BMCR Feature: Masters Spotlight: Michael Bell

After 23 years off the bike, Michael Bell’s comeback has become one of the most enjoyable stories in Masters racing. Here’s a Q&A with Michael from Toks Adesanya 

BMCR Feature: Masters Spotlight: Michael Bell (NBCC / TLI / BMCR) (by Toks Adesanya on the BMCR Facebook page) — After 23 years off the bike, Michael Bell’s comeback has become one of the most enjoyable stories in Masters racing. Now 60, he’s finished 35 races this season, taken four wins (nine if you count age-category victories), and written some of the best race reports on the TLI and BMCR pages — equal parts honest, funny, and heartfelt. BMCR caught up with him to talk about hindsight, writing, training by feel, and what keeps him queuing at Premier Inns at 6am with a bike and a grin.

Michael and Toks 

Toks: Like most of us this year, there were races that could have gone differently with hindsight. Which two or three moments would you replay if you could — and what would you try instead?
Michael: Definitely the BMCR crit champs at Colchester in September. That last corner I went wide, onto the grass. I was gutted. I was in the car heading home within 15 minutes of finishing! To be clear though, I’d not have won, no one was beating Paul James that day.

Toks: You’re one of the few riders who writes full race reports that people look forward to reading. What’s your process from finish line to Facebook post? (Voice notes, bullet points, next-day recollection?)
Michael: I usually just notice things during the race and make a mental note to put it in the report, there’s been many occasions when I’ve remembered something much later on though that I’d intended to mention. Like those smart-arse replies that you think of 2 hours after the conversation.

Toks: Your reports have humour, travelogue, and race detail. How do you decide what not to include? Is there a personal rule or “cut-off” before you hit post?
Michael: I always try to be positive in what I say. I’d never slag someone off. It’s rare that there’s any occasion that it would be necessary to do so anyway. I’ve always enjoyed creative writing. It was the only thing I was good at in school! My late brother Tony used to have a column in Cycling Weekly in the 90’s which was popular, he wrote in a very self-deprecating way, or self-defecating as he’d say! It’s not that widely known though that he had a serious side to journalism too, with published features in The Observer, Independent, Guardian etc. His more colourful antics seemed to have defined him unfortunately. Our dad used to keep a training diary. I’ve got a couple of them from the 1950’s and some of the entries in that are written in an amusing way. I keep a yearly journal now, or as I describe them to my wife Sally: future landfill!

Toks: When did you first realise other riders were actually waiting for your reports to drop? Did that change how or why you write them?
Michael: It’s something that’s just kind of developed. When I got back on the bike in May 2020, my mate Simon was instrumental in getting me going, advice on bikes and equipment etc as he reckoned I was like a cycling version of Austin Powers, defrosted from the 90’s and trying to buy Spinergy wheels and Spinacci bar extensions, so he steered me in the right direction.

I started updating my FB page with an account of each ride, from that first ride of 14 miles, mentioning local landmarks, situations etc, then getting a road bike, falling off it and breaking ribs, a pneumothorax and then coming back from that. People seemed to enjoy these, but I’m aware it’s only my FB, and mostly cycling friends. When I started racing in ’22, I continued this theme with an account of each race. If it’s the case that other riders enjoy what I write, that’s a real bonus. I’ve had a couple of race organisers ask me to do write up on their race when I’ve competed, which is nice.

The positive responses do surprise me though, in a good way. Graham Weigh and Geoff Rawlinson of TLI have both given me a lot of encouragement and confidence regarding the race writes ups

Toks: You’ve spoken about racing by feel rather than power. Would you ever try a six-week “power-on” experiment to see what your efforts translate to — or does instinct still serve you better?
Michael: I’ve thought long and hard about this question. Whatever way I answer will make me sound like an old luddite or duffer but it’s not like that. If I was younger, I’d be fully invested in it and I can definitely see how beneficial it is.

Toks: What’s your go-to training week when life only allows four rides? How do you balance threshold work, endurance, and recovery when there’s no power meter to guide you?
Michael: I aim for a certain amount of hours per week. At the moment, for example, I’m only doing about 7 hours, if that. And some of that is just wobbling about on a gravel bike with mudguards. I’ll increase the hours in the new year and the intensity too. I do a lot of intervals, sprints, hill reps etc. It’s what I used to do in the 80’s and 90’s, but slower!

I use a circuit of 1.5 miles, my own ‘tricky triangle’ aka Willow Lane of Pain, and do a number of laps with 3 full on sprints per lap, sometimes solo, other times with a mate who lives near me: Steve Knowles. During the last century, this would set me up well for the town and city centre races i used to focus on. I know it’s not at all scientific and will seem very ‘old-school’ to most but I love it, the routine, the familiarity of the circuit, the ride to and from it. On the route home, there’ll be a lamppost here that I sprint for, a tree there, that letterbox. The final effort a mile from home is ‘The Hedge’!

