Newcastle born Joe Waugh is a Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist and an Olympian. He also owns the extremely successful cycle shop M. Steel Cycles in South Gosforth. A family man and a workaholic, Joe has dedicated his life to cycling. Even after a near fatal car accident, Joe still makes time to get on his bike and enjoy the sights and sounds of the North East.

What inspires you to get up in the morning?

A)    Life in general, friends and wine, of course!

What makes you want to stay in bed?

A)    A promise!  The morning after the night before if I have been on the grog, but     usually nothing makes me want to stay in bed as I am normally up with the larks.

When you look in the mirror – who would you like to see?

A)    Lance Armstrong, preferably.  He is a truly inspirational guy.  Coming back to win     the Tour de France 7 times running after recovering from cancer is truly remarkable.

Where would be your special place to have breakfast?

A)    Anywhere my wife and family are.  I know it sounds cheesy, but family comes first     with me every time!

What is your most vivid childhood memory?

A)    Going out to buy my first bike having just passed my 11+ exam!

What can’t you do without?

A)    My bike, my wife and my kids… My wife Paula knows that it is in that order too!

Which is your favourite room in the house?

A)    I’ll be polite here and call it the little boys’ room, as this is where I can get     some peace and quiet and read my cycling magazines without being disturbed.

What was your first car – what do you drive now?

A)    Simca 1501 S and Mercedes C220 with a private number plate: W900 JOE.  Give me     a wave if you see me out and about!

What in the North East would you like to change?

A)    The weather, I’d make every day a sunny day. I’d also love to be able to help the     unemployment situation.  It’s sad that there are so many people unemployed in the     region.

What in the North East would you never want to change?

A)    The people.  Without a doubt the North Easterners’ are some of the friendliest     people in the world.

What would you do with a spare £1 million?

A)    That’s simple – retire.

Where in the North East is your favourite place to eat?

A)    Cafe Bangla, Bangladeshi Restaurant in East Boldon, where I live.  The best     curry’s in the region, that’s for sure.  The owner, Ali Hussain is a great guy too and     always makes us feel so welcome – nothing is too much trouble.

What makes you hopping mad?

A)    Parking tickets.

What makes you smile?

A)    Other people being happy and doing a worthwhile job.  And, my family again, of     course.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?

A)    My wife of nearly 34 years, Paula.

Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?

A)    The cyclist, Tommy Simpson who unfortunately died in 1967.  Sir Ernest     Shackleton,     Skipper of the Endurance that got stuck in the Antarctic in 1914 and who heroically     saved all his men on board.  Debbie Harry, the absolute     gorgeous and charismatic     singer, the genius that is Stephen Hawkins, Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon     and finally Jackie Marston from JAM Marketing because she was doing this interview     and said she would write nasty things about me if I didn’t invite her too.

What is your favourite piece of music?

A)    George Harrisons’ My Sweet Lord

What do you hope to get done before the end of the day?

A)    This interview would be good!

Which of your achievements makes you most proud?

A)    Winning Gold Medal for Great Britain, representing Great Britain at the Olympics     and     my lovely family.

What sends you to sleep?

A)    Radio 2.

What is your worst nightmare?

A)    Losing the one thing that I treasure the most; my family.

What would you wish your epitaph to be?

A)    Joe Waugh – He was nice to everyone!

Hi there, welcome to another Waughy’s Word with me, Joe Waugh!

Bike Week is a national event that comes every year to highlight the various benefits of cycling. Whether these are social, environmental or economic, the advantages that cycling has over other modes of transportation or hobbies, are often overlooked. It’s a great time for keen cyclists, weekend hobby riders or those who haven’t rode for years to get on their bikes and have some fun!

The camaraderie aspect of cycling has always been something which has made cycling stand out above other sports or hobbies, for me. Whether you compete or simply ride for fun, there is a social aspect to cycling that I personally feel is very hard to beat.  A friend of mine has asked me to join him in a two-man race at the end of April – No this is not the biggest come-back in history since Take That, but hopefully will be a great deal of fun.

