Meet The Collective
Rob Harwood – Chairman & Co-Founder of ColVelo
A Perfect Day on The Bike Would Be?
Something long and somewhere wild. It’s easy to look to the continent for spectacular venues, but I do feel the UK is often over looked in terms great riding terrain. Scotland, Wales, Northumberland to name but a few spots that offer world class cycling. I’ll take a sunny day, and smooth roads also, if available?!
One Choice; Carbon, Steel or Aluminium and why?
Hard to call. All have their merits….but as a romantic, I go Steel. Great feel, classic looks and comfy for the long haul. Steel is real after all, right?
Cycling Heroes Past and Present:
Past: Roger De Vlaeminck – The more I read and watch, the more I admire his single minded, combative style. Not to mention a full Palmares of Monuments.
Present: Still have a soft spot for Spartacus when he’s going full gas, but of the new breed it’s hard not to admire Sagan and his carefree approach to racing. I also enjoy watching Zdenek Stybar in full flight. He’s a great bike rider.
Favourite Race:
For the Razzmatazz, Flanders. For sheers toughness and Classics grit. De Panne.
Favourite Piece of Kit:
My Knee warmers. I ride for about two weeks a year without them. Perfect for the drab UK conditions often in play.
Coffee & Cake Order:
When the chips are down and the day is a long one, can’t beat a pot of tea and a sausage roll.
Will Morgan – President & Co-Founder of ColVelo
A Perfect Day on The Bike Would Be?
A transit ride of 120ish km out to Norfolk with ColVelo. Spirited ride, lengthy lunch stop, finished with plenty of laughs and Adnams on the train home.
One Choice; Carbon, Steel or Aluminium and why?
I’ve really fallen in love with my steel Genesis; happy in all terrain, strong, sturdy and forgiving.
Cycling Heroes Past and Present:
Past: Merckx
Present: Still hanging onto Wiggins until retirement.
Favourite Race:
Paris – Roubaix is one hell of a race, but for grandure and tradition, Le Tour has everything.
Favourite Piece of Kit:
Rapha Short Sleeve Base Layer.
Coffee & Cake Order:
White & Carrott Cake.
Andy Colsell – Social Secretary & Mr ColVelo Coffee & Canvas
A Perfect Day on The Bike Would Be?
40-60 miles in the rolling Suffolk countryside with a couple of friends, cheese and pickle sandwiches and a bottle of brown ale,
One Choice; Carbon, Steel or Aluminium and why?
Steel, in traditional geometry, (proper horizontal top tube and 1″ threaded head tube) with steel forks, in Reynolds 531, because it looks perfect
Cycling Heroes Past and Present:
Just the one: Andy Ruffell..
Favourite race?
What’s a race?
Favourite Piece of Kit:
Carradice Zipped roll and Indexed Down Tube Shifting
Coffee and cake order?
Pot of Builders and a sausage roll
Liam Hendry – Online Content & General Rep
A Perfect Day on The Bike Would Be?
Something in the region of 200km – a decent distance without being overbearing. I’d love to ride the Il Lombardia or Strade Bianchi routes as the scenery looks awesome, and of course there’d be great coffee en route and a huge bowl of pasta at the finish
One Choice; Carbon, Steel or Aluminium and why?
As a recent steel convert I’d plump for that, over a long distance the material really comes into it’s own in terms of comfort. Saying that I can’t wait to have a blast on the carbon machine this summer!
Cycling Heroes Past and Present:
My favourite rider would have to be Peter Sagan currently. Not only is he strong and aggressive in a range of races, it’s refreshing to see a rider with charisma who’s not afraid to convey an opinion. A great ambassador for cycling!
Favourite Race:
The Tour of Flanders. Having ridden there in 2015 I can testify to how hard the cobbled climbs are, so those guys have my utmost respect. On top of that the race has a real festival atmosphere, cycling is ingrained in the Belgian psyche
Favourite Piece of Kit:
Giro Empire shoes. Super comfy as they’ve got laces. And pretty stylish on top of that
Coffee & Cake Order?
Long black with a big chunk of carrot cake
Mike Polom
A Perfect Day on The Bike Would Be?
A long, ambling day out exploring in northern France.
One Choice; Carbon, Steel or Aluminium and why?
Steel. I recently built up my first steel bike in the form of my Graham Buck tourer, and instantly fell in love. It’s the most comfortable bike i’ve ever ridden, able to soak up everything I throw at it, and serves me well out on adventures.
Cycling Heroes Past and Present:
My hero from the past is Billie Fleming. She died in 2014 aged 100, still holding the women’s record for the greatest distance cycled in a year – 29,603.7 miles. She set the record in 1938. Not only that, but she was a true believer in cycling for pleasure, something ColVelo embodies. You can read an interview with her on her 100th birthday here.
From the (near) present, my choice would always be recently retired Jens Voigt. The ultimate hard-man of the peleton, breakaway animal, and with the biggest diesel engine on two legs, he embodies everything I love about pro cycling. An ultra hard working super-domestique for most of his career, when he was given the chance to get in the break, he always gave it his all. And just when you thought that was it, he signed it all off by setting the hour record and retiring. “Shut up legs” indeed.
Favourite Race:
The Peace Race (although no longer around).
Favourite Piece of Kit:
My team issue w&w gilet
Coffee & Cake Order:
I’ll have a pot of tea and a caramel shortcake please.