Rider Profiles: Paul Howard
Paul Howard
Paul (aka known as Pigeon legs) has been one of the key members of the Gorrick since 2001. You see him at every event, working tirelessly alongside the rest of the team to help deliver fantastic courses and great Gorrick experiences. Behind the scenes he's the man with IT knowledge with which he has helped create the informative Gorrick website regularly keeping it up to date. He's also a keen rider and so when not mucking in to help out or suffering from a streaming cold [oh very topical Joolze! Ed], you'll see him in the races getting stuck in.
Age: 39
Riding for: Mountain Trax, Gorrick and Berks On Bikes
Give us a brief intro about yourself, what you do for a living/fav colour/fav post ride food etc...
I've been working at Mountain Trax since October 2008 doing a bit of everything: sales, spannering, cycle to work management, IT stuff and everything else besides. It's quite a departure from my normal line of business but after 20 years or so in the electronics manufacturing industry the bottom fell out of the market and redundancy led to new opportunities.
Favourite post ride food after a heavy riding session is often Torq Chocolate and Orange Recovery, or if it's a meal I'm rather partial to knocking up a Thai chicken curry, all those hot spices are good for killing off any post ride bugs.
Joolze showed us her talent with a spraycan at Crowthorne
by preparing this impressive backdrop just for a couple of snaps.
[© joolzedymond.com]
How long have you been involved with Gorrick?
It must be 8 years now, since about 2001.
How did you get involved?
I'm also a member of Berks On Bikes (BOB) and got to know Jon Lucas (Gorrick's head honcho) through them after I took up racing. He had visions of taking Gorrick forward into the internet era and approached me asking if I could help.
What do you do for them?
My main task is to look after the whole of the Gorrick website and maintain the online entry system MBSA. We also run other events such as TrailTrax Navigators and the Test Valley Tour marked route rides where again I assist with the websites and all aspects of event management. When I get a chance I really enjoy trailbuilding and have put my hand to a number of venues creating race courses from virtually nothing. I love to ride and race on our handcrafted trails and to see others enjoying them is very satisfying. Gorrick is a small team of volunteers who all have full time jobs so we devote an awful lot of 'spare' time to put on professional events. You'll also see us turn our hands to any task going... for example how many Event Directors (Jon Lucas) do you see weilding a large stick in the portaloos to ensure they flush freely?! Oh the joys.
What bike do you ride?
Oh Joolze you should know better than to ask that!! Cos like many folk it's "bike's"; mtb, road, cyclocross, tt, singlespeed, pub hack!! Though for racing I ride a Scott Spark 10, a carbon full-suspension for those not in the know. But that's literally just changed in time for the Gorrick Enduro to a Whyte 19 Team carbon hardtail. I've raced on a full-suss for five years, mainly cos I find the additional control and comfort an advantage when racing long enduros, but fancied a change back to a really lightweight hardtail. The Whyte 19 has been getting rave reviews so it seemed like a good way to promote it on behalf of Mountain Trax. My speciality is (was) 12 and 24 hour solo races such as Dusk Til Dawn or Mountain Mayhem which the full-suss was good for but I'm taking some time out from those to concentrate on normal xc racing as the recovery can be quite lengthy after racing hard for so many hours in one hit.
When did you start cycling?
As a young kid. We used to hang out at the local park on our BMX's and practice jumps and stunts, or build ramps in my parents back garden. I've still got scars in my shins from the pedals whacking into them when things went awry.
What got you started in Mountain Biking?
I always preferred riding offroad as a youngster and when I moved to Surrey in 1996 found that the terrain looked good so bought a cheap mtb just to see. It wasn't long before I upgraded to a Marin full-suss and as they say I've never looked back. Cycling was always a good alternative to windsurfing - my other passion - when the wind wasn't blowing.
Can you remember your first bike?
A boys Raleigh something or other. I fitted massive cowhorn bars and a radio to it. It had a tough life being jumped off ramps and didn't last too long.
What was your first race and how did you get on?
Funnily enough it was a Gorrick Spring race in 2001 at Yateley in wet conditions (similar to Round 1 this year). I was more used to racing on water (in dinghies or windsurfers) so battling through narrow singletrack in a 100+ Novice field was a new challenge to relish. Finished somewhere in the mid-40's with ambitions to better myself.
How long have you been riding Gorricks?
So that's about 8 years now, crikey. Progressed from Novice to Master and now Supermaster cos I thought four laps would make me hurt just enough.
What's your favourite Gorrick venue?
Sorry I'm going to be shamelessly biased here... Tunnel Hill. Myself and teammate Clive spent days on end trailbuilding there for the first Gorrick use of the venue. Our aim was to make trails we would love to ride all the time with a good flow, hence making good use of the terrain and natural features. As we say "Gorrick's are made by riders for riders!"
Best Gorrick moment?
Consistently scoring top places in the Master Spring Series and finishing second overall (can't remember what year), and regularly finishing in the top 10 in the 7 lap Gorrick Enduro.
There's almost a bike handling tip here...
look to where you want to go and the bike will follow!
[© joolzedymond.com]
Have you got any major MTB ambitions?
Other than finally trying to break my duck of 4th's at some of the major 12/24hr enduros, I have an inclination to pack up a rucksack and head out on the mtb for a few days, just riding following my nose, bivvying in the woods and see where I end up. I enjoy discovering new trails and this seems like a good way to do it further afield.
Best piece of advice you've been given?
Put the time in to train hard which makes racing easy and always be sure to have good recovery periods, as that's when the body gets stronger - Matt Hart TORQ Fitness who coached me for 2 years. Secondly, stop drinking lager, drink 'proper beer', needless to say this advice wasn't from Matt!
What advice would you give to any newcomer?
Choose a bike model that fits you correctly and meets your realistic riding needs or ambitions. Always try to ride different sizes and models until you're happy. To give racing a go read our FAQ on the website giving some tips. On race day turn up early enough to pre-ride the course slowly to warm-up and practice the tricky bits. Ease yourself into the pace of the race, don't "burn all your matches" early on. Most of all relish in riding the trails knowing that no one will be coming the other way and enjoy it - mtb racing is a fun thing to do. Chill out afterwards eating a burger with your mates whilst reliving the race.
Do you have a favourite training ride?
No not really. We're so spoilt in this area of Surrey/Hant's that when jumping on the mtb I'll head to one of the many military areas of forest and heathland and thrash round the best tracks, just having a blast - sometimes with a tea and cake stop though! On the roadbike I like going far afield discovering new roads and hills. A regular road ride takes me from home near Farnham to Chichester and back crossing the North and South Downs a couple of times.
And anything else you think you'd like to add...
Just a big thanks to all the riders who keep on taking part in Gorrick events. If proof were ever needed that xc racing is flourishing it's all you lot that make it so. We have a 'formula' that works but are always looking for ways to improve and welcome your feedback, be it the courses, event management, anything - let us know. Sorry I've got carried away with my ramblings - does anyone ever read these things.....? Thanks Joolze, see you in a ditch sometime soon.
01 Dec 24
26 Jan 25
