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The simplest things are the most important. Keeping it simple is a belief of ours. We also believe in making the most of our time, enjoying what is around us. The bike lets us follow these beliefs….
Julian Mortel - From Manchester to Torino
Travelling on waterlogged motorways between Manchester and Liverpool on a daily basis took its toll, as did the dark and cold winter evenings to which I never really got accustomed. The prospect of leaving a secure job and a house was undoubtedly scary, yet has proved to be the best decision I have ever made. I was well paid in England but didn’t get time to enjoy it, I’m now enjoying a far better lifestyle on a quarter of the salary. The commute and stress have ended, my now chosen form of transport has returned to my bicycle.
Two wheels
Cycling has always been part of me, from my very first ‘adventure’ by bike; a 180 mile ride to the coast and back with my two best school mates, continuing to today where I find myself taking for granted riding on beautiful roads in the mountains and hills that I as a child had only seen on television and dreamt of riding.
Early Days
I caught the cycling bug when I was young. My first bike was a Raleigh Chipper when I was 5 (at the time I wasn’t old enough for the Chopper !). I always wanted a Racer but could not afford one and so instead for my second bike I made do with a converted Gents fitted with drop handle bars and the fashionable at the time short 12″ chrome mudguards. This was great until I was 16, but I really wanted something with gears like the pros used, instead of the 3 speed Sturmey-Archer gears I’d made do with upto then. So I started working and assisting at a local petrol station, filling up & cleaning cars as well as continuing with my paper marking & delivery rounds. Soon I had what seemed like enough for a proper race bike. So I sold the old 3 speeder and upgraded to a 10 speed bike (5 cogs at the back & double chainrings at the front). It also had dual brake levers. I bought it mail order because of my fear of bike shops. Unfortunately I soon realised what a poor decision I had made on my limited budget, effectively I got what I paid for, nothing was British or Italian standard thread or interchangeable. So when it wore out, that was it.
Bike shops I considered ‘proper’ always seemed a little scary back then, people spoke a different language, and I didn’t think I was ready to wear Lycra or join a club with those wierdos, the technical gear looked impressive though, and way out of my price range. Therefore the shops held a kind of strange attraction for me, I used to go in and look without talking to anyone. However when at Polytechnic the first 2 years of studying passed by in a drunken haze without even thinking about riding my bike. I then worked for a year, it was a sandwich course, and this enabled me to earn enough money for my first decent bike, that I still had up until a few years ago. It was from a new (at the time) chain of shops called Freewheel, it had slick tyres, hidden brake cables, Shimano 105 bio-pace elliptical rings, was made from Reynolds 531c tubing and looked ace.
Bike shops I considered ‘proper’ always seemed a little scary back then, people spoke a different language, and I didn’t think I was ready to wear Lycra or join a club with those wierdos, the technical gear looked impressive though, and way out of my price range. Therefore the shops held a kind of strange attraction for me, I used to go in and look without talking to anyone. However when at Polytechnic the first 2 years of studying passed by in a drunken haze without even thinking about riding my bike. I then worked for a year, it was a sandwich course, and this enabled me to earn enough money for my first decent bike, that I still had up until a few years ago. It was from a new (at the time) chain of shops called Freewheel, it had slick tyres, hidden brake cables, Shimano 105 bio-pace elliptical rings, was made from Reynolds 531c tubing and looked ace.
First Club
When I returned to Polytechnic for my final year I signed up to join Sheffield Polytechnic Velo Club, my first club. The guys looked keen at the fresher’s week club promotions event. I bought my first pair of lycra shorts with proper hard shammy insert and Carrera team top and I was away.
Bloody hell though, these guys were serious. In the club was; Simon Bray, twice National Road Race Champion; Nik Gardner, National 12 hour and multi 24 hour time trial Champion; Chris Myhill, National Hillclimb medalist.
The club runs were 100 milers on Wednesdays and Sundays through the Peak District, it hurt like hell and I was dropped on my first outing, but I loved it, even if my hairy legs looked out of place.When I finished Polytechnic I took myself off on a tour of France for 3 weeks, travelling light with just a saddle bag and handlebar bag (I intended on enjoying the climbs and descents in the Pyrenees to the full). I was able to do this by just staying overnight at the auberge de jeunesse. I covered just under 2000 miles seeing the Tour de France at 3 points in 1988 when Piedro Delgardo won. It was then I realised riding abroad was the best.
Then I started work, I moved about a bit at first, but ended up in Manchester, where I lived and worked for the same company for 20 years.
Bloody hell though, these guys were serious. In the club was; Simon Bray, twice National Road Race Champion; Nik Gardner, National 12 hour and multi 24 hour time trial Champion; Chris Myhill, National Hillclimb medalist.
