I started this blog in July 2016 when I went to the Alps to ride for a week on my own and decided to write about it for something to do in my chalet during my downtime. I needed a ‘cool’ name for my blog and simply went for the lowest gear I had on my bike at the time – 36×25. Simple really.
I’m just an early-50’s guy who is a dad-first these days. I have cycled for 30+ years. I’ve raced cross, MTB, track, TT and road. Won a few ‘chipper’ races and placed in a few more. Nothing amazing, just local stuff. I’ve ridden for a few cycling clubs over the years. I began at Bromsgrove Olympique when I was 16. I then raced for Team Sabre which then merged with Wyre Forest CRC. I then setup my own club, Cult Racing, but that ended in 2018 so I’m now club free.
In 2010 I opened my cycle shop and ran that until 2015 when I decided to move on from the industry. I took just over a year out and then came back. I am now working in the industry again for an electric bike retailer.
I also organised the first seven editions of the Mad March Hare sportive which continues to raise a lot of money for charity. A legacy I’m proud of.
I no longer race so I’ve found new challenges like touring, the odd sportive or a planned long ride. My gravel bike has replaced my fast carbon road bike these days. I love planning a route, doing the ride then writing about it after.
At the end of 2022, due to a lack of local gravel rides I decided to organise my own and invite others to ride. The first one, in 2023, was a 100 miles around the City of Birmingham and I called it The Gravelton. That one event quickly became a year-long series of more local gravel rides called Gravelton Events.
The other things I like in life are beer, specifically real ale, cake baked by my girlfriend and I do like riding indoors through the Winter. I have a love/hate relationship with Zwift and usually stick to Wahoo’s SYSTM with a bit of Rouvy occasionally.
