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Sean GrayI started cycling when I was four. I can remember a family member taught me to ride my bike (without stabilisers). First bike was a Raleigh Tomahawk (the small version of my big brother's chopper), which I eventually got as a cast off.
Cycling was not my first sport; I played football and was rubbish, then went to boxing from age 15 to 22 where I was good but not good enough or "daft" enough, then to tri-athlons where I was usually last out the pool - caught them all in the cycle - then got thrashed in the run, then progressively onto cycling (thank God).
I am a fire-fighter and have been for nearly fourteen years. I love my job, but I think the less said about the fire brigade at the moment the better!!
I would like to go to the Tour - but I say that every year.
I would like to thank Kenny for giving me coaching tips and encouragement throughout the years; he was the one who told me to forget road racing and stick in at time trials.
Last year I bought a new frame, a second hand disc, new wheels & bars and bits; this year I have only purchased another second hand disc - that's another reason for a hard year next year.
In winter, I keep warm by throwing on as much gear as I can, and usually boil myself, but as a big fella I could be doing with losing a few pounds. (I keep my jwcc gear good for summer.) I like the Club cycle clothing, that's really all I wear in the summer; the skin suit could be shorter, but I will leave these matters up to the people who know best.
My best regime? - All I can say is I jump on the bike, ride as fast as I can over the distance in front of me, and hope for the best. Life can't get much better than that. In winter, I spend a lot of time indoors, turbo training.
How often do I have a tumble? - Well, I fell off on Saturday before the start (my chain slipped) which didn't do my preparation any good, but nothing hurt - except "my pride" as Kenny said. I've had a few tumbles (most not my fault) but the best one was at Rothesay when Harry and I were doing the 2-ups: I got a bee in my helmet whilst climbing a hill with Harry, I tried to shake it off twice, the second one ending me in the ditch. I told Harry to keep going and I would catch him up, no harm done.
I first met my wife, Susanne, at a Club I was working in when I was boxing (but that's another story) but she doesn't mind me cycling (she hates the bike because it "hurts her legs"). She enjoys her Sunday mornings to herself while I am away racing or training, and during the week she doesn't bother - I think she likes me out of the house!
Johnstone Wheelers is my first and only Club, and it will stay that way, although I am not really an active member due to a busy race calendar (approx 30-40 races per year) and work commitments. I have been a member since '97, when I went to a Chocolate Time Trial on the Georgetown Road, when I was second in the series.
During my time at the Club I have had varied results usually in time trailing. In 2001 I stopped road racing due to a few too many crashes. At least in time trialing, if I crash (which we all do) it is only me to blame, and I began taking TTs seriously and I started by breaking the hour for a 25-mile TT in July 2001 with 58.26, and then I started noticing my name in Cycling Weekly.
This year has been beyond belief - my 10-mile TT time was 21.33, a 25-mile TT time 56.09, and my first 50-mile TT 1.58.43. My first 100-mile TT was a disaster when I punctured at 83 miles but ended up with a 4.30.43 (which I will improve) but wasn't that bad, I was heading for a 4.15.00. My time trialing has been enjoyable, which I think it is what it's all about.
The best was left to last when I won the Rider Of The Year for the Club ( there was obviously no one else left to give it to). This award means everything to me; when I joined a bunch of riders out at Georgetown I never in my thoughts would have believed this would be for me.
From here cycling-wise it is only going to get harder; I have got some good times to beat, so if do I beat my times, win my first Open event outright (I was joint first this year at a ten), and pick up a British fire-fighter championship medal (I was fourth in Britain this year), I will be happy. Not much to ask, is it?
Footnote from
Kenny MacDonald,
Honorary Life President,
Johnstone Wheelers CC.
Sean has worked hard over last 2 years to get to the position he is now in. He had to learn to pedal in a different way from his natural style & this took a lot of dedication, meaning inevitably 3 steps back to get 4 steps forward in terms of times.
The initial first couple of months saw him getting slower times but he persevered & it paid off with dramatic results - he improved his 10-mile time by 4 minutes and his 25-mile time by 10 minutes; the result is that he is now a force to be reckoned with in Time Trialing in Scotland with top six placings in most events he rides. |
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