As the time trial season gets ever closer, we quiz top tester John Dewey of Team Bottrill/HSS Hire Elite
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Q & A: John Dewey (Team Bottrill/HSS Hire Elite)
John says “the best thing about being part of Team Bottrill/HSS Hire is having the support of an incredibly experienced team and excellent set of sponsors. I’m really excited about my new Giant Trinity TT – it’s a stunning fast bike. We also have some of the very best kit from Endura.”
1. How did you get into cycle racing?
John: I’ve always loved riding a bike. I started off mountain bike racing, had some success in duathlon, but have discovered that time trialling is what I am best at.
2. Is time trialling your main discipline or are there others?
John: I love riding the technical mountain bike trails of the Surrey Hills on the limit. But I can’t be trusted not to damage myself so am focusing on time trial for the moment.
3. What is the best thing about racing a time trial?
John: My three year old says it’s eating cake at the HQ afterwards. I’ll go with that. Otherwise it’s those race days when you feel superhuman on the bike.
4. What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
John: A silver medal at the National 100 in my second ever 100 mile time trial. A real surprise and I have lots of areas for improvement, which bodes well for 2017.
5. What was your favourite (most enjoyable) race of 2016?
John: A convincing win in the Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50 mile TT in May. I had never ridden a 50 mile time trial before, I’d been ill and off the bike for several weeks, but everything clicked.
6. What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
John: The Shaftesbury CC 50 mile was hot! I was very dehydrated and disappointed with my performance. I was tested by anti-doping afterwards and we were twiddling our thumbs for hours while I downed litres of water and tried in vain to fill their tiny jar!
7. If there was one thing you learned in 2016 to help you go faster what was that?
John: Never lose focus, no matter how bad you feel. Chances are that everyone is suffering even more than you are.
8. What is the best piece of equipment to do with racing you are proud of most?
John: My Quarq powermeter from Cyclepowermeters. I’m rubbish at pacing and would be lost without it!
9. What is your warm up routine for races – rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
John: I’ve got a carefully planned playlist of indie and dance tunes for my warmup on the turbo. I also always watch Standing Start, the short video featuring Craig Maclean, to get the adrenaline flowing!
10. What is the hardest drill that you have in training that you dread?
John: Tabata. They sound like a pet cat, but doing them at maximal effort is the hardest session I’ve ever done.
11. What are the goals for 2017?
John: More national medals – a gold one would be nice! I’ve been working on my position with Drag2Zero and am excited to get racing again and see the results. Also for Team Bottrill to continue to prove our place as the fastest team in UK time trial.
12. What will be the first race of 2017?
John: Probably the Gil Jessop Memorial TT, followed by the East Surrey Hardriders. I really can’t wait for that one.
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