Toks: You’ve mentioned “just finish” mode. What’s your inner voice when that happens, and what small cue (a word, a person, a corner) helps you fight back into racing mode?
Michael: Sometimes you just know it’s not your day. The two Stallard races: Peterborough and Cranfield were such days. I was literally hanging on at times. Years ago, I’d have climbed off but now I think of the entrance fees, the fuel costs getting there, that near immediate feeling of regret when you get off etc. and just try to get to the end! I wish I knew what contributed to feeling so rubbish at times though. Yes, I know I’d be able to see it in my ‘numbers’

Toks: The long drives are legendary. What’s your best “race travel routine” — from Wetherspoons meal choice to warm-up music?
Michael: The drives! They can be a pain but you’ve got to to where the races are! I like to get to the HQ with 90 minutes to spare. A couple of the BMCR races had Sunday afternoon starts, which was unusual, it reminded me of my brief time racing in France when all races had afternoon starts. I don’t have any particular music I listen to, and never during any warm up, if I do one. I listen to Radio 2 but most drives home coincide with Elaine Page.

I really can’t be doing with ‘Show Tunes!’ so it’s bit of 80’s synth stuff: Kraftwek and fun fun fun on the Autobahn. I get signed on, then try and relax. I’m easily psyched out though and have to fend off doubts and negative thoughts. Towards the end of the season, I was really looking forward to not having to drive long distances for a while but after finishing work in April, I’ve now got a job that involves me driving the length and breadth of the UK. It’s only part time though, two days a week

Toks: After 23 years away, what surprised you most about Masters racing today — the standard, the spirit, or the speed?
Michael: It’s been incredible. I genuinely thought racing as vet, a ‘master’, would be easier than it is. A bit of a bimble with a sprint at the end. The level of fitness of some of my peers amazes me.

Roy Chamberlain, Karl Smith, Paul James, Gareth McGuinness Rob O’Connor to name just a few of the guys that both inspire and sometimes demoralise me. I love the camaraderie. It’s funny, there’s a few familiar names/faces from my first time round (my last race was 1997 when I’d have been 32) but mostly guys that must have come to the sport later. I’ve got to know loads of riders, and that for me has been the best thing about coming back. Someone once said to me “if you’ve ridden or raced a bike and stopped, you’ll always come back to it” and it’s true. I just wish I’d done it earlier. At one point, in the 2000’s, I was 16 stone.

Toks: You often praise organisers and marshals in your write-ups. What’s one thing behind the scenes that ordinary riders maybe don’t appreciate enough?
Michael: Definitely… the time and effort just getting a race in place. Having had a number of conversations over the years with Keith Jones and Geoff Rawlinson, I’m aware of the challenges organisers face, whether that’s multiple temporary lights popping up on circuits or irate locals, there’s a multitude of barriers to be overcome and that’s even before the challenge of ensuring there’s enough marshals. We, as riders, are all indebted to these individuals who ensure we can continue to race on the roads. The Bike Marshals are also incredible and give such a sense of security.

Toks: A moment this season when the camaraderie truly hit home — maybe after a tough day, a mechanical, or a long drive home.
Michael: Difficult to pinpoint one moment. There’s many, I always try and stay for any presentation out of respect for the organisers and winning riders, I enjoy the conversations, the race debrief, the tea, the buffet. On one of only two occasions I did leave early, I was unaware I’d won a prize and was told off ! In my defence it was one of those very long drives home

Toks: You often quote family memories — your brothers, your dad’s racing stories. How much does that sense of continuity motivate you when you pin a number on now?
Michael: Health nowadays, but that was the sole reason I got on the bike again. To get out, and enjoy the outdoors, lose weight, get healthy. It’s been hard, there were some days I’d get back home after a ride and hardly be able to speak or get up the stairs! One day not long after I’d started, I really overdid it, 4 hours to Beeston and back, I was completely knackered and I met Steve Cummings.

Both my late brothers knew him quite well but I didn’t. I could hardly string two words together and he carried on. I’m sure he probably couldn’t wait to turn off, wondering who the jibbering moron was. They (my siblings) would both be F category riders now and it did occur to me how great it’d be if they were still around. I’m sure Mark would have continued racing, Tony, I’m not so sure.

Toks: You’ve said descending confidence is still a limiter. What’s your practical plan to improve it for 2026 — and how will you measure success?
Michael: Thankfully, there’s not many races where descending is a big factor, other than that last stage of the Tour of the Abberleys. 2026? Hmm. I’m looking forward to the whole thing really, I’ll probably try to focus on the three circuit race championships in my E category: TLI, BMCR & BC. I really enjoy the two TLI well established events: the Cheshire Series and the Super4. It’d be great to see more BMCR guys in TLI races

Thanks so much Michael Bell – we hope you have a great 2026 season on the road 👍👍

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