Riders

Lynn Bland
Lynn is the ultimate machine. Rhythmic and smooth with a consistency that can go on and on and on over all terrains - not least the steepest of hills. She's a human metronome and has conquered some ofthe toughest of Europe's mountains and climbs including Alpe D'Huez and the Pyrenees. A very dedicated rider who can also turn her skills and endurance just as successfully to fell running. Her first dabble in the NMRRL 2007 season proves greater successes lie just round the corner.

David Beresford
A very talented rider and hill climber. If anyone has ever seen or heard him gasp for breath or show any pain I'd like to meet them, despite rumours fellow rider Lynn once saw him struggle during a mountain climb in France - this was surely down to a failure to adjust to dodgy French cooking or ridiculously high altitude as he left the planet's orbit. He posesses a wonderful rhythm on the bike and for all his fitness and strength he's an incredibly modest and humble fella. He has at least two NMRRL Top Ten places to his name and probably lots more but he'd never tell you.

Kevin Saville
A lean-mean cycling and running machine. Relatively new to cycle road-racing he can more than hold his own in the NMRRL field and in between riding he often takes to the hills to complete gruelling fell runs. His strong sense of justice means he is annoyed at the fact there are too many "shirkers and not enough workers" in the NMRRL(team-mates excluded I hope). He's recently developed a new stylish look by wearing a bandana scarf under his helmet in the style of Pantani. Our very own "Pirate".

Paul Sleaford
The NW's very own Alan Sugar. This top company MD still finds the time to ride out and race and holds a proud pedigree to clinch top-ten places in the NMRRL and others. He's always ready to put his organisational and teaching skills to use too with a wide grasp of tactics and bike knowledge and top-tips for other up-and-coming riders. Will always look out for the weaker riders on long training rides and is the kind of guy who will sacrifice his last energy bar for someone else who is struggling and in need of help.

Darrell Bradbury
An unassuming power-house who can go on and on and on (and he talks a bit too - just kidding) for miles without breaking stride. There is no terrain that poses any problems for this all-rounder and he probably puts in more miles per year than any other NW rider. Even his holidays with Lynn are geared round cycling. He's a total bike-buff. Talk about dedication.

Sam Smith
The latest member to the NW and has already made his mark during his debut session in the NMRRL he is regularly just outside the top-ten riders at the finish of the NMRRL races and has already clinched a top-ten place to his name. Great things are expected for this demon-descender who knows no fear on the downhills and can easily climb the steepest that the Peak District has to offer during Saturday training rides.

Matt Rigby
Probably the NW most talented road race and cyclo-cross rider. Despite being one of the club's more mature riders and a knee injury he's a tough act to follow in a sprint or up a climb. It can be a bit unnerving, however, when your guts are hanging out and he's simply having a nice chit-chat with Dave Beresford on the steepest of climbs.

Jon Cooper
More famous for achievements off rather than on the bike with death-defying crashes into nettles and a plunge from an 18ft high bridge which left him with double fracture of the right leg. However, with little sense of self preservation, tactical or mechanical expertise, Cooperman has proved that with a die-hard spirit every dog has its day after clinching a top-ten place in the NMMRL 2006 league.

Mick Rogers
Buck Dodgers, as he is affectionately known, boasts at least two top ten places in the NMRRL and has some success in several BCF races and over the last three years is probably one of the fastest improving NW riders. He is a real team rider and will always look out for others on and off the road with a willingness to dole out advice and mechanical back-up. Takes everything in his stride, but you can't help feeling there are bigger and better things to come from this all rounder.

Andy Dunn
A consistent and reliable rider who has maintained a regular place in the upper-half of the NMRRL field. Perhaps the friendliest NW rider and is always ready to put in the miles and never takes things too seriously. He's a good all-rounder and is always able to do himself proud in the NMRRL, BCF races, hill-climbing and time trialing events

Honourary member Rob Blackburn
Uncle Rob. The most talented unofficial NW member. Forget the ocassional top-ten accolades in the NMRRL, Rob's name proudly adorns the winner's trophy and he regularly appears in the competition's weekly top-ten results every year. Not that he would tell you, but he's been involved in some of cycle sport's most high profile events at all levels. But for all his experience, he's never too proud to look out for more modest riders and always keen to bring in new blood, offer advice and help and provide mechanical repairs.

Steve Wells
A late season transfer deal saw the Norton Wheelers snap up their latest team member from JF Wilson Cycles. Steve has made a successful comeback to road racing after a long lay off away from the sport. But he has managed to hold his own in the NMRRL and has done himself proud with some very good time trial results proving there is life in the old dog yet and with the added inspiration of joining the Norton Wheelers - the future is bright and his future is orange.

Gary Fountain

Former junior cyclocross star Gary has recently rejoined Norton.His many years of experience are displayed with skilful riding on the technical sections of any cyclocross course. Gary also joins team mates in the NMRRL during the summer.

Karl Hallam

Karl is a gutsy rider, or at least a rider with a gut, who never knowingly over-trains. He is a world class taperer and can smell a café at 10km. His long term dedication to pies, pints and cakes can give him an edge on down hills that don’t require pedalling. He does an average of 1 event per year, which has included L’Etape du Tour and more recently the 3 Peaks. He likes to give the impression that with training he could be a contender, this is unlikely to be the case.

