RIDING STYLE: Road, Endurance, Gravel

BIO

o   My first experience of club cycling was in the late 1960’s/early 1970‘s with Mid Cornwall CC. This was when the club was based in Camborne and Truro and revolved around 10 mile Tuesday evening TT’s on the Praze course, 25 mile Sunday morning TT’s to Penzance and back, and numerous club runs! One of the club’s leading lights was a certain Len Pascoe - I have many fond memories of him from those times and of making the acquaintance of a very young Ricci!

o   Like many, I dropped out of cycling for several years (young male distractions, work, rugby, squash and running took over) but I got back into it around 2010 via the dog-related sports of canicross and bikejor (ask me about it!).

o   In 2019 I met up with Ricci again and started supporting Saint Piran. However, arthritic knees were beginning to slow me down, so I let Ricci sell me a wonderful Colnago e64 e-road bike, which kept me cycling up to and since a knee replacement operation. I still use this e-bike regularly – that extra bit of assistance is always welcome!

o   Subsequently, I let Ricci persuade me to buy a lovely titanium Enigma Escape which I use for both gravel and road rides.

Future plans

o   I had planned to participate in gravel races in Thetford Forest (near where I now live in Suffolk) but have been prevented twice – in 2023 by my knee replacement operation, and in 2024 by a crash in training (2 broken ribs). I am now determined to do some Masters gravel races in 2026 (I’m now 71) and am aiming for the Glorious Gravel races in Thetford Forest on May 2nd and October 18th.

o   I will also continue non-competitive riding: road sportives (I have over 10 planned for 2026), gravel rides and ‘retro’ events on my recently-restored 1968 Hetchins.

Social Media:

Instagram: pidgeon.r