All sorts of cyclists write and contribute to this blog. From highly trained Gold Medal winning athletes, singletrack devotees and hardened commuters. Cycling is a broad church and so are we...
SPONSORED RIDERS
Jody Cundy - Jody started swimming at the age of 5 by being given an inflatable back pack and told to get in the water. Due to missing a leg (lower right) he was unbalanced, rolled onto his back and sunk to the bottom of the pool. His parents decided to invest in ‘proper’ club swimming lessons and he soon learnt. At the age of 10, he raced in his first gala. From there it was club, county and finally country in 1994. For 18 years he raced competitively in the pool, breaking world records, winning world championships and three Olympic gold medals.
Early in 2005 Jody was invited to an open disability day at the Newport Velodrome. He only went along as he'd done a little cycling as cross training but the cycle coaches soon realised the pedalling talent in their midst. He ended up being persuaded to hit the track again in Manchester a few months later where they twisted his arm to buy a racing licence and enter the nationals in October on a borrowed bike. He beat the British record for the flying 200 metres and missed the 1 kilometre record by a second. Since then Jody’s hung up his trunks and ridden full time breaking the World Record for the ‘kilo’ and won gold at the world cup (photos here).
In 2008 Jody won further Gold medals in the Bejing Paralympics, before being made an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
Gold medals in three Paralympics, in two different sports. Yup. We're pretty happy to know him.
Jody's profile page is here.
Julian Poffley - 'Jules' is something of a local legend. Dedicated to whatever sport he chooses, be it skating, surfing, BMX and now downhill MTB.
Describing his riding style is difficult as he has usually vanished by the exit of the first bend. He is the kind of rider who keeps scenes going, always riding and building trails and encouraging others to do so. Tredz is proud to sponsor him (regular podiums help) in his riding and racing and we will be keeping you up to date with his results.
RIDES: Kona Stab Deluxe, DMR Rhythm, GT I-Drive 5 1.0, Giant TCR Comp Once Team.
Phil Marland - a Sergeant in the British Army. Phil has been part of our sponsored crew for a few years now and is as determined as ever when it comes to challenges. He competed in South Africa's Cape Epic in 06 as well as the Xterra triathlon.
He is currently gearing up for another go at the Cape Epic in 2010, via a coast to coast mountain bike ride and the Trans Wales event.
RIDES: Scott Scale 30, Specialized Epic, Specialized Roubaix Comp.
Tony Island - A newcomer to the Tredz fold, he will accompanying Phil Marland on the build up to, and the actual Cape Epic 2010 - 'largest full-service mountain bike stage race in the world'.
Despite claims to be only 'a fairly fit bloke', the serious miles he's already putting in on his pre dawn training and the fact he's a British Army Captain makes us think he'll do us proud.
RIDES: Specialized Epic
Ryan Evans - Ryan wasn't always a cyclist. He was in a past life the youngest player to play in the Welsh senior Basketball league and represented Wales in both Home Nations and European championships.
Ryan has now found his perfect sporting partner in Xterra racing. Competing in both the 2007 & 2008 UK events held on the gruelling Afan Valley course Ryan qualified twice for the prestigious Xterra World Championships in Maui, Hawaii.
This year he has joined forces with Tredz to compete in the Xterra European race series. This will see him gaining serious air miles while racing in Italy, Czech Republic, UK, France (twice), Germany and Austria. The culmination of a year’s effort, assuming he is still in one piece, will see Ryan competing at the World Championships in Maui in October again.
Rides: Epic Expert, Epic S-Works, Stumpjumper, Transition Expert