Paul Stephenson

This self-professed climber is very used to going up in the world whether it's a steep hill or a perilous cliff edge in the Peak District. When Paul Stephenson is not holding his own in the saddle this budding Chris Bonnington is ascending a rope as a mountain climber on a cliff face. As a cyclist, he can manage most terrains and is not afraid of wet or wintry conditions and particulary enjoys cyclo-cross including Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and club events. Paul who can often be seen commuting on his road bike to and from work hopes to take on time trials as well as having a stab at the Three Peaks challenge to add to his impressive mileage.

Richard Large

Another very late transfer deal snapped up from J F Wilson Cycles. This guy's name is LARGE, which in simple English means BIG: He has shown in the past to have a big caring side to him. A big HEART? Well he needs one of those, for the hills he is about to face each week!

He as developed his riding from falling off once a week into the gutter to now holding his own in road races. Watch out for him in the future. Apart from been called something with BIG in it He is a LARGER than life character who will brighten up every ones spirit? Welcome to the orange people.

Jonathan Harrison

As one of the Norton Wheelers founding members, Jonathan Harrison started a prolific affiliation with the club when he was a chubby 12 year-old. He was affectionately nicknamed Hamster but over the years he became a finely-tuned medal winning cyclist. Jonathan was a committed Schoolboy and Cyclo Cross rider in the 70s and early 80s and now describes himself as a "middle-aged steady and occasional Sportive, Mountain Bike Challenge and general events rider". He has a Schoolboy National Cyclo Cross Team Member Champions title to his name from the late 70s and clinched a silver medal time in the Etape Du Dales 2007 to prove he' still got it. Jonathan, who has enjoyed making many cycling friends over the years, claims he's now reverting to his chubby status - but don't be fooled.

Steve Hancock

Steve "Herbie " Hancock is no stranger to Belgium beer and French fries after this intrepid rider has taken on a few famous European routes and climbs not least the gruelling Tour of Flanders. As a tough endurance rider who can more than hold his own on the climbs, he's never averse to looking over his shoulder to check on the more modest riders behind and is always willing to drop back and help stragglers on club runs. Steve's competed in Yorkshire cyclo-cross events and the North Midlands Road Race League where his medical expertise was also called upon following a pile-up. He dreams of riding Paris-Roubaix but has so far had to settle for re-living his youth with a lengthy ride to the Glastobury music festival while suffering what he describes as a "mid-life crisis".

Barry Parker

Ex Fusion rider Barry Parker is probably the best-kitted out cyclist in the Norton Wheelers as a salesman for North Derbyshire bike clothing company Polaris Apparel. This stylishly-dressed rider is no stranger to hard training and can often be seen commuting to work by cycling or running in all weathers which does him no harm when he competes in the North Midlands Road Race League and in The League International and British Cycling Federation events. His cheeky personality was recently best summed up when he took part in a 19.6mile time trial from Ashford to Buxton on a small-wheeled Brompton folding-bike for a dare and came second. Proving where Baz is concerned - size really doesn't matter!

Anne Beresford

Modest Anne Beresford clearly has something of a competitive streak or a passion for a brew and a bun because she's fond of taking on the "tea 'n' cake" rides. She also made her debut in reputedly the toughest cross race The Three Peaks in 2009. Her aim is to complete the Peaks in under five hours and despite her claims that this might just be a dream on her part and that she's happy to pootle at the back of the pack no one would bet against this dark horse. Her most immediate dilemma however was her choice of website picture which she said was, "a hard decision between a professional one at the top of a mountain or a fat-faced pic in the Peaks stuffing down a banana." But even when she's scoffing it's the food of champions - so that sub five-hour target looks on the cards.

Russell Beresford

Russ Beresford has been a NW member for about 30 years and has a very impressive cyclo-cross pedigree despite claims he has been "inactive" for about half this period. He was at the top of his game in 1983/4 finishing in the top ten at the Nationals and was part of the Norton team which crowned National Champions. He won the Yorkshire Points series and was part of the Norton team that won The Three Peaks Team Trophy. He enjoyed many wins during this era and even raced in Belgium. He first took part in The Three Peaks in 1979 as a 16 year-old and repeatedly bagged high placings and as a big fan of the race he hopes to re-acquaint himself with the event soon if he can take a break from all his fell-running. He said: "It's still simmering on the back-burner but I'll be back one day - probably in the Over 70s category."

Jonathon Stathan

Jonathan Statham is one of the pluckiest riders in the Norton Wheelers who is never afraid to throw himself at challenges with a smile and a will to keep going. This die-hard character is a regular Saturday morning club participant. His friendly demeanour makes him a popular club member. As much as he likes to hang about and have a chat, he is always eager to get up the road as fast as he can as mentor and fellow member Rob Blackburn looks to offer him more kindly words of wisdom. Modest Jonathan claims, "You've got to know you're limits", but this reliable fellow has always got his eyes on club sportifs and long distance challenges including Rob Blackburn's 100 mile ride.

Matt Hulley

Matt Hulley is as happy on a bike as he is pounding his way round the hills as a fell-runner. The all-rounder is keen to turn-out for club rides when he's not fell-racing in the Lake District. He's no stranger to the pain barrier and has taken on "lung-bursting" Cuckney time-trials and won the 45 mile Le Terrier cyclo sportif, in June 2009. Versatile Matt has also enjoyed Graves Park cyclo-cross, velodrome training, triathlons and duathlons and is ever keen to race more and up his mileage.