Meet the RC's Captain: James Morgan, Heyne Tillett Steel

James Morgan from Heyne Tillett Steel is the Ride Captains' Captain on Knight Frank Cycle to MIPIM! He's back for his ninth ride in ten years, and he's anticipating those beautiful peaceful sunrise rides.

Tell us about yourself and what you’re working on right now:

I’m a structural engineer who lives in Ally Pally, North London. Lots of projects on the go, including a timber office building in Maidenhead and a big office refurb in the City of London. I’ve just finished the renovation of Hornsey Town Hall in Crouch End with Make Architects.

How did you get involved in Cycle to MIPIM?

Lots of people in the practice had done the Cycle to MIPIM before me and my first experience of CP was a London to Paris ride they organised for Morrow Lorraine Architects. It was doing this that made me desperate to be part of C2M.

How long have you been cycling and how did you get into it?

Since I was a kid on my BMX with all the weird padded clothes. I went to uni in Plymouth and we mountain biked on Dartmoor a lot. A buddy and I cycled Lands End to John O'Groats (self supported) after we graduated. That kind of killed cycling for me – our bikes had panniers front and back with all our camping gear and tent etc (none of the new-fangled lightweight bags in the triangle) and I couldn’t lift my bike up.

After that I started running marathons. I got back into cycling through racing triathlons when I lived in Australia, and I realised that the bike leg was the only one I actually liked. It was the people I've met through Club Peloton that have maintained that passion.

What have you most enjoyed about riding previous Cycle to MIPIMs?

The people. All my friends I see most are those I’ve met doing the ride.

What are you most looking forward to? 

Those quiet mornings in France, cycling as the sun comes up.

What are you dreading?

Getting soaked.

How are you approaching training?

Lots of it.

Any top tips for new riders?

Clean your bike every day. I have a little bike cleaning kit which I take and clean the drivetrain after every day – you want your bike humming when we hit the mountains.

What would you most like to get out of the event?

Making more friends.

What does the fundraising mean to you?

It’s the hardest part for me, especially if you do the ride every year. I’ve transitioned to asking friends and family quickly to corporate support from companies we work with. I must have raised near on £30k which is amazing and am very proud of the charities we support.

What changes does your business expect to see over the next year?

A greater look at efficiency. Projects are on generally on a knife edge with finance and viability and we’re keen to do what we can to tip the balance.

You can sponsor James here.