 

Do you prefer to get your head down on the A6, keep a good tempo going on the B roads or get onto the back wacks? What about the rough stuff on your road bike?

Racing wise i love big fast roads but training I prefer the complete opposite. I love scuttling down small dusty lanes. 

What do you think about Strava?

I like it. I personally don't do it just because it would be one more thing to monitor on my rides. But I like the idea, its good that everyone can have a go.

What do you think about Sportive rides?

Again, Its not something that I do but I think its another great way for people to have a good day out on their bike and challenge themselves. 

Do you have any cycling pet hates?

Not really. Im pretty easy going. 

I don't like letting people down, in team pursuit on the track or in most road races theres always a team role to play and letting people down is the worst thing.

Are there any cycling traditions that you think have been, or are being, lost as a result of changing attitudes and behaviour? And are we better off or worse off as a consequence?

A few years ago before the boom almost every cyclist on the road would give you a quick nod of the head or a little wave in the same way that motorcyclists do when they pass each other. These days it dosn't always happen and I think its a bit of a shame. 

Cotton cap or helmet?

Helmet. 

The benefits of spinning a low gear compared to mashing a high gear is often discussed. Putting aside the serious, physiological and mechanical aspects, what cadence you think looks right?

Something in the middle perhaps!

White, black or coloured socks?

White sock I reckon. Unless of course its raining! 

Frame pump or mini pump?

Frame pump. they just work better!

What do you like to talk about when you are on a ride with friends/team/club mates? Do you prefer to keep the subjects lightweight or get your teeth into something contentious or controversial?

On a long ride conversation usually covers everything from  serious / professional level talk to just banter and winding up your mate. 

Who would be/is your perfect tandem partner? Would you ride captain or stoker?

Someone strong so I don't have to pedal for a change. I would steer though - thats a fair deal right?

Which three words best describe you?

Ambitious, Determined, Happy. 

When were/are you most happy?

At home in my garage tinkering with bikes. 

Who would be your guests at your perfect dinner party (dead or alive)?

Selection of friends and family I guess. Theres many people in the limelight that I admire but Id rather leave them alone and not hassle them at a party!

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

Something Ive never thought about. Even now that Im thinking about it, I honestly can't think of a reason why I would go back. Im pretty happy living in the present. 

When was the last time you cried?

I honestly can't remember. I had a tear in my eye when the cat died but that was many years ago.

When did you laugh the hardest?

I'm in Canary Wharf right now with the whole team waiting for a race tonight. The boys always make me laugh!

Are you the type of person who likes to have a plan? Or do you prefer to wing it?

I like to have a plan for certain things ( normally important / stressful situations ) but Im happy to wing it for most situations. 

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

Not much, making mistakes is part of life. 

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

Im pretty happy. But perhaps a little bit more free time to relax would be useful some days.

Images courtesy of Rapha Condor-JLT.