I have been obsessed with cycling since I was a teenager and have somehow managed to make a career out of that obsession.
Whilst studying for my degree in Sports Science and Physiology at Leeds University, I worked part-time at one of Yorkshire's biggest bike shops, Chevin Cycles in Otley. After graduation I moved back south and by a roundabout way, with an NCTJ post-graduate journalism qualification under my belt, I ended up working at Future Publishing across all three (at the time: MBUK, What MTB and Cycling Plus) of its cycling titles. It was whilst working in Bath that I first picked up a camera, a cast-off Canon EOS 1n film camera from Steve Behr.
Since 2005 I have been back in London, working at Mountain Bike Rider magazine, initially as the Production Assistant and more recently as the Senior Staff Writer.
In the time I've been back in London my photography has moved on leaps and bounds, and I am now regularly commissioned for MBR, Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport magazines, as well as for commercial clients such as Condor Cycles.
As far as bike riding and racing is concerned, I do a bit of everything, but since discovering cyclocross a few years ago, that has become my competitive focus. This year I have consistently placed in the top 30 at national level races, and I've rarely finished outside the top five at local events. In road racing, I am a second category racer and have been for the last four seasons.
I am in the process of setting up a new team to specialise in cyclocross and criteriums, Vicious Velo. Expect to see more from us in 2011.
