RIDER SPOTLIGHT

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’M NEIL AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND. I’VE ALWAYS LOVED CYCLING, I’VE NEVER TAKEN TO OTHER SPORTS OR ACTIVITIES, CYCLING HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY ESCAPE AND MY IDEA OF FUN.

How long have you been riding, and how did you get into cycling?

IN MY EARLY TEENS I WAS OBSESSED WITH BMX, I’D READ BMX ACTION BIKE MAGAZINE AND DREAM OF REDLINE FLIGHT CRANKS AND CHECKERBOARD VANS. MY MATES AND I WOULD BUILD JUMPS AND TRACKS THEN DARE EACH OTHER TO RIDE THEM. THEN IN MY MID TEENS OTHER DISTRACTIONS TOOK ME AWAY FROM CYCLING UNTIL I BOUGHT A BMX IN MY MID 30’S BUT THAT DIDN’T END WELL. THEN I STARTED TO COMMUTE FOR HEADSPACE AND STRESS RELIEF. I CAN PINPOINT EXACTLY WHEN I PROPERLY FELL FOR ROAD CYCLING, I DID A CHARITY BIKE RIDE FOR THE SCHOOL THAT MY BOYS WERE ATTENDING AND I MET A COUPLE OF LIKE MINDED DADS. I STARTED RIDING REGULARLY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS WITH THEM AND THIS LEAD TO ME MEETING MANY REALLY GOOD FOLK. WE ALL LOSELY ADHERED TO THE RULES OF THE EURO CYCLIST AND VELOMINATI, WE BECOME A ‘CYCLE GANG’. WE WEREN’T RIDING COMPETITIVE AT ALL, JUST FOR FUN, RIDING OUT TO WEARDALE, NORTHUMBERLAND OR NORTH YORKSHIRE IT BECAME THE SOCIAL HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK.

What bike are you riding, and why did you choose this frame?

PRO LUGLESS 853 WITH CAMPAGNOLO RECORD 11SPEED.A FEW YEARS BACK I STARTED WORKING FOR JOHN SMEDLEY THE DERBYSHIRE KNITWEAR MANUFACTURER  AND TOOK THIS AS A GOOD EXCUSE TO SAVE AND TREAT MYSELF TO A FRAME BY MERCIAN (THE OTHER FAMED DERBYSHIRE MANUFACTURER). I WANTED A TIMELESS CLASSIC BESPOKE FRAME WITH SLENDER TUBES AND ABOVE ALL PROVENANCE – I DIDN’T FEEL ANY NEED TO IMITATE THE PRO PELETON. I KEPT THE BUILD A SECRET FROM MY MATES, THEY KNEW I WAS GETTING A MERCIAN FRAME BUILT AND  EXPECTED FANCY LUGS BUT I LOVE THE SLEEK LOOK OF FILLET BRAZING. I STUMBLED ON THE COLOURS THOUGH. I HAD ORIGINALLY WANTED A CLEAR LAQUER FINISH TO HIGHTLIGHT THE BRASS FILLET BRAZING WITH MATCHY MATCHY GOLD/BRASS BARBER POLE AND DECALS BUT I WAS WARNED IT COULD END UP END UP LOOKING LIKE A ‘RAT’ BIKE – I’M INTO PATINA / WABI SABI BUT I DECIDED TO REVERSE OUT THAT PLAN AND GO BRONZE WHITH WHITE BARBER POLE AND DECALS. WHEN MY WIFE FIRST SAW THE FRAME BUILT UP SHE ASSUMED IT WAS OLD BECAUSE OF THE COLOUR, RESULT!

What’s your favorite feature of the bike?

IT HAS TO BE THE BARBER POLE.

Where’s your favorite place to ride?

ANY WHERE AWAY FROM MOTOR TRAFFIC

What type of riding do you mostly do?

TRACKS AND TRAILS NOW. I USUALLY KEEP IT LOCAL UNLESS I’M TRAVELLING WITH WORK OR ON HOLIDAY. I LOVE DOING A RECCY OF THE AREA WHEN I’M AWAY WITH MY FAMILY. I ENJOY DOING A BIT EXPLORING WHEN I’M OUT RURAL TOO WITH MY DOGS FOR FUTURE RIDES AND VICE VERSA.

Do you have a cycling goal you’re currently working towards?

JUST TO KEEP RIDING, MY ONLY GOAL IS TO GET RID OF MY CHEESE BELT.

What’s the most memorable ride you’ve ever been on?

I’VE GOT LOTS OF FOND MEMORIES OF RIDES BUT TWO STAND OUT. I FILLED A LATE SPOT IN A TEAM ON THE RAPHA GENTLEMANS RACE 2013, YORK-WHITBY-YORK. IT WAS THE VERY FIRST TIME I’D BEEN IN A GROUP PROPER, I LOVED IT. THE ROUTE OVER THE MOORS WAS AMAZING AND THE OTHER RIDERS WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE, MIND I NEVER MANAGED TO GET MY SHOES WHITE AGAIN AFTER TAKING A BIKE CARRYING DETOUR THROUGH THE BOGGY MOORS THOUGH. ANOTHER MEMORABLE RIDE WAS FLORENCE-SIENNA-FLORENCE. I TRAVEL TO FLORENCE TWICE A YEAR WITH WORK AND LUCKILY I CAN OFTEN SNEAK A BIT OF CYCLING IN, BEING IN JUNE THIS RIDE WAS THE HOTTEST EVER. THE TUSCAN HILLS DIDN’T EXACTLY ROLL FOR ME AND THE WHITE ROADS TOOK THEIR TOLL – I MELTED! IT FEELS GOOD RIDING BRITISH STEEL OVERSEAS THOUGH

If your bike had a name, what would it be?

GINGE

What advice would you give to new riders?

MOISTURISE

What’s your post-ride ritual or treat?

I SOMETIMES PRETEND TO WATCH A GAME OF FOOTBALL POST RIDE SO I CAN PUT MY FEET UP OR IF I’M LATE BACK AND IN THE BAD BOOKS IT’S A SHOWER WITH THE DOGS.

If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?

JAPAN

Thanks Neil for your Rider Spotlight post, we hope you all love Neil’s bike as much as we do!

If you would like to feature your Mercian on the Rider Spotlight, download the questions here and email us at press@merciancycles.com

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