bought my first racing bike from multiple SA champ Daryl
I Impey ’ s dad Tony . Daryl was tottering around the shop , aged 2 . I vividly remember his dad trying to stop him from knocking over shiny new Peugeots while selling me a disco glitter paint job 10-speed – I was in heaven . That was 35 years ago , 10 years before the best bike riders in the world , Tadej Pogačar , Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard were even born . These young guys have turned pro cycling on its head , winning races 10 years earlier than was previously the norm . Perhaps it ’ s because cycling has exploded and now instead of a freakish few who didn ’ t choose football , modern superstars were born into the sport and are already super skilled in their early 20s . Cycling has greater viewership at the Tour de France than any sports event besides the Olympic Games . Mountain biking , gravel racing , touring , triathlon and cyclocross have seen bike sales escalate massively . It ’ s a healthy industry , one that could see the world move towards a more sustainable commuting culture . Health is the new wealth and we have all woken to the need to preserve our planet . I ’ m as crazy about bike riding as I was the first time I rode to junior school on my chopper . The freedom of the wind in my face , blood coursing through my veins , and the anticipation of what lies ahead … Every time I throw a leg over one of my bikes I have a smile on my dial , leaving grown-up problems behind . By the time I rack my bike again I usually have clearer focus and peace of mind . In November I rode what was my 20th Old Mutual Wealth Double Century . You ’ d think after so many years there ’ d be little to learn or discover , but teamed up with cycling superstars in the Breitling # squadonamission team I was unexpectedly humbled and hugely enthused . I rode alongside some of the best in the world : Vincenzo Nibali , Jasper Stuyven , Elisa Balsamo , Rick Zabel , Jan Frodeno , Daniela Ryf , Nic Dlamini and Max Schachmann among others .
Ciao Vincenzo ! Humbled by time in the saddle with # squadonamission superstars , and even more so witnessing an emotional bike handover at a proud local school .
I had recently completed a series of videos on how important it is for team captains to shepherd riders to stay in formation and keep effort levels constant . My hard-earned amateur advice was for teams to agree in advance on strategy , goals and roles which can so easily go awry under pressure on race day . On the Breitling Squad , we had new teams who had never ridden together , who had only gathered from around the world hours earlier . Among a flood of fan selfies and media crew mayhem , we drifted off the startline like a well-oiled machine . Our motley mismatched crew of business people , media and pros rolled like we ’ d ridden together forever . This is why pro riders are paid up to € 5million a year – they are simply from another realm . They instinctively herded us amateurs , never putting us under pressure nor allowing anyone to overcook . A small nudge here and snack passed there , they sat upfront into headwinds and patrolled the rear of the peloton , at times seemingly simultaneously . It was a spectacle to observe first hand their extraordinary sense of team work . Listening to Jasper describe riding the cobbles to Roubaix on the rivet was like listening to Greg Minnaar describe how to ride extreme downhills , these are masters of the art and evidence that hard work pays . There is always room to improve if we want to . The next morning we joined the high-profile visitors in a township to hand over 60 Qhubeka bikes to deserving kids . It was a moving experience . Even more so for the celebrities who helped raise the funds , enabling kids to ride long distances to school each day . Two utterly foreign worlds , united momentarily to share the gift of freedom . It ’ s true , Bicycles Change Lives . We hope our Complete Guide to Cycling will in a similar way improve your bike riding experience and that you ’ ll share some of the info and skills with others as we evolve towards a healthier planet .