Introducing Barry Ryan

Would you mind telling me something about yourself please? First, how old are you?

Old enough to have seen Eddy Merckx riding at Eastway, and when Mr Downs was our hero.

Where do you live?

Brentwood.

Are you working/studying?

I work as a projects manager building schools…big ones!

What are your career aims?

To reach retirement…if I haven’t reached what I want by now, I never will!

What are your cycling aims?

This year the half iron man and the Marmotte, next year full iron man and Ventoux.

What first interested you in riding a bike? I know we all rode bikes as kids but when did you beginning riding seriously?

I rode in my teens and early twenties and have now come back after some distractions!

Is cycling in your family, as it were?

No.

Do you (or did you) have a cycling hero - someone you really admire and hope to emulate?

Lucien Van Impe.  A tiny guy, who still won the tour using his advantage in the Alps.

Would you mind telling me your cycling story? In other words what have you done in cycling since you first began to consider yourself a cyclist? Have you toured, road-raced, track raced, time trialled, or ridden off-road?

I started casually when I was 15. and later in a small club in Harold Wood in a garden shed for a clubhouse. Met John Hancock, who amazingly has also just come back to riding after some distractions and actually brought one distraction to the club in his son David who is a man to watch for the future. Went on to ride for the Becontree Wheelers and did time trial and road racing. Toured round Ireland and when I was 17 rode a 100 mile time trial in 4.40 and again a year later in 4.30 in those days nutrition consisted of bananas, grapes and Lucozade!

What do you favour now?

I now do off - road, but my favourite is road.  Being in the peloton, there is nothing like it.

Do you shave your legs? If so, why?

The leg shaving ceremony takes place after the half marathon in April. Reason, stops that tickly feeling when the wind blows the hair around your legs and anyway it looks awful!

Do you pursue other sports?

Triathlon and running.

What interests do you have outside of sport?

Salsa dancing, its great fun.

What brought you to the Glendene?

Location, the variety of ride, not just time trials, but road, off road, tours, and also that the opportunity to see high calibre riders perform at national level. But most importantly the regular Saturday ride, which you can always trust to be there.  So many other clubs do not have this, and this is the foundation of a good club.

What were your first impressions of the Club?

Friendly, vastly experienced and massively supported.

What do you think now?

The same, with opportunity to grow further it the club wants to.

Do you know many of the other members? If not, how will you get to know them?

I have met some really good guys in the Glendene who I am sure will become long standing friends, all like minded with a good sense of humour.   

Does the Club meet your needs and, if not, in what way does it fall short?

Yes it does.

Do you have any suggestions for extra activities/events?

There is a group going to do the Marmotte this year which will be massive!! and a group coming together for the Ventoux next year.  The Steven Roche in October is the yardstick by which the season will be measured. But there are so many fantastic events out there in England and Europe, the possibilities are endless. I think with a steady increase in the, lets say, mature fraternity, the number of events will increase. We are already grouping up for Audax which is in itself a fast growing sporting event.

Do you have any cycling stories you can share with us?

Stories usually consist of pain, punctures, hills, rain, wind,  oh…… then there are sunny days, tail winds, mass start events, good company, bike chat, tea cakes, they all become one big story.

Do you have any stories you are not prepared to share with us? But are prepared to hint about?

None, I’ve told you every thing.

How do you train? Do you have a plan? If so, do you follow it?

Triathlon means you train every day with one day off. Detailed planning is not a priority because at the end of the day you have work, and need to be flexible.  We use the word training too much because at the end of the day its all about getting out and exercising though fun, as long as it adds up to 12 hours a week that is!!

Do you have any training tips you are prepared to share?

Stay hydrated, nutrition is critical especially for endurance events. Sleep.

What achievement or happening has given you most satisfaction?

100-mile time trial. The Steve Roche, my first triathlon, and the Dublin marathon all being epic journeys. But most of all, getting back to cycling.

What do you think of the current state of cycling in Britain?

Confusing

Do you have any views, or opinions, you would like to share with your clubmates?

Endurance is good!!  The longer the better….bring it on.