Cycling has been a major part of my life for many years, as regular readers will know. From starting out having fun with my friends and family, to competing in the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics and finally owning an independent bike shop, I’ve never lost the love for the sport. I think one of the main reasons for this is the friendship element that you get with cycling, which is absent from most other sports and hobbies. The emphasis on competition and one-upmanship is almost none existent when you’re out having a ride with your mates or family members. This may already make it preferable to you and that’s without mentioning how great exercise it is, how good it is for the environment and how it can save you a bob or two!

In fact, if you needed evidence that cycling really does change your general health, then you should not look any further than me.  Since January I have been cycling to work three to four times a week, which as I live in East Boldon, is a healthy cycle for someone of my age and fitness.  At first it was quite hard, however I have persevered with it and am now a lot fitter, have saved a fortune in petrol and, this is the best bit, have lost an amazing two stone in weight, without dieting!

As far as family activities go, cycling is unbeatable! It’s a sad state affairs, in my opinion, that a lot of people’s idea of a weekend treat is traipsing around a shopping centre or sitting in front of the television all day. Now that the weather is finally brightening up a bit, why not round up the family, get some fresh air, spend quality time together and most of all have a whole lot of fun?! There are some fantastic cycling routes across the North East which will take you to some amazing views and unspoilt areas of the region. Surely this is better than some busy, stuffy shopping mall and it will definitely get those feel good endorphins pumping through your veins!

Bike Week runs from the 13th to 21st June with events across the country. Take a look at their website on www.bikeweek.org.uk and see if there are any events near you that you can take part in! Even if nothing on there takes your fancy, I hope I’ve persuaded a couple of you to discover, or rediscover, the sport that has meant so much to me for so many years!

Five reasons to get on your bike:

1. Over half of our car journeys are less than 5 miles – swapping them for an easy 30 minute bike ride can save you a small fortune in fuel costs
2. Cyclists live on average at least two years longer than non-cyclists and their fitness levels are equivalent to being ten years younger – so forget nip and tuck, think pedal and push!
3. Cycling is the ultimate family activity; it’s free, healthy, fun and encourages children to be independent
4. Cycling gets you out and about and you’re more likely to find that cute little delicatessen or beautiful park you never knew existed than when you’re cooped up in a car
5. In a hurry? During rush-hour, a bicycle is twice as fast as a car - good if you hate traffic jams! Even better, you won’t spend a penny on parking

If you want to have a chat about anything bike related, then pop into the store! The address is M. Steel Cycles, 6-10 Bowsden Terrace, South Gosforth, NE3 1RX or give us a call on 0191 285 1251.

We’re also available on the web at www.msteelcycles.co.uk and on Facebook! Add us as a friend for all the latest news and updates from the M. Steel Cycles camp!

Until next time, happy riding!

Hi, Joe Waugh here again!

We’re all feeling the pinch a little, aren’t we? My family and I have been making a few cut backs here and there at the moment, as have a lot of people I know. With the light at the end of the tunnel so far away, it looks we’re going to have to continue scrimping and saving where we can. I bet you can’t guess what my top tip for saving a bit of money is!

Those who read this blog every month will know I’m a self confessed cycling nut, but even I have neglected my bike a little bit in favour of the car in the past. With the ‘R-word’ looming, this has all had to change and I’m now cycling almost as much as I used to in the past. I’m feeling much better for it too! I’ve also managed to shed all of the weight I put on over Christmas, and more!  At least I’ve managed to find something positive out of this whole Credit Crunch debacle!

From chatting with some of our customers at M. Steel Cycles, I think quite a lot of people are blowing the dust off their bikes or looking to buy a new one to replace a few car journeys a week. As a fanatic, I’m obviously going to agree, though you’d be hard pushed not to see sense in their reasoning. Running a car can be so expensive. Tax, insurance, petrol, not to mention the money we have to fork out if something goes wrong with it – it can seem like there’s no end to the money that we shed for our four wheeled friend!

Public transport links in Newcastle are particularly good, with decent buses and trains as well as the Tyne and Wear Metro Service. Using public transport is another obvious way to save a few pennies. At M. Steel Cycles, we’ve just got a range of Brompton fold away bikes in stock which are perfect if you’re looking to combine cycling and public transport. These are the only bikes that are allowed on the Tyne and Wear Metro as they become so compact when you pack them away. They’re nifty little things and have almost cult following about them! We’re really happy to be stocking them as they add something completely different to the range of bikes we have at the shop.

