Introducing...

Every month, we introduce some of the Kingston Wheelers and Martin Anscombe is here for March 2008 along with Iwona Kalamajska. He's new to the club but has already ridden the Etape du Tour and has a sweet tooth, except when it's 40°C.

     

Name: Martin Anscombe

Significant others: Donna and the ankle biters – Ella, 11, Elliot 10 and Meg 8

What made you start cycling?Fitness, speed, cost, environment, trying to halt the ageing process. The usual...

Why did you join Kingston Wheelers?I’d watched the forum for a few weeks and there is a good level of banter and sound advice. And not a lack of passion either! I’d like to get my 10m TT down to below 25...hours.

Date you joined the Club: February 2008.

What bike do you ride? Pretty dull Trek 2100 and Merida hack.

Give us a brief cycling background: First bike at perhaps 7 or 8. Have commuted for the last 20 years or so, with a few pauses on the way.

What was your best performance?Finishing a few sportives. Dragging my sorry a*$e up the Aspin and the Tourmalet for, err, fun/training/pain.

What was your worst day on the bike? Dragging my sorry a*$e around the Etape in 2006. No water. Only sticky cake left (under normal circumstances, would be great!) in 40°C temperature. The Alpe d’Huez was very, very, very long.

Who is your favourite pro or inspiration? The usual suspects. LA, Merckx, LeMond etc. Although lunatics like Tyler Hamilton and his alleged tooth grinding phase and Gino Bartali for helping subdue political arrest, do deserve a mention. And proper hard men, like Hinault and Kelly had better be mentioned also!

What is your favourite bike food? Cliff bars. Anything sweet...

Where is your favourite cycling location? Pyrenees are pretty cool.

Most likely to say: "What...right to the top?"

Least likely to say: "No thanks, I’m on a diet"

Previous interviews

Tim Lawn
Nicola Wadham
Kenton Kirkwood
Lon Pullen
James Beaumont
Graham Sheridan
Richard Williamson
Ian Collins
Lindsay Pullen
Yves Millière
Gafyn MacMillan
Colin Brades
Kristian House
James Smith
Stuart O'Grady
Mike Willcox
Mark Poole
Ian Beston
Andrew Harvey
Daniel Conway
Ben Cousins
Thorsten Klassen
Chris Salt
Cedric Klassen
Narayan Peralta
Stewie Martin
Matt Atherfold
Andy Lack
Alan Sherman
Sander Slager
Iain Marshall
Chris Jenkins
Andrew Melbourne
Andrew Bye
Sean Gannon
Sabrina Verjee
Charlotte East
Thom Westran
Will Meers
David Morley
Steven Saunders
Nick Hussey
Adam Currie
Jon Rollason
Ben Elliott
James Platt
Jules Birks
Ian Humphreys
Richard Evans
Emma Dews
Gerry Rosen
Ruhina Miller
Martin Anscombe
Iwona Kalamajska
Ali Cigari
Keith Lancaster
Will Horrocks
Chris Wright
Ryan Peirce
Leona Kadir
Maryka Sennema
Richard Barnes-Webb
Robert Elms
Chris Westgate
Daniel Lloyd
Bethany Hedger
Roger Merriman
Laurie Griffiths
Luke Wallis
Matt Lloyd
Simon Henderson
John Onken
Luke Cutler
Simon Henderson
Charlie Whitfield
Steve Wright
Glenn Chamberlin
Dan Martin
Lise Sørensen
Dan Lloyd
Andy Edwards
Jamie Wasley
Joao Correia