FOCUSED SKILLS
Rob, I think it would be most sensible for you to put these on.” I’ve just returned from the changing room in my Cycling Plus Lycra when Mike Kluge presents me with a set of mountain-biking arm and knee pads. Photographer Steve Behr is smiling conspiratorially. I’m confused.
The three of us are at Redbridge Cycling Centre – or Hog Hill as it’s also known – on the north-east edge of London for, what I at least thought was going to be, a reasonably chilled-out, low-risk, Sunday morning of cyclocross tuition. Mike, the founder of Focus bikes and a former CX world champion, seems to have other ideas. And, judging by the look on his face, Steve is complicit. Reluctantly, I pull on the knee and elbow pads and we wheel our Focus Mares bikes out onto the circuit.
IF YOU’RE EXPERIMENTING, WEAR PROTECTION. GO PAST THE LIMITS OF BIKE, TYRES AND, LET’S FACE IT, TALENT AND YOU HIT THE GROUND
NEEDLESS PADDING?
This is the first time Mike and I have met, so I don’t think he’s making me dress up like an off-duty Iron Man because he’s heard that my one and only foray into cyclocross was,
