Introducing...
Every month, we introduce one of the Kingston Wheelers. This month's it's the turn of Lindsay Pullen who, judgeing by his replies below, is the closest thing the club has to a pro cyclist, given he collects thousands of pounds a year to ride his bike!
Name: Lindsay Pullen
Age: 51
Significant Others: Margaret, daughter Hollie 18, son James 16.
What made you start cycling? The 7 mile journey to work in Kingston by car had become ridiculous for jams/parking. I now work near Sloane Square and trouser the £2000 rail season fare the company gives me (with their consent!).
Why did you join Kingston Wheelers? My brother, father and uncle (Lon) are or have been keen cyclists and having cycled to work for a few years I was curious to see what I could do in a short distance time trial. I joined with Andy Paul, a young impressionable colleague at that time, who used to give me a wheel to follow around Richmond Park of a lunchtime. Channel 4 were also doing excellent Tour de France reports.
Date you joined the Club: circa 1990.
Who is your favourite pro or inspiration? Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwen for their matchless race reporting of the Tour de France which explained the mysteries to me. In the club it had to be John Bornhoft.
What bike do you ride? A Cinelli for commuting/training, Regal Black Knight for when I pretend to race, occasionally a Raleigh titanium mountain bike and even more occasionally a tandem to a pub called Marnies at Thames Ditton with Margaret acting as stoker.
Give us a brief cycling background: My uncle Lon Pullen (don't mention the war, which he claims stopped him turning pro) has written many articles and a book on cycling, and my father 80 this year (still putting in the miles around hilly Dartmouth) are still an inspiration. However it was frustration with traffic in Surrey that finally put me in the saddle in my mid-thirties. Mountain bikes were in their infancy then otherwise I might have become more of an off roader.
What was your best performance? I wish I knew. Probably winning the ladie's prize in the Catford Hill Climb until they realised I was a bloke despite my name.
What was your worst performance? SCCU hilly 10 mile time trial in early 2004. My first race for a while. Believe me, you forget what a painful sport it can be if ill prepared.
What is your favourite race food? The omnipotent banana. I just fantasise that it is Theakstons Old Peculier, pork scratchings, bacon sandwiches and white chocolate.
Where is your favourite cycling location? Anywhere on the club run but Majorca with John, Dave and Richard a couple of years ago was brilliant. Hard bastard that Richard - breaks his collar bone on Day One and rides the rest of the week on painkillers!
Most likely to say: "I'm not getting up at some god-forsaken hour on a Sunday morning to do a time trial in the back of beyond."
Least likely to say: "Not tonight dear, I've got a race tomorrow."
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