Wise Words is our new interview series talking to some of mountain biking’s most switched on people.
We’ll ask our short list of questions to a heap of influential, inspiring and outspoken people that we feel are driving the direction of mountain biking today. Some will make you think, some will make you laugh, some will be plain dumb, some will inspire you to better yourself and your riding. We hope!
This week’s Wise Words comes from the one and only, Steve Peat.
If you don’t know who Steve Peat is then you really need to do your homework. Beyond being a legend of British and World mountain biking, Steve has given handy upward shoves to some of the biggest names in downhill, won multiple World Cup overalls and has the Rainbow Stripes. He also co-founded Royal Racing and Peaty’s Products. The man likes to keep himself busy.
Beyond all that, he got me into mountain biking nineteen years ago.
How would your closest riding buddies describe you to someone who has never met you?
Old Steve, used to be fast but likes a beer now…
What thing or things have you bought in the last year that had the biggest effect on your life as a mountain biker / cyclist / person that works in the bike industry?
Fortunately, I’m in a position where I don’t have to buy too many bike related items, but I did get a Nordic pocket saw that is very useful when out riding.
What unusual habits do you have as a bike rider?
No idea, its all normal innit?
Waiting for the last orders
What piece of advice do you think every mountain bike rider should hear? And what piece should they ignore?
Everyone should take time to work out the best technique to get round corners, its a major part of enjoying a ride but surprising how many people it doesn’t come natural to.
As for ignore, ignore everyone that says you have to have the best bike out there to do well, load of crap, if you have the skills the bike doesn’t matter.
If you could go back and re-ride one day from your life so far, where/what/when/who would it be? Would you change anything?
Tough one this, as I am a racer it’s easy to think back to my World Champs run in Canberra in 2009 where everything clicked on the day.
I would change my prep coming in as it wasn’t ideal but to be honest it doesn’t matter now because I pulled of the win anyway.
As for normal rides, there has been many all over the World and I probably wouldn’t change those either, so long as I’m with a good bunch it could be my local trails that get me buzzing.
What have you wasted the most time on in your life as a rider or bike industry career that you wished you’d given up years ago?
I don’t really see life like this, I try and make the most of what I have at the time, and enjoy it for those reasons, people change or throw things away too easily these days.
How do you motivate yourself when you’re struggling or lacking inspiration?
A nice ride and a few beers with mates usually get the juices flowing again, beers and mates chatting crap can give some great inspiration…
What single and specific thing about riding bicycles do you gain the most happiness from?
Going fast, I bloody love it.
What single thing would you like to erase from cycling history from the last year?
Doping in Mountain biking. I love my sport and hate the fact that it can be brought down this way.
What single thing would you like to make happen in the cycling world in the next year?
For me personally, it would be great to get more kids together in my local area, we have lacked kids clubs for a while but there a few different groups getting together now so I think it will be good for youngsters.
Who else should we ask these questions to?
Lord Robert Warner, and ask him why he’s a lord…
