Q & A: Josh Lawless (Catford CC/Equipe Banks)

Q & A with Josh Lawless who is one of the many new signings for Catford CC/Equipe Banks in 2017

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Q & A: Josh Lawless (Catford CC/Equipe Banks)

New signing for 2017 at Catford CC/Equipe Banks, Josh Lawless says of his new team, “I’m really chuffed that I will be riding for Catford in 2017 as I will be riding for a local team that comes from where I grew up. There’s nothing better than competing in your local team’s kit on the National and International stage with shared ambitions.”

1. What was the highlight of 2016 for you and why?
Josh: I suppose the highlight would be winning the SE Regionals for obvious reasons, but also then pulling out another Nat.B win at the London Phoenix RR a week later marked a real up turn in my fortunes for the 2016 season.

2. What was the toughest race of 2016 for you and why?
Josh: The toughest race for me was either of the Wilton or Lincoln GPs as for both I had approached them in really bad shape due to ill health not too long before them. They were my first races back, so the suffering was huge. Worth it though as my season kicked on from there.

3. What is the best piece of equipment (clothing/bike/gadget) to do with racing you are proud of most?
Josh: The Stages Power Meter or Castelli Gabba I would say are the best pieces of equipment for me currently.

4. What is your warm up routine for races – rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
Josh: Rollers with music is what I usually go with though sometimes I do an on-the-road warm/up, something that’s a bit more unusual nowadays.

5. Your favourite discipline?
Josh: I prefer road races as I find they suit me better physically and I prefer the tactical game on the road too.
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6. Will you stay in the UK to prepare for next season during the winter or get in a training camp or two abroad to get in some serious miles?
Josh: I will be UK based as I need to work and I only get set holidays of course, but will do a little training camp in February with the team at least. Maybe one just before that, but we will see.

7. When will you start training for 2017 and what comes first – long steady miles or a mix of miles and efforts?
Josh: I’ve tried to start training a couple of weeks ago, I say try, as I have been ill recently, so this has delayed the start of my training for 2017, but it’s a long year and there’s plenty of time to get up to scratch. As ever it will be a mixture of efforts, so some real long rides, but then some short, sweet interval sessions too.

8. What are the goals for 2017?
Josh: The goals for 2017 will be to get at least one top 20 in a Prem as well as a couple of Nat B wins. I think that’s the case with many athletes. Ideally though I will want to help Catford grow and experience a real break out season in terms of getting more Nat.B. wins and more top 20’s in the Nat.A’s across the board, nothing would give me more pride than that.

9. If there was one thing you learned most in 2016 to help you go faster/better, what was that?
Josh: This might seem a bit strange learning this now, but sometimes you have to really suffer on a bike, not just to win a race, but maybe just to survive as long as possible to find condition, so that in a few weeks time the dividends will be repaid and hopefully in style.

10. Finally, what have you learnt over the years to best deal with the winter months on a bike!
Josh: With winter you just have to put up with it, wrap up warm and get out there, but be sensible, if it’s snowing or icy then do a turbo session instead. Nothing ground breaking I’m afraid.

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