VELOCIPEDE CYCLES - Key Persons
When not working, I'm riding. Cycling is in my blood, whether it's working, competing or racing for pleasure.
Having ridden many different types of bikes and disciplines, including Downhill, Enduro, Dirt jump, and bmx, and also having worked for a high end road brand, I have a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience. Combined with that I have more than 20 years' experience in the cycle industry and like to keep up to date with developments in all the newest and current mountain bike technology.
For several years before joining Velocipede Cycles, I built and assembled tailor-made bikes for a custom road bike manufacturer.
I completed the Mega Avalanche endurance race in 2013 which was as enjoyable as it was seriously hard work! On a less strenuous note, I enjoy road trips to Wales, riding around the Surrey Hills and local trails as well as a good session at the local pump track.
Claire competes for Great Britain in her age group team and has won multiple World, European and National titles across triathlon and duathlon (both road and off-road).
She got into triathlon and biking relatively late in her sporting career. But since then, she has happily thrown herself into all things bike-related: time-trialling, cyclo-cross, mountain biking, cyclocross, BMXing, triathlons and duathlons. When not training and racing, she's happy triathlon coaching, with a passion for giving children opportunities to be active and enjoy sport.
In 2017 Claire decided to have a career change as her job meant too much time away from her family and triathlon coaching seemed an obvious path. Claire is particularly passionate about giving children opportunities to be active and enjoy sport and she gets a real buzz from seeing people improve.
Claire's current focus is on mountain bike racing for Velocipede Cycles Racing.
For as long as I can remember I have always enjoyed the freedom of cycling, and mountain biking has always been one of my passions along with many other outdoors activities.
I started working in the bicycle industry at the age of 14 when I enquired about a Saturday job in my local bike shop. I quickly gained mechanical knowledge and spent a number of years working part time improving my sales techniques and learning to work on all types of bikes, whilst earning the money to pay for my bike obsession.
When I left school I spent 10 years travelling the world, visiting over 30 countries, experiencing other cultures and ways of life. After returning to the UK, I worked in forestry and conservation. In 2013, an idea formed whilst sat around a campfire, became reality and Velocipede Cycles was born. From then to now the shop has come a long way. We have continued to improve the business and we are evolving all the time, but our emphasis is still on providing outstanding customer service and establishing good customer relationships and a hub for the community of cyclists in Tunbridge Wells, whether you're an occasional leisure cyclist or an avid amateur racer.
McKinley has been riding bikes for as long as he can remember and loves nothing more than smashing single-track, sending jumps, and just generally being out on the bike having a good time. If there are daunting gaps, questionable lines, and downright scary descents, its highly likely you'll find McKinley nailing them.
Alongside university and all that airbourne madness he still finds time to do a bit of racing, in both enduro and downhill, and will always be pushing himself to his limits (and occassionally beyond).
McKinley has been one of our shop riders for several years now and continues to represent us when both racing and sending it big!