Feature – James Gullen Q & A

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UCI team Pedal Heaven have recruited the North West’s James Gullen who takes VeloUK’s Question and Answer

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Feature – James Gullen Q & A

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1. When will you start your road season and what will be the first race?
James: First road race will probably be most northern riders season opener, the Clayton Velo Spring Classic at the end of Feb. I may do a few TT’s before that but it will depend on training camps.

2. What races will be your targets for 2016 and why?
James: Hopefully we will get to do the RAS and that would be great to have a go at. I think I go better off back-to-back races and have never really had many stage race opportunities so it would be good to see how I get on. Other than that, a good finish in Chorley GP and Tour of the Res would be great then we will see what happens if we get a place in the Tour of Yorkshire, It would be amazing to be racing such a big event on my home roads.

3. How will you spend the time on the bike between now and your first race in training?
James: A bit of a mixture really. Me and a few mates are going to Lanzarote this week to get some sun and good quality miles, it’s great training out there and the wind can make it pretty tough. After that it will be a mixture of steady rides and threshold training, then some top end stuff before a more structured team camp in February to really gear up for the start of the season.

4. What was your favourite Xmas present?
James: Its a toss up between a remote control helicopter and a £30 curryhouse voucher….but one of the most useful present I got was a little bluetooth speaker that should come in handy in hotel rooms when away racing.

5. When it rains, which its doing a lot right now, is it turbo time or wrap up and get wet?
James: I think you need a balance. It’s all very well and good running away to warmer climates all winter or being soft on the turbo everyday but sometimes you just need to get out in the grim conditions and battle it out.

Look at Tour of the Reservoir last year, you need to get used to those sorts of conditions to be able to cope. At the same time, if you have a specific session, have time restrictions or you have already been out in the rain for consecutive days, then turbo’s are great. Top tip would be wear Velotoze with tights over the top so the rain runs outside and not down into them, although it is a bit of a fashion crime, it does the trick!

 

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6. If you could do any race in the world including the best ones in the world etc, what would it be and why?
James: Probably the Tour de France, just the scale of it all and how big the race is worldwide would make it top my list.

7. What piece of food can you not do without where ever you are on the road during the season!
James: Cereal, the best bedtime snack.

8. What is your favourite music track when warming up for a race or on the turbo?
James: Usually a track that has come out recently with a good beat to it until I overplay it and move on.

9. If given the option, would you prefer normal brakes or disc brakes on your road bike?
James: Normal (I’m very anti discs) …

10. What’s the spec of your race bike for 2016 and your favourite bits on it? (include a pic or two if you have them!)
James: We will be on Specialized Tarmac SL4s with Dura-Ace, Specialized finishing kit and Edco wheels with Continental tyres this year. My favourite part is the green and black paint job which the team has to have custom sprayed once the bikes come from Specialized.

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