Richard's blog: Life on Two Wheels
Following the recent announcement of Richard extending his partnership with Specialized UK, Richard talks about some of his favourite memories on two wheels.
1/ The most beautiful ride in the world to you is…
It’s not a place, it’s a feeling. The ride when your head’s about to explode from the day you’ve had, and every pedal stroke you can feel, literally feel, the noise fall away to silence – just the sound of your breath. You were expecting me to say one of the mountain passes in the Alps or something! Col du Galibier on the route to Alp d’Huez is pretty awesome too! Ha!
2/ The toughest day in the saddle was…
The first day of the Yak Attack. I felt like I had imploded. I was blowing out of my backside just riding to the start line from Kathmandu with the other racers! But what made it worse was this was all caught in HD for my Channel 5 series ‘Xtreme Endurance: Race to the pole’! What most people didn’t know was that I had only returned from 42 days solo in Antarctica 2 weeks before. I was wrecked before I even started to be honest!
3/ How would you describe your riding style?
Not pretty! Unrelenting…but getting smoother!
4/ What was your best moment in 2016 on two wheels?
Riding with Tracey Mosely whilst filming Extreme Wales on the Antur Stiniog downhill course was a rare pleasure. I used to race motocross, so I’m not new to downhill, but following her lines made me appear so much better! Tracey’s riding is so smooth.
5/ What is the most important thing you have learned from competing in cycling endurance races?
Pacing. Blowing up on the 231 mile bike section of the double brutal was such a great lesson to learn. Although a tough one! But pulling myself back from the diabolical state I was in to be able to complete the double marathon run after was one of the most powerful inputs for me and Nic - my performance director, ahead of my Antarctica Speed Record exped.
6/ How do cycling and record breaking expeditions in Antarctica connect?
Physiologically Nordic (X-country) skiing pulling a pulk (sled) and cycling share dominant muscle groups and transferable biomechanics. Also, the time required to develop my cardiovascular fitness for this project was safer for me in terms of injury breakdown on the bike than on my feet running.
7/ The funniest thing I have seen on the bike is…
The whacky commuting races in London! Turning yourself inside out in a suit before you get into the office just makes no sense to me! I like the guys or girls who float along clearly having planned their morning!
8/ The best mid/end cycle meal or coffee break was…
I do love a coffee stop on a ride! My mate’s will say that I love a cake stop too! Ha! But the best (and craziest) food stops have come on the Tour Divide. The immediate memory that comes to mind are the family in Colorado that invited me into their ranch for a full Sunday dinner after the general store in the village had closed down. That was a little sketchy, as I hadn’t eaten for 90 miles, run out of water and the next store wasn’t for 70 miles! They literally saved me.
9/ The maddest thing I have seen in a cycle race was…
The Nepalese riders in the Yak Attack. Sincerely, some of the best natural athletes I’ve had the privilege to race with, just dancing on their pedals at 4,000m! Also, I was at Holm Moss for the Grand Depart in Yorkshire in the 2014 Tour de France. That was mad! In a wonderful way! Us Brits put on an incredible show.
10/ If you could relive one day from The Tour Divide, The Brutal or The Yak Attack again – which day would it be and why?
Riding through the Teton Mountains in Wyoming on the Tour Divide, no… the Great Basin in Wyoming. Genuine Wilderness, the scale of America blew my mind.
Riding alongside Antelope as if I was one of them was incredible and with not another human being for hundreds of miles (other than Mike riding with me - an awesome guy and fellow TD racer I met in the race). It was one of those unforgettable moments that only the freedom of two wheels can provide.
