Introducing...

Every month, we introduce one of the Kingston Wheelers. This month's candidate is Nicola Wadham

Name: Nicola Wadham

Age: 43

Significant Others: Married to Peter Anderson (club coach), son Anthony (4).

What made you start cycling? Hooking up with Peter following many years pounding the London pavements road running.

Why did you join Kingston Wheelers? Love, of course, although we are better in a 2 UP TT than on a tandem.

Date you joined the Club: 1991

Who is your favourite pro or inspiration? Beryl Burton, as just the most impressive rider. Inspiration comes mainly through the people that make club racing a reality and who are just so nice. Jon Miles, Keith Butler, Gethin Butler, Carole Gandy, Ann Bath and so on. And those that ride and commute in the Kingston Wheelers of course.

What bike do you ride? I commute on a custom made hybrid (half road half cyclo cross) made by the guys that build for Sigma in Italy. It’s a bit of a dog. I race on a titanium framed Raleigh with Shimano Ultegra group set. It needs new forks and stem and some decent wheels but it’s a great machine.

Give us a brief cycling background: Pottered about riding Time Trials for a good few years (10th in the BBAR 1996) switched to road racing latterly with a 7th in the National Crits 2002 and 2nd cat road licence. Currently running the Surrey League Ladies squad and riding in the Womens team road race series. Age, Offspring and extensive travel with my work have made my current aspirations much more pragmatic these days. I just enjoy getting out there and would like to do an Etape.

What was your best performance? I am still waiting.

What was your worst performance? In the very early days Peter took me on a run out to Windsor and back. I had an old steel framed bike (called the Iron Horse - 23 “ frame…etc etc). It was winter. I knew squat. I had no decent kit – jeans if I recall. I thought I was going to die. Desperation to impress and his mum’s fruit cake helped me home, but I still judge freezing winter commutes by this baseline.

What is your favourite race food? Bananas.

Where is your favourite cycling location? Anywhere in France on the back roads.

Most likely to say: "I haven’t been on the bike for 2 weeks."

Least likely to say: "What head wind/hill/drag?"

Previous interviews

Tim Lawn
Nicola Wadham
Kenton Kirkwood
Lon Pullen
James Beaumont
Graham Sheridan
Richard Williamson
Ian Collins
Lindsay Pullen
Yves Millière
Gafyn MacMillan
Colin Brades
Kristian House
James Smith
Stuart O'Grady
Mike Willcox
Mark Poole
Ian Beston
Andrew Harvey
Daniel Conway
Ben Cousins
Thorsten Klassen
Chris Salt
Cedric Klassen
Narayan Peralta
Stewie Martin
Matt Atherfold
Andy Lack
Alan Sherman
Sander Slager
Iain Marshall
Chris Jenkins
Andrew Melbourne
Andrew Bye
Sean Gannon
Sabrina Verjee
Charlotte East
Thom Westran
Will Meers
David Morley
Steven Saunders
Nick Hussey
Adam Currie
Jon Rollason
Ben Elliott
James Platt
Jules Birks
Ian Humphreys
Richard Evans
Emma Dews
Gerry Rosen
Ruhina Miller
Martin Anscombe
Iwona Kalamajska
Ali Cigari
Keith Lancaster
Will Horrocks
Chris Wright
Ryan Peirce
Leona Kadir