Q&A: Paddy Clark (B38 Underpin Racing)

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Quickfire Q & A with Patrick ‘Paddy’ Clark of B38 Underpin Racing about 2016 highlights and the season ahead

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Q&A: Paddy Clark (B38 Underpin Racing)

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1. What was the highlight of 2016 for you?
Paddy: Joining B38 Underpin of course.

2. What are you looking forward to most racing for this team?
Paddy: Mainly the fact that it is a bunch of mates and there’s not really much pressure on us, and it’s good to know that we’re all happy to ride for each other, seems like a lot of teams take themselves too seriously.

3. Are you a student – if so studying what?
Paddy: I’m a student at the University of Sheffield studying Computer Science in my final year.

4. What was your favourite/most fun race of 2016
Paddy: Enjoyed doing BUCS events (both the Hill Climb and the Road Race) as we got strong results and they were both just an enjoyable day out.

5. What were your goals in 2016?
Paddy: Being only my second year racing I wanted to do a few National As, just to get a bit of experience of them and also to get a few placings in Nat Bs.

6. What is the best piece of equipment on the race bike you are proud of most?
Paddy: Don’t really have a particular piece of equipment that stands out, but my carbon vision wheels were handy in the hill climb season and I felt they made a difference with some light tubs on.
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7. When will you start training for 2017
Paddy: Having only just finished hill climbs I’d normally be having some time off the bike but this year I’m having a go at BUCS track so I’ll have to fit in a few intervals in early November. December is when I’ll begin structured training for next year, with the view to start racing in early March.

8. Will you stay in the UK to prepare for next season or get in a training camp or two abroad?
Paddy: Last year I went abroad twice to train as I’m not a fan of the UK weather, however I’m too busy this year with my degree. The team plan to go to Belgium during Easter for a week or so though.

9. Special winter bike or using the normal training bike
Paddy: Winter bike, don’t think anyone could survive the Peak District winter without mudguards!

10. What are the goals for 2017?
Paddy: As a team I think we’ll be trying to show ourselves at National As. On a personal level, I’ll be targeting a result in National B’s and I’d like to have a go at some racing abroad, in Italy and Spain.

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11 How did the Hill Climb on Bank road go for you – happy with the result?
Paddy: 21st so not awful given that I’m not a fan of short hilly climbs.

12. Did you a race standard road bike or a hill climbing beast? 
Paddy: Just my Cannondale SuperSix with my lightest race wheels, that seemed light enough. I took the bottle cages off for BUCS and the national but that was about as serious as I got.

13. How much of a buzz is it to get to a race like a championship and see a crowd like the one on Bank road
Paddy: Amazing atmosphere and a funnel of noise, but to be honest you don’t really take any of it in during the effort. A load of the uni club made the trip over so it was a bit of a shame I didn’t get the chance to cheer with them.

14. What’s the best and worst of hill climbs?
Paddy: Anything under 2 minutes I can’t stand. The best is when there’s decent weather and the crowds turn out. Monsal and the Nationals were prime examples of this, pity that big crowds normally means a short climb for me.

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