Introducing...
Every month, we introduce one of the Kingston Wheelers and Nick Hussey's here for April 2007. He's just joined the club. A long time fan of the sport, he raced as a junior but stopped, only to be told on his comeback never to ride a bike.
Name: Nick Hussey
Age: 33
Significant Others: Emmalou, of 11 years, get married in August.
What made you start cycling? Dodgy knees cut short my rather pathetic teenage athletics career. Discovered cycling at the same time as '87 Tour. Was blown away by the supreme suffering of Roche, Delgado, etc. Fell head over heals in love with the sport. It just seemed like I was made for it. I'd always been rubbish at footie and suddenly I was pretty good and I was hurting myself and getting cuts and bruises. Valuable new experiences to me. Not good doing PE lessons with shaved legs though... not a good look. The mental scars....
Why did you join Kingston Wheelers? Local, nice guys, quality kit. I can't bear the snobby attitude of some other clubs/riders. Don't get me started. Grrr!
Date you joined the Club: April 2007
What bike do you ride? Cheapy alu Ribble training bike with Mirage. Does the job just fine. Appalling customer service that Ribble lot, you know. Scott Scale 50 hardtail MTB with fork upgraded, does the job except on rooty, rocky stuff. I'm hoping for Condor Squadra with Centaur next year, once finances have (if ever) recovered from marriage.
Give us a brief cycling background: I joined my first club, Trent Valley CRC, Notts in 1987 and loved the time trials as a junior. Was dodgy at road racing. Did sports science at Uni, so I could be next Peter Keen (Chris Boardman's coach). Got very ill, lost all my muscle (had no fat to start with anyway). Came out the back of that determined to drink and meet girls and party. All the stuff I'd not done 'cos off cycling. Discovered I had a spine malformation just as I wanted to go back into cycling aged 27 and was told I must never ride. After a few years I thought "sod this". Did loads of weights, yoga, osteopath, pilates and now my back is relatively fine (touch wood) apart from I have quite a sit-up position. I'm 16 kilos heavier then when I quit racing at 19 though! Started cycling again via MTB in 2005 and never looked back. Once my wedding is done I hope to go a bit mental on TT, Sportifs and XC MTB.
Who is your favourite pro or inspiration? Charly Mottet: he was a feisty little git in the 1987 Tour and I liked him. Tasty TT rider too. My original hero. Jens Voigt: have you seen 'Overcoming'? This guy is honest, sweet, mad, can suffer like a beast and is a winner. NICE. My current hero. Jeannie Longo-Still is going strong and hard as nails. Graeme Obree: is methods went against received sports science, but he fought against extraordinary odds. The classic troubled genius. Finally, Lance: the eyes say it all, that guy's a psycho.
What was your best performance or favourite ride? I once did a hilly 25 mile TT in 1h04mins when I was 15. That was the most satisfying.
What was your worst day on the bike? My first long club ride aged 14. I bonked in the Peak District, 40 miles from home, in snow. I was pushed up every gradient. I was so humiliated. That was the first time I really knew what suffering on the bike meant. And that I was still capable of continuing, despite my exhaustion. And the value of great clubmates. That was a really important day for me.
What is your favourite cycling food? Torq Apple and Raspberry bars. Bananas. Torq organic energy drink mixed with Torq electrolyte (pink grapefruit or lime and lemon). Did I say I rate Torq?
Where is your favourite cycling location? Italy and France. Awesome countryside, great roads, they 'get' cycling. I'm riding the Alps for a Leukaemia charity in June, so it'd be superb if you could make a donation. Watch this space.
Most likely to say: "Do you mind if I offer you some scientific advice?"
Least likely to say: "A steep climb with a headwind? Awesome!"
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