Joe:
Hello everyone!  Well it’s been a mixed bag weather-wise this summer but don’t let it discourage you from cycling when you can.  Andy Lovell, our newest member of the team, is going to talk to you about the different ways cycling consumes his work and leisure time and how he landed on his feet with his job with us!

Andy:

Cycling and sportsmanship are absolutely in my blood.  From childhood my dad, who cycled, rock-climbed, and canoed, made sport central to my life.  I remember, even now, the first ever experience of cycling.  I was plonked on a bike with no stabilisers in the back garden and just expected to ride.  My first attempt didn’t go too well and I ended up riding backwards round and round the garden!  From that point on, I was hooked.

In my more reckless teenage years, I rode BMX’s with my mates, going ‘dirt jumping’ after school.  We made our own tracks and jumps which tended to result in broken body parts and falling head-first into trees!  I still enjoy that adrenalin rush in my 20’s and this month, Cycle Cross begins.  In this type of racing, about 12 competitors ride constantly round a track for about an hour until the eventual winner is determined.  This is more frenzied than riding on roads and you need specialist, stronger bikes with grittier tyres and a desire to compete!

This competitive edge didn’t really come until I started work at M.Steel Cycles a year ago.  I used to ride with Joe’s sons and I jumped at the chance to work there.  We have a team club and about 14 of us go riding every Sunday.  I absolutely love being part of a team, but I’ve had to learn to compete too; as the new guy, everyone was pressuring me to match their standard, and thankfully I’m getting there now!

The team runs can be extremely nerve-wracking; we ride inches from each other in close formation and at 30mph hitting a pothole feels like hitting a brick wall!  We tend to go into the countryside to the north of Newcastle, heading up to Alnmouth area where the rolling hills and country roads are beautiful.  It’s not all serious though; we always end up in a café in the middle of nowhere munching fry- ups and having a laugh.  I’m really chuffed to be part of a team that rides regularly, and the bike I ride now is painted in the team colours.

My personal interest in cycling and now working at M.Steels has taught me to learn more about the sport and to cater for each individual’s needs.  For example, I would not recommend that people just beginning to ride should make the long journeys we do.  I would personally recommend heading to the Rising Sun Country Park in Benton.  You can ride there without crossing too many major roads and once you’ve arrived, you’re free to roam as you please through the hills, tracks and around the bird reservoir.  However, we have many more maps of routes in the shop so we can find something to suit everyone.  I love being able to advise people about cycling whilst continually learning myself; it really is an extension of my hobby.

Joe:
Andy’s passion and desire to give the right advice is absolutely at the heart of M.Steels Cycles.  We want to cater for everyone’s specific needs and Andy has the knowledge and love of the sport to give each customer the service they need, even if he did take a while to reach our standard on the club runs!

Remember, we welcome everyone in our store, amateur and professional cyclists, and new and established fitness enthusiasts, and are always here if you need someone to talk to about your bike or cycling activities.  Visit the shop at 6-10 Bowsden Terrace, South Gosforth, NE3 1RX, or give us a call on (0191) 2851251.

Until next time, happy riding!  Joe Waugh.