I know it’s been a while since the first part to this series, but a lot has happened over the last (quite a few) months and finding the time to chat to people is quite difficult. Anyways, here’s part two to the ‘Introducing’ series, where I got to sit down and chat to one of the greats of the British racing scene, and a hero of mine, Alec Briggs.
I started off by explaining to Alec how this section normally works. For those of you who don’t know, I would suggest having a look at part one. https://gilbankracing.com/2022/02/26/introducing/
The Bergs:
Bergs or Cols?
Bergs
Training or racing?
Racing
Favourite race you’ve done?
That’s difficult mate. I’m gonna say…you know what, I was very, very impressed with King’s Cup. A 70km gravel race. Pretty good that.
Favourite discipline, including crit?
Cyclocross when I’m going well, crits when I’m not going well enough at cyclocross.
Bunch sprint or solo finish?
Bunch sprint. Reduced bunch sprint.
What do you do to relax?
Chill, music, Gran Turismo with the VR, all sorts.
Favourite band?
I don’t have one. It’s a wide, wide variety. My first ever… you jump on my Spotify; it is just stupid eclectic. It’s like ADHD music. Yeah, I can’t give you an answer.
Favourite cheat meal?
Burger.
Favourite subject at school?
Didn’t really have one.
The Cols:
When did you start racing, and what got you into it?
I got into racing because I liked watching motorbikes on TV, and I wasn’t allowed to race motorbikes, so I started racing a little bit at Herne Hill (Velodrome), little bit of mountain bike off road, some cycle speedway. That was when I was about nine or ten, and I raced up until I was about 16, maybe 18. I then took a couple of years out, before getting back into it and worked out how to just enjoy racing, and eventually make a career out of it.
Have you ever been involved in other sports?
To a degree, you know, like playing football with your mates all the time, stuff like that. A bit of motorbikes now.
Away from cycling, what were your academic interests at school, did you have any?
School didn’t really grab me. I’m a very kinaesthetic learner, so unless I was being taught hands on stuff and could work it out for myself; visual and verbal learning was all way over my head. I wasn’t engaged.
Were you good at art, and stuff like that?
I liked art a little bit, I liked some PE stuff, but yeah school, it wasn’t catered for my brain, so I kind of ignored it to be honest. I still got a degree in Sports Coaching, but I hated it.
So obviously cycling is a big part of your life, are all your family into it, or just you?
Just me man, just me. I got into it purely off the chance of my parents taking me to Herne Hill Velodrome as a kid.
What was the hardest day you’ve had on the bike?
I think King’s Cup last year. That was really hard. It was two-and-a-half hours riding at 300 watts, and I’d never done that before, because I don’t really do road races. I’ve turned myself inside out in some crits, and you end up feeling like you can’t breathe. (National) Crit Champs when it was in Lincoln, as I was trying to get across from the back to the front, it was like the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Getting there was just savage. No result there either. The last 15 minutes were easy, but the first 15 were hell.
That was my chat with Alec. As I said earlier, he is one of the greats of the British scene, and some of the stuff he does is incredible. If you haven’t come across him, his Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/alec_pedaler/
In other news, next season I will still be racing on the road for Lee Valley, and will be racing track and fixed gear crits for One Life Cycle, a team focussed on racing bikes without brakes. It is a new and exciting adventure for me, and I’m extremely excited! It’s safe to say I won’t be beating Alec any time soon, the three time Rad Race Last Man Standing. https://www.instagram.com/1lifecycle/
That’s all for now; thank you and well done for making it this far. See you next month.
Gilbank Racing 