The club runs were 100 milers on Wednesdays and Sundays through the Peak District, it hurt like hell and I was dropped on my first outing, but I loved it, even if my hairy legs looked out of place.When I finished Polytechnic I took myself off on a tour of France for 3 weeks, travelling light with just a saddle bag and handlebar bag (I intended on enjoying the climbs and descents in the Pyrenees to the full). I was able to do this by just staying overnight at the auberge de jeunesse. I covered just under 2000 miles seeing the Tour de France at 3 points in 1988 when Piedro Delgardo won. It was then I realised riding abroad was the best.
Then I started work, I moved about a bit at first, but ended up in Manchester, where I lived and worked for the same company for 20 years.
Racing
My first racing experiences were with Sheffield Polytechnic Velo Club in individual time trials, road races and 2-up & 4-up team time trials, it was hard competition, but being part of a great team was something that drew you in wanting you to achieve more.
At Stockport Clarion (my subsequent club) this theme continued and spread into Track racing where I ultimately ‘competed’ with the likes of Bruno Risi (the classiest madison rider of the time), Franco Marvulli, Matthew Gilmore, Iljo Keisse, Jimmi Madsen and the current batch of British pros (Millar, Wiggins, Cavendish, Cummings, Swift, Brammeier, Thomas, Clancy). Being invited to ride 6 of the Revolution events at Manchester Velodrome in front of packed crowds was amazing even if they weren’t necessarily cheering for me it was much more than we were used to at the Tuesday night track league.
On the road my fondest and greatest achievement was to complete the 9 day FBD Milk Rás in Ireland. It was 1998 and the neo-pros looking for contracts would make the race hell for the rest of us. I don’t know how they charged their batteries but I was sure (and now know) it wasn’t by drinking Guinness like me.
I got into mountain biking in 1992 going up to the Lakes with mates, a different kind of fun on the bike and formed part of a good winter training regime. At Stockport Clarion we had a regular Wednesday night ride which we carried on here in Italy.
At Stockport Clarion (my subsequent club) this theme continued and spread into Track racing where I ultimately ‘competed’ with the likes of Bruno Risi (the classiest madison rider of the time), Franco Marvulli, Matthew Gilmore, Iljo Keisse, Jimmi Madsen and the current batch of British pros (Millar, Wiggins, Cavendish, Cummings, Swift, Brammeier, Thomas, Clancy). Being invited to ride 6 of the Revolution events at Manchester Velodrome in front of packed crowds was amazing even if they weren’t necessarily cheering for me it was much more than we were used to at the Tuesday night track league.
On the road my fondest and greatest achievement was to complete the 9 day FBD Milk Rás in Ireland. It was 1998 and the neo-pros looking for contracts would make the race hell for the rest of us. I don’t know how they charged their batteries but I was sure (and now know) it wasn’t by drinking Guinness like me.
I got into mountain biking in 1992 going up to the Lakes with mates, a different kind of fun on the bike and formed part of a good winter training regime. At Stockport Clarion we had a regular Wednesday night ride which we carried on here in Italy.
Why Italian Clarion?
Since starting work and getting into cycling I have always ended up in organisational roles, be it club treasurer or secretary for a branch of one of the oldest (over 100yrs) British cycling clubs, Stockport Clarion. Being part of the Clarion cycling club is a great social experience, with longstanding traditions that still continue today. Hence my choice for the name of this venture.Working with people and organising events have always stimulated me. I joined Stockport Clarion and was treasurer for 3 years and then secretary for 10 years until moving to Moncalieri, Italy. Organising annual training camps in Mallorca, trips to the Alps, Pyrenees, World Road Race Championships in Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, the Gent 6 days as well as cycling events local to us in the North West (National Road Race & Track Championships).
It was following these successful events and suggestions from friends, that I decided I’d like to start ‘italian clarion’, and where better than Italy –the home of cycling and in particular Piemonte homeland of ‘il campionissimo’ Fausto Coppi.
It was following these successful events and suggestions from friends, that I decided I’d like to start ‘italian clarion’, and where better than Italy –the home of cycling and in particular Piemonte homeland of ‘il campionissimo’ Fausto Coppi.
cycling aside
While cycling takes up a vast proportion of time, we really enjoy snowboarding in the Alps & Dolomites through the winter months. We also continue to take full advantage of my chosen location to sample all the local produce and the fantastic Italian cuisine. Speaking the language and having made great friendships over here have allowed me to feel part of the place and get to know some of the lesser known highlights. There is so much to enjoy here, and we want to share it with you.
Lorraine Ayres
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