Introducing...
Every month, we introduce one of the Kingston Wheelers. January 2005's Playmate is Gafyn MacMillan who rides in the rain and yearns for the day he can win a race... after ten pints and a beef madras the night before. And he's shown commitment to the club beyond the norm by naming his first son after one of the club's sponsors...
Name: Gafyn MacMillan
Age: 34.25
Significant Others: Spent the past 10+ years with my wife Jennifer and we have an adorable 4 month-old boy called Efan.
What made you start cycling? The London commute. Having lived for over 20 years amongst the Welsh hills, I began cycling only when I moved to the Big Smoke (missed opportunity me thinks!).
Why did you join Kingston Wheelers? I'd started to ride more regularly in 2002 and realised I needed to get used to riding close to others (on a wheel) and to get fitter, if I had any hopes of racing one day. I trawled the web for local clubs - the first one I found described themselves as a "club of racing cyclists with good bike handling skills". Having instantly ruled them out, I discovered the Wheelers, and due to John and Coco's great welcome I was very enthusiastic about joining.
Date you joined the Club: late 2002.
Who is your favourite pro or inspiration? As I become interested in cycling fairly recently yet have a list of legendary pros I admire, thou I do have a soft spot for Mr. Ulrich and was totally wowed by Cunego during the Giro. Instead it was friends and clubmates who drew me to the sport and encouraged me to race. However, like most people, my biggest inspiration is Mackers [James McVey]....I'm in awe of anyone who can win races after 10 pints and a beef madras the night before!
What bike do you ride? Much to my wife's dismay, I have a shed full of steeds. But mainly I race on a Cannondale R1000, time trial on a customised Ribble, commute / winter train / turbo on a soon to be replaced Peugeot 531, and when I'm in the mood for mud, ride a hardtail Specialised Stumpy..
Give us a brief cycling background: Hardly rode as a child or youth, but bought a cheap bike when I moved to London in 1994 (aged 24) to handle the short commute to work. A couple of years later I bought a decent mountain bike and spent two summers riding on the Surrey Hills with workmates. Then followed a few years of inactivity (apart from doing a couple of charity rides in India and Laos), before being challenged in early 2002 to compete in a sprint triathlon. After getting in shape, losing the beer gut, and doing 3 Tris, I realised I could hardly swim and my right knee prevented me from running regularly, so I was left with the bike....which I quickly got hooked on. By the end of that year I was riding with the club and the following season I started time trialling. In 2004 I branched out into road racing and increased the number of TTs I did. Sorry did you say brief background!?
What was your best performance? Certainly have nothing to wow you here! Though was pleased as punch to get my 3rd cat licence in my first race season. Also getting over the 9 mountains and 249Km of the 2004 Etape was satisfying. Don't worry as soon as (IF) I win something meaningful the whole world will know!
What was your worst performance? Plenty of mediocre performances to chose from - a particularly embarrassing one was when my Dad came to watch me race, I tried especially hard but still got beaten by a junior female!
What is your favourite race food? I too am a fan of Malt Loaf (thou am always tempted by butter!) as well as the Welsh version, Bara Brith. I'd probably splash out on an energy gel if I ever enter an important race.
Where is your favourite cycling location? Love the Surrey Lanes...have not grown tired of them. Haven't done very much elsewhere, though two cycling trips to France this year were great. Hope to do more of that.
Most likely to say: "Did I tell you that I won a bunch sprint at Hillingdon [what breakaway...I didn't see it?!]."
Least likely to say: "Ah it's raining; think I'll give cycling a miss."
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