Rider Profiles: Oi Pepper

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Oli Pepper

Oli could be described as a dedicated follower of fashion, or at least a man who wants to lead the fashion pack rather than follow. Such is his passion for cycling he along with business partner and friend Dave Marcar, recently set up a new team - Morvelo Bicycle Apparel and subsequently a business designing and selling top end cycle kit and hot T’s guaranteed to make you go that extra mile.

A keen Gorrick fan, Oli has been hitting the events for over 9 years and even when feeling poorly, such as when he met up with me for this interview, had made the pilgrimage up from his home town of Brighton for his Gorrick ‘fix’. Find out what makes Oli tick, what he rides and why he’s so interested in ladies underwear...

Age / Location: 32 from Brighton

Category: Masters (or Super Masters if I can find the strength / willpower / stupidity)

Who do you ride for? Morvélo Bicycle Apparel

That sounds like a pretty new team, tell us more about Morvelo:
It's very new, you're right. There are four key members to the team that only formed in June 2009. Myself, Frazer Clifford, Lea Denison and Rob Dean are all Brighton riders that decided we wanted to race the Bontrager 24/12 event full tilt to see what we could do. Quite well it seems :-)

We're not necessarily all about results but more about the love of racing all bikes whether it be mtb, track, road or cyclocross. We ride and race all of them and love the pain. That's why we have "Pure Sweet Hell" emblazoned across the back of the jersey, as homage to the rigours and joy of racing something so simple as a bicycle.

What bike do you ride:
DeSalvo Titanium Singlespeed. I won't go into the whole raft of other bikes that span the other cycling disciplines. If you love bikes, you love all bikes (secretly), right? 

Why this one:
Not many people have heard of the small Oregon frame builder Mike DeSalvo, who’s won awards at the prestigious North American Handmade Bicycle Show, but he was generous enough to sponsor the 2006 UK Singlespeed champs. He had a custom frame up for grabs and my pititful and beaten old steel Kona was enough to warrant me winning the star prize. And that is what kick started my return to the Gorrick races in earnest. The bike is just so much fun to ride that I just want to race it more and more.

What do you like about racing singlespeeds:
Simply put, you forget about the bike and focus on the thrill of racing.

What was your first bike:
My first proper MTB was a Saracen Andes in bright orange with neon yellow accessories. Nice. Should be just about coming back into fashion.

How/when did you start mountain biking:
Back in 1990 and I haven't looked back since. In mountain biking I felt I'd found something that would be a lifelong friend and it's proving to be the case. Everything about it appeals to me, from the outdoors, great scenery, social network, challenges, smiles, adventure, lactic acid and the warm glow after a winters night ride amongst the badgers.

When was your first race and what was it and how did you get on:
It was at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire in the lashing rain and I got my arse kicked well and truly finishing in the bottom five. But I loved it and vowed never to race in tracksuit bottoms again!

What / when was your first Gorrick?
I think it was at Swinley in about February 2000. It was freezing cold and I raced in baggy shorts and a wifebeater. I was more into DH and dirt jumping at the time and hadn't done an xc race for some time. The buzz never went away.

What do you like about Gorrick Races:
Everything! Great courses, superb relaxed atmosphere, close racing. The Gorrick crew have it spot on and rightly have masses of people wanting to take part at their races.

How long have you been doing Gorricks:
Well on and of, coming up for 10 years.

Which is your favourite Gorrick venue:
Tunnel Hill. Any course that has bmx style racing whoops and berms in it always gets my vote! I always forget I'm racing, the course is so much fun. 

Got any cycling ambitions:
To keep riding, keep racing and keep the collection of bikes and friends growing.

Best bit of advice you’ve been given over the years:
To go out and do it yourself. 

Best bit of advice you can give to others:
Learn to love lactic acid. The pain doesn't get any less. You just get faster. Which is a great feeling and one that is quite addictive!

Tell us a little bit of trivia about you?
That I once worked in the C&A women’s underwear section as a part time job…