I’ve mentioned it before but Cyclescheme is now more relevant than it ever has been. Cyclescheme allows you to get a tax free bike to use to ride to work. This can save you a pretty penny, as well as helping you to get fit and ease a bit of the traffic from the roads. The first step for companies who are interested in offering these discounted bikes to their staff need to register with Cyclescheme on their website, www.cyclescheme.co.uk. Then the staff members wanting a bike need to call into a shop, (preferably M. Steel), that runs the scheme. Once the bike they want is chosen, a voucher will be issued for you claim your bike. The price of the bike, minus the tax, will be deducted for the employee’s wages over a few months. You can use the bike immediately to ride to work and will all yours once the final payment as been made. There’s not been a better time so get on your bike, get fit and save a bit of money in the process!

We recently donated a bike to support the great work done by the doctors in the Northern Oesophago Gastric Unit at Newcastle’s RVI. The bike will be used to auction and raise future funds for the unit. Though many people may not realise it, Oesophageal (gullet) cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the highest incidence of this disease in the world is in the North East of England and Scotland. The unit was set up by Dr. S Michael Griffin MD FRCS in 1989 and is now the largest of its kind in Western Europe. Cure rates are improving as a result of research into this type of cancer so constant support is needed for them to carry on the great work they do. Newcastle’s RVI are a big supporter of Cyclescheme so it was fitting they should receive something back from us.

Until next time, happy riding!

Further to the chancellors’ decision to reduce the rate of VAT, here at Steels we are not only happy to pass on this saving but for the immediate future double the saving to 5%

Currently a lot of importers are increasing there prices due to the currency fluctuations but we will not be adjusting any of our prices until after our January sale and applying the above saving as a till discount.

Following this period we will review our importers prices and reprice our infantry as such.

Hi, Joe Here!

Last month I was honoured to be invited to an event in Harrogate by the Dave Rayner Fund. Dave was an extremely talented young cyclist from Yorkshire whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 27 in 1994. He was a professional cyclist and one of Britain’s top cyclists at that time. Not only that, he was a great guy and everyone’s friend. Despite his success and talent, he was not in the slightest bit cocky and was a real model of how a sportsman should be.

After his death, his friends and family set up the Dave Rayner Trust to raise money to send promising young cyclists abroad, to kick start their careers. This fund was set up way before the National Lottery invested money in cycling, which helped us win our Olympic medals. It really is a great cause in honour of a great man.

The annual event always attracts high profile guests of honour from the cycling world such as Eddie Murks, Miguel Indurain, Brian Robinson and even Sir Jimmy Saville, who attends every year! This years guest speak was Raymond Poulidor, the distinguished French cyclist who became the darling of the Tour de France as the ‘eternal second’, after finishing in second place a remarkable three times. With all of the former pro’s attending, many of whom I used to race with, it really was a treat for cycling fans and the event is another great indication of the rise of cycling as an important sport for Britain.

For more information on the Dave Rayner Fund please log on to: http://www.daveraynerfund.co.uk. Schemes like this need our support, to improve the profile of British sport as well as encouraging our kids to get out and be active.

How quickly has this year gone?! I think I say this every year but it seems like only a few weeks ago we were wishing each other a happy new year and now it’s almost Christmas! With our new M. Steel Cycles shop opening in South Gosforth, things have been so hectic that the time has just flown by. It’s all been worth it and if you’ve seen the new store, you’ll see why!  On that note, I would personally like to thank the legend that is Alan Shearer as well as the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Councillors David and Margaret Wood for officially kicking off the proceedings.  Thanks guys, we all really appreciated it and everyone who attended thought the night went great.  (See some pictures here on our blog)

As it’s almost the New Year, we’ll be starting to think about New Years Resolutions. Getting healthier and keeping fit is many peoples goal but with cycling it is extremely achievable. Cutting out a few journeys by car is beneficial to you and the environment and so easy to do.  At M. Steel Cycles we also work in collaboration with Cycle Scheme (http://www.msteelcycles.co.uk/cycle-scheme/info_17.html) which gets people tax free bikes to ride to work which is perfect if you’re hoping to get in shape this New Year and can save you a pretty penny or two!

