I followed my dads footsteps in road cycling and touring from an early age. Unskilful and stupid I quickly learnt that gravel is painful to wipe from a knee wound - fortunately it didn't put me off. I went from Racing bikes to BMX to Mountain bikes and back to Road bikes. My dad bought me a Raleigh Record Sprint which I loved. I'd spend almost as much time polishing it as riding it. As a kid I gloried over Tour de France heroics by Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and Robert Miller, before attempting to conquer our local hills from Alsager bank to Mow cop. I loved the hills and settled on mountain biking for a while, spending many a day pedalling across gritstone bogs in the Dark Peak whilst at Sheffield when I should of been studying.

On leaving University, I managed to maintain my MTB interests and also flirted with the Triathlon scene, joining the Manchester Triathlon club and trained around Chorlton track. I joined a gym and learnt to swim proficiently, but running was never in my genes. In an attempt to get under the magic '2.20' I joined Seamons Sunday rides with a fellow Triathalete. I soon realised what I was missing and quickly signed up for full membership. I have now had some great adventures on a bike including trips to see glaciers in Norway, the 2000 Olympics in Barcelona, touring peak district youth hostels, Lands end John-o-Groats

by tandem, coast to coast off-road in January and to watch Armstrongs Alpe D'huez tine-trial victory. I've also competed in some great events including the Polaris, Trans Wales and Trans Scotland mountain bike races.