Introducing...
Every month, we introduce some of the Kingston Wheelers and Dave Ladkin is here for February 2011. Like many, he's come back to the sport after a spell away but it's fair to say he's had more than his fair share of bad days on the bike. But you'll be relieved to read he's back enjoying plenty of good ones with the Kingston Wheelers.
Name: Dave Ladkin
Age: 35
Any significant others? My fiancee Selina.
Why did you join Kingston Wheelers? After about 15 years of failed comebacks and not having time to ride my bike, I moved to London from Leicester at the end of 2008. I initially moved to Stepney Green in central London and the only local club who seemed to arrange any rides were London Phoenix. They had a chaingang round Regents Park every Tuesday and Thursdays and so I did a few of these rides and a race training afternoon at Hillingdon. After a few months I then moved to Surbiton and after looking on the internet at a few local clubs, including a certain (in?)famous clubs website and deciding they looked too exclusive, I saw the KW website, noticed they did a clubrun starting just down the road from me, and was out the next Sunday.
When did you join the club? April 2009.
What made you start cycling? I started cycling like most people, rides to school that then developed to rides round where you live. Years later I did an activity week at college where we rode from Leicestershire to the Norfolk coast, staying at youth hostels at night, along with my classmate Andy Tomkins who was also into cycling, and things went from there.
What bike do you ride? Race Bike: Bianchi Infinito frame, Campag Chorus / Record 11 groupset, Fulcrum Racing 1's wheels on Michelin Pro's / Zipp 404's on Vittoria Tubs
Commute / Training / Hillingdon Sacrificial / Ex race bike: 1996 Raleigh Dyna-Tech Titanium with Campag and hand-me-downs from other bikes.
Winter Training Bike: 'Raleigh' aluminium frame, whatever's lying around groupset, single chainring, mudguards, fairylights at Christmas.
Time Trial Bike: Brian Rouke custom built 653 TT frame, Campag groupset, Mavic Tri-bars, Zipp 404's (sold the Zipp 950 Disc years ago).
Mountain Bike: Specialized Hardrock, rigid forks and thumbshifters.
Give us a brief cycling background: After riding around with my friend Andy on ever increasing rides, we joined our local cycle club Hinckley Cycle Racing Club. We used to ride the club evening 10 religiously each summer, and when we were not doing that we would go on training rides and absolutely hammer each other. I also started road racing as a junior, back in the day when you had your gears screwed down to a 52x15 (how I learnt to spin my legs!). After a few years of riding and racing at Hinckley CRC and not really getting any support or direction, I joined a club that a group of cycling friends had set up called Ambion Racing Team (you may have seen me wearing their kit when I first joined the Wheelers). I rode for a few years with Ambion RT, but going to Uni and the draw of woman and drinking, I mean late nights studying, meant my cycling dwindled to nothing.
What was your best performance or ride? So far! The first time around it was two 2nd places in road races (forever the bridesmaid!), one was a bunch sprint, the other I made a breakaway with another guy on the second lap of a road race, but missed out on the sprint and came second. This time around my best rides have been a WIn at Hillingdon in the 3rds in the Imperial Winter Series, and a few top tens in the E123's in the Summer Series. Another that comes to mind is my 5th place at the Peter Rigby Memorial Road Race, which I was pleased about as it was quite a hilly race! For time trialling my best times are a 21:51 for a 10, and a 56:29 for a 25. I am most proud of coming in the top 30 of the Junior National 10 mile championships for the last two years of being a junior, and for getting my 2nd Cat in my second year racing as a senior. One of my favourite cycling memories was riding a crit at a park in Leicester. As most of you know, cycling seems to be a secret sport in this country, hidden away in country roads at 9am on a Sunday morning. As we were racing in a park during the week in the evening, there were a few people who happened to be around. I'd made a mad breakaway attempt on the first lap, and a guy had come with me, and as we battled around the circuit trying to stay away, I could hear people shouting "Come on Lion" (our club kit had a Lion on a back) which was a boost as you rarely get people cheering you along. After the event had finished, and I had blown and been caught on the line, I went and sat down to catch my breath. A young couple then came over and had a chat and told me how much they had enjoyed watching me and the racing that night. Sometimes it's the little things like that that make it all worth it.
What was your worst day on the bike? Not one day, but a few come to mind! The day I did a two-up 25 with my (then) team mate Andy Tomkins. He was flying and had just bought a road going Lotus 'Boardman' bike. I was coming through into a headwind at 30mph he was going so fast! Then when I sat on his wheel he was so aero it was like sitting on the front again! After 25 miles of dual carriageway hell, I collapsed in a panting heap at the finish line. We did come second in the event though!
Crashing on the last lap of the Midlands Junior Div's in a breakaway. I think my chain snapped, which throw me to the ground, where I slid along on the length of my arm along freshly laid chunky gravel. St Johns then decided to wrap my arm in a fluffy bandage, which took two hours to soak off in the bath when I got home. I was picking bits of gravel out of my arm for months after!
The first time I went out with the Wheelers and did the three hills with Chris W. Hungry Hill was awful. Crocknorth was so terrible I nearly got off the bike and walked up. The only comfort was that someone pointed out that I was riding up it in my bottom gear which was a 21 (we hadn't needed anything smaller in Leicestershire!).
The first time I did the Kingston Wheelers club ten. I was so dissapointed with my time I almost packed up cycling there and then!
Oh, and Goodwood last year when a punch-up on the last corner before the sprint brought me and half the bunch down. I slid from one side of the track to the other. I tried to get back on the bike to ride to the finish and realised my bike was un-rideable - you can't bend a carbon bike back as you could with a steel bike!
Who is your favourite pro or inspiration? Greg Lemond - My ultimate hero at the time. Watching him win the 89 Tour in 'That Time Trial' was a big part of inspiring me onto a bike and wanting to go racing.
Miguel Induriain - A legend. The ultimate cool character, he could climb, he could time trial, he could do anything, all whilst wearing his cards so close to his chest.
Chris Boardman - My all time favorite British rider, and top 'Tester'. I will never forget the build up for the Barcelona Olympics along with the excitement of watching the Lotus bike being developed at the same time. I'll never forget him punching the air after beating and catching Jens Lehmann in the pursuit final.
Djamolidine Abdoujaparov - Absolutley awesome sprinter. He didn't need a 1000metre lead out train to win a sprint!
Most of the guys and ladies in the Wheelers! - There's always someone to ride with, race with, get advice from, lend you something, give you guidance etc. Something I really missed out on when I was first riding as a junior.
What is your favourite bike food? Bananas or SIS Go bars.
Where is your favourite cycling location? The rolling Leicestershire countryside. The rolling Surrey countryside. The rolling (spotting a theme here!) French countryside. Or anywhere when it's hot an sunny.
Most likely to say: "I'll fix it myself.", "Oh good, a flat road with a tailwind.", "Oh good, a downhill section!"
Least likely to say: "I've just done a great session on the turbo.", "Can you book my bike in for a service please.", "I'm just off to do interval training! ".