Local Riders - Brendon Tyree

Sheffielder Brendon Tyree decided he wanted to be a cyclist at the age of 13 and joined the Rutland cycling club off his own bat.

Rising through the racing scene to represent great Britain many times over he racked up enough UCI points to turn elite running into his senior years where cycling was at a low giving him the much needed push to take off around the world with his film camera.

Returning back to Sheffield as a very keen amateur photographer Brendon did the rounds selling spray tanning machines for a short time but for the last 6 years he's been living his dream as professional photographer where he's managed to combine both cycling and photography by shooting travel stories and adventures for various International mountain bike magazines.

As a racing cyclist, which results are you most proud of and why?

Winning the national under-23 road race final down in Dorset was probably my most proud moment as it was a lone break in the last race of the 1999 season and all the big names were in it.

I also managed to get this quote in cycling weekly, 'I gave up clubbing to concentrate on training and racing and it's paid off'.

Also finishing the national XC championships with no saddle was pretty cool if not a bit dangerous looking back.

Which are your favourite stretches of road to ride on locally and what is it that you like about them?

I love the new road up from Ladybower to Stanage, I think of it as my local break in surfing terms.

The same question for roads anywhere in the world?

The coast road in Majorca from Soller to Andrax is perfection, I know it's a bit main stream but I just feel like bond everytime I'm cruising along there.

Less main stream from the top of the col de la bonette down to nice is an awesome couple of days riding.

What is your most memorable moment on the bike or involved with cycling?

Breaking my leg flying down Win Hill a few years ago and waiting for the ambulance with the lads cracking jokes to stop me from fainting.

Has racing affected your relationship with the bike? If so, how?

Yes big time, Racing at elite level can also be a golden cage around the freedom that cycling gives you, that's how it turned out for me so that's why I stopped.

Do you agree with Mickey Goldmill's advice to Rocky that 'women weaken legs'?

Nope not at all, who else is going to stay in with you and watch a film every Saturday night when everyone else has gone out down town?

We are in the midst of a well publicised boom in cycling in the UK atthe moment. Has it affected you? Do you have any thoughts about why it has happened and whether it will continue? Do you see any negatives to the increase in popularity?

Well now you can sell all your old parts from the early 90's (previously worthless) on e-bay to trendy london fixie types for more than you paid for them new, which is a positive.

No negatives apart from a high percentage of 'new' cyclists don't wave back to you when your out riding... OK you expect that in Belgium but not here, we've always waved at each other on passing during a ride, It makes my day better anyway.

Is cycling really the new golf? 

Is it bollocks, cycling is a lifestyle as well as a sport, it's also a spiritual thing to do that connects you with the world around you and makes you feel higher than Jimi Hendrix.

I can't see where networking businessmen flashing their Rolex watch will fit in with that. I think we're just becoming more European which is fab news so the term 'cycling is the new golf' is a poor and shallow choice of words in my opinion.

All cyclists, whether they race or not, seem to obsess over the weight of their bikes. Why do you think this is?

Because it's a power to weight thing, obviously!! but yes, people take it too far and manufacturers love that cha-ching.

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

No it's gone full circle just a beautiful thing to do but I must admit I NEED it more now with all the stresses and strains that come with modern life.

Who has been your favourite pro riders over the years and why?

Robert Millar, a legend!!! As a kid I saw him attack on a climb in the tour, get caught and swallowed up by the bunch and then, a few minutes later he properly attacked again! To every ones amazement, I love how uncalculated it was. I've never felt as excited as that to this day.

Jason Mcroy was my hero when I was at school too, I was pretty much obsessed with him, what a hero.

What was you favourite era of professional bike racing?

It looked lovely when it all started.....Tour de France riders smoking and domestique's carrying beers up for the team leaders. A lot more leisurely.

I'm sure I heard on the Rutland CC tea-cake ride that you once had the better of Sir. Wiggo in the past? Is this true? 

Yes It was when I was on the GB squad riding the prize of Europe stage race in France. It was a very very tough stage... Wiggo had lost his legs and got eliminated, I was also struggling and crashed after someone took my line on a mountain descent ripping off my left STI lever, but I managed to stay in the race and finished looking proper hard covered in blood with one lever! 

You can visit Brendon's website here - www.brendontyree.com