After the year I’ve had sorting out the new shop, I’m really looking forward to a relaxing Christmas with the family and having a beer or two! Whatever you have planned, I hope you have an enjoyable, stress-free Christmas and New Year!

Until next time, happy riding!

Joe Waugh here! I can remember watching the opening ceremony to the Olympic Games when I was eight years old. I think it must have been in my blood because I went on to compete in the Games twice. One issue which tarnishes many major sports events is that of performance enhancing drugs.

My initial thoughts when it comes to drugs in sport are, is it cheating and why do they do it? In the days when I was competing, I believed in the Olympic ideal, but many people didn’t. One of the main reasons I never went professional was the underworld of drugs.

Ironically, my hero was Tommy Simpson who died in July 1967 on the Mont Ventoux and was one of the first high profile casualties of drugs in sport. In a book that his nephew wrote he said that although he did take drugs, he wasn’t a cheat. He claimed everybody else in the race was also on some form of drugs and he was merely levelling the field. I guess he was saying, drugs don’t make a greyhound out of a cart horse.

When I participated, many of the competitors, including me, were amateurs. Now, there is a lot of money to be made in advertising and sponsorships and people will do whatever they can to accommodate this and earn the most. This can bring up the question, what is cheating? If the athlete who uses performance enhancing drugs is a cheat, is the athlete who has the money to spend millions on his bike and equipment to enhance his performance also a cheat? Conversely, if someone is born with better attributes, should they be put up on a pedestal above someone who dedicates themselves but falls short? The truth is - I don’t know the answer.

I applaud athletes who are dedicated, who train hard and perform to the best of their abilities whether they come first or last. I have as much admiration for the men and women who compete in tournaments the world over who put their all into it as I do the people who cycle the coast to coast or do a few miles with their mates on a weekend as a social event. It seems so much more honest to me.

The prevalence of drugs doesn’t affect my enjoyment of sports. As I always do, I’ll be watching the Beijing Olympics with a keen eye. It does, however, raise a few concerns. As a father and a former competitive sportsman, I wonder whether I would want my children chasing a dream in a place where drugs can be so rife. Another thing that bothers me is that whenever there is a great performance nowadays, you start to wonder if they’re taking something. It’s a really sad state of affairs as it could well be that there it was simply a fantastic performance.

Saying this, I still believe in the Olympics ideal. Watching the Games really brings back memories. They showed the dining hall for the competitors on the television the other day and reminded me of the dining halls in Montreal and Moscow when I competed. Even though there were hundreds of competitors of all various disciplines from all over the world, at that point no one person was more important than another. To me, that is what the Olympics should be about. What do you think? Let me know at shop@msteelcycles.co.uk.

In other news, we’re really looking forward to moving M Steel Cycles to its new premises next month. It’s been really busy but it’s starting to take shape and we can’t wait to move in. Until then, we’re selling off all the old stock at our current shop, so come have a look and have a chat! Check out our blog at www.msteelcycles.co.uk!

Until next month, happy and safe riding!

Hi everyone, Joe Waugh here.

How many of you drive to work everyday? What’s stopping you from hopping on a bike leaving your car in the drive everyday? If you haven’t got a bike, an excellent initiative is here to save you some money and get you riding to work!

The government initiative was put in place to tackle a number of issues which cycling may help to alleviate. It aims to get more bums on saddles by offering employees of company’s tax free cycles, saving you money and helping you to get fit.

So how does the scheme work? The employer first has to register with one of the companies who are putting the scheme into action. I recommend Cyclescheme (www.cyclescheme.co.uk), for reasons I will explain soon. You then need a written quote for the bike of your choice from a registered seller. The employer then needs to register the quote with Cyclescheme. Once the finance is sorted, a voucher is issued which can be exchanged for a bike. Your employer then deducts the price of your bike from wages, each month as a salary sacrifice. As your bike will be tax free, you can save up to 40% of the asking price!

