Meet the Ride Captains: Team Lockton
Meet the Team Lockton Ride Captains for this year's Knight Frank Cycle to MIPIM.
Your Ride Captains are there to look after everyone on the road. Experienced, empathetic and supportive, they’re a wonderful bunch who have been cycling with us for probably longer than some would care to remember.
We asked them for one anecdote from a previous Cycle to MIPIM, one piece of advice for new riders, and some thoughts on their fellow Ride Captains (RCs). Their answers will give you a great insight on what to expect out on the road (and possibly, in the bar afterwards!). Here’s an introduction to the Ride Captains of Team Lockton:
Allan Dunsmore, Director at Conisbee Structural Engineers
Anecdote: I have completed three Cycle to MIPIMs. On my first ride I was grabbed at the end out of a crowd of riders by the late Will Monk to get a pic with all of the people who had gone the entire distance. Will didn’t know me that well so it was a very nice touch from a rider who is now missed. On that ride I also snored so much that my room mate requested a separate room so I had double rooms to myself for four nights. Fabulous!
Advice: For new riders make sure you ride as much as you can leading up to the ride and come to Regent’s Park on a Wednesday to practice getting up early. Put new tyres and brake pads on the week before the ride, as well as a full service about four weeks ahead. Bring spare brake pads. Enjoy the experience and ride as much as you feel like. You will meet new friends and have a few ups and downs but it’s a magic experience.
Your fellow RCs: All the other Ride Captains are legends.
Andy Yates, Director, Webb Yates Engineers
Anecdote: Highs and lows. One year (sorry, can’t remember which one!), day 3 was just miserable. It rained all day, lots of wind, various incidents made it a very long day and we eventually rolled into the hotel very late, very tired and very hungry. Just time to eat, sleep and get going again. Day 4 was totally different. I can’t remember the weather but the final stage was superb. It started with a big climb we went up at a steady pace as one group. And then a fantastic descent for around 35km into the hotel in Valance. The whole group working as one, wide roads, slightly downhill, motos stopping the traffic and we absolutely flew along. I seem to remember the RCs at the front saying let’s go full gas and get everyone whizzing along. We absolutely smashed it and got to the hotel well ahead of schedule with everyone buzzing. Needless to say, too many beers that evening and for me at least a sluggish start the next morning!
Advice: Make sure you are comfortable on your bike for long periods of time. A lot of people spend a lot of time training and focussing on their legs / fitness and worrying about the pace. Doing some cycling is fairly important (obs!) but usually the reasons that riders struggle is not about their legs. Frequent issues are shoulders, back, neck, wrists, knees and feet. The speed is not too high and riding in a peloton makes a big difference to our overall pace, so don’t worry about that. But do make sure you are comfortable on your bike (a bike fit is a great idea if you can) and preferably do some long rides (ideally on back to back days) at whatever pace but to see how your body overall feels.
Your fellow RCs: A lovely bunch, great fun, going to be good banter, but also all very good at supporting the riders and making sure everyone gets through it all!
Anna Beckett, Associate, Webb Yates Engineer
Anecdote: Just one?! During my first Cycle to MIPIM one of our stages was a night stage with a big climb and a long descent which everyone told me would be very fast. I was very nervous about doing the stage but in the end decided I just needed to go for it. About halfway through the descent my front light died and I did the rest of the stage trying to keep someone just over my shoulder so that I could see! The descent was very fast, but I did it and it was amazing – in the end one of my favourite stages from that year.
Advice: Your legs can do much more than your brain thinks they can. And there’s nothing wrong with having a good cry on day 3.
Your fellow RCs: They are all much better cyclists than me!
James Morgan, Director, Heyne Tillett Steel
Anecdote: Too many to mention. I broke my seat post one year – that’s wasn’t too fun. It might have been during the 2017 ride on day 4, we’d had amazing weather all day with a stiff tail wind. One of the RCs (probably Joe Morris) got the bit between his teeth to get us in early so we could hit the bar. The stage started with a steepish climb then descent and 40km downhill false flat into town. We kept everyone together on the clime then absolutely smashed it on the downhill. Everyone riding about 45-50kmph in a tight peloton. We got into the hotel about an hour early, buzzing from the effort and had an amazing party in the bar, all still in our cycling kit.
Advice: train, train, train. It makes the whole event much more enjoyable if you’re fit and ready for it. Get used to riding in a big group – it’s much easier if you can ride comfortably in the pack and not stress about being close to other riders. Get your bike serviced a month out and put new tires on to avoid punctures. I clean my bike every night of the ride (but I’m a bit OCD): if you look after your bike it’ll look after you. Finally, just keep turning your pedals.
Your fellow RCs: Love them all!
Irineo Combarro Lopez (AKA Neo), Partner, Lockton Companies LLP
Anecdote: Far too many!!! Ha ha ha – toilet stops always seem to throw off some comedy moments – shoulders straps of bib shorts left hanging down and / or helmets on back to front. Once the train starts rolling, it doesn’t stop so it’s good comedy value for 50kms before it gets sorted.
Advice: A coffee thermos mug which fits in bottle cage – a must on every morning’s first stage.
Your fellow RCs: This will be my first Cycle to MIPIM as a Ride Captain without my better co-captain and friend Sam McClary (she’s on another team). I will likely be at a total loss without minute-by-minute instructions / orders, but I take huge comfort in knowing that the Team Lockton Ride Captains have a huge amount experience and are the calmest of calm personalities, an unequal pleasure to ride and spend time with.