It sounds complicated but it really isn’t! The staff at Cyclescheme are extremely helpful and will be able to help with any queries you have. They are one of the largest schemes to implement the initiative who support local, independent businesses, like my shop, M Steel Cycles. If you choose to use Cyclescheme, you have a wider choice of bikes and accessories and you’re not being constrained to the bikes the chain shops sell. There are many shops across the company who are supporting Cyclescheme, so check out their website for a full list. On top of that, you’ll also be helping support your local businesses, which is so important nowadays. Local shops are closing down everyday due to the larger conglomerates taking over which is a crying shame.

So why should you ride to work? There are plenty of reasons but I’m going to start with one which is no doubt affecting us all at the moment. With the costs of living going up, in particular the price of petrol, there is no better time to get cycling to work. When I fill up by car, I can spend between £50 and £70. The money you’ll save from just a few weeks of not paying as much for petrol will get you a really decent bike so there’s no excuse!

Cutting out a few car journeys a week will see you doing your bit for the environment as well as cutting down the traffic on the roads. You may even find your journey won’t take as long as you won’t be stuck in queues. The journey to work should be as relaxing as possible to help set you up for a stress free day at work. I can’t think of a better way to do this than leaving the main roads and using some of the cities excellent cycle paths to take a peaceful journey to the office everyday. Newcastle City Council and Sustrans produce maps of all the routes and cycles paths in the area which are excellent and freely available. As they say, a fit body means a fit mind getting in gear and active before work can help set you up for a productive and lively day!

If you’re interested in getting your employer signed up to the scheme, have a chat with them or your HR department. It doesn’t cost anything to sign up so you really can’t lose. The scheme works so well as a great camaraderie can emerge from all of the new cyclists; not only is cycling great exercise, it is extremely sociable.

Don’t take my word for it! According to Richard Grigsby of Cyclescheme, the enthusiasm for the scheme shows no signs of wavering. Many companies have already signed up and are enjoying the benefits of a tax free bike! These include the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Trust, Sage Software Ltd., Barclays Bank, Trinity Mirror and Newcastle University!

As you may have guessed, I’m a huge fan of this initiative and Cyclescheme! If you want anymore information or want to chat about anything cycling related, pop into the shop or give me a call on 0191 2851251 or email shop@msteelcycles.co.uk. Check out Cyclescheme on the web at www.cyclescheme.co.uk.

Until next month, happy riding!

Here at M Steel Cycles we now have more than two years partnership experience supplying a wide range of bikes under this Government initiative. Savings of around 40% can be made on the purchase of that bike you have dreamed of. By signing up to cyclescheme you are able to choose from a number of independent retailers like M Steel Cycles all of whom can help to organise hassle free tax free bikes. Here in Newcastle some of the employers who have signed up are the University, Health Authority, and Sage, plus a number of smaller local companies.

How do I go about this?

First your employer has to sign up with Cyclescheme. This is very straight forward and your employer can be guided through this at http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/employer,register.htm. Although the site explains what is involved the staff at cyclescheme are very helpful and will be very happy to advise.

What happens when my employer has signed up?

You call in at your chosen retailer who will provide a written quote for the cycle and safety accessories you want. We are always happy to advise on the correct cycle but we find by mutual discussion we come up with what is best for each individual.
The quote is then presented to your employer who registers it with cyclescheme. Most employers have set windows of activity rather than have an ad hoc presentation of quotes. Once your employer has sorted the finance with cyclescheme you will be issued with a voucher which can than be redeemed at your chosen retailer. The logistics of how each employer process the scheme can differ slightly but the above is a brief resume. Your employer then deducts the net cost of your bike from your wages.

How much will I save and how much will I pay?

This will depend on your personal circumstances, how much you spend on your cycle and whether your employer is registered for VAT. There is a savings and payment calculator at http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/employee,calculator.htm. Please note most employers limit the scheme to £1000 as above this amount they need a credit licence, however for those wanting to exceed this the difference can be paid to the retailer on the collection of the cycle, or alteratively to make further savings persuade your employer to invest in a licence to give greater flexibility to each employee.

What will my employer get out of it?

Happy, fitter staff, and contribute the “green” issues of our planet, plus the knowledge that they will have economic saving on the cost of driving to work.

The above is a quick breakdown of the scheme, please log onto their full website to read about the whole scheme at http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/general,index.htm

More than half the staff at M Steel Cycles cycle to work on a regular basis!