CELEBRATE KEVIN SPEED
02-09-2018Kevin, can you answer to the following questions !
Hello, Kevin ! When you get the time to do it, can you answer to the following questions, asked to all the finishers (edition in the review + website)
1) What are your feelings reaching the arrival ?
a great sense of achievement
2) Why and how did you begin to cycle ?
When I was a young boy on my toy tricycle I would push the boundaries by exploring the footpaths further and further away from home because I always wanted to know what was around the next corner.
3) Why and how did you begin the BIG challenge ?
Which is the most attractive criteria for you in this challenge media (professional races) or sport (difficulty) or tourism ? The reason I chose the BIG Challenge was because it offered me a reachable and realistic goal of 1000 climbs in Europe (well – 950 then plus a ‘maybe’ possible across the world in the future). How I began was built on the already achieved total of nearly 100 on entry back in the mid 1990’s. this gave me the boost to extend the climbs that I wanted to visit in the UK and Switzerland to start with. My most attractive criteria in the challenge is tourism. Racing has never been my forte as our former secretary Helmuth well knows when he named me ‘kevinspeeding’ because of my slow approach to the climbs.
4) Was there someone who motivated you in the beginning ?
Yes, my father. He introduced me to our local hills near our home in Cheshire – Peak District and Snowdonia that led me to explore for myself. It wasn’t long before I was motivated in the challenge of road cyclo-climbing
5) At which moment did you think : "I'll reach 1000"?
When I was cycling with Axel Jansen and Daniel Briollet in Georgia. When these were reached I knew it was possible to complete. Following that there were those elusive two climbs in Crimea where it was now totally unsafe to visit without a gun for protection! It was a relief when the two were replaced and it was possible to visit western Ukraine for a second time together with Heiko Linnert, Irene Schneider and Gabor.
6) About your score evolution, were there events in your private life that increased or decreased it ?
Yes, when Ruth decided to join me (albeit her driving not cycling!) and we shared holidays in Madeira, Canary Islands,Corsica, Sardinia and Iceland making it possible to increase the count while holidaying together. This important so that we had time together without me being selfish to use time alone at her expense
7) What were the countries where you found more difficulties to cycle ?
Romania was particularly difficult because of the poor state of the roads. I really should have taken a mountain bike on my two visits to that country. Ukraine was also difficult but so glad that Gabor was able to loan me a mountain bike when I arrived
8) What are the most beautiful sceneries (landscapes) that you met ?
I fell in love with the Alpine countries – especially Switzerland where I’ve cycled on thirteen different occasions over the years. Except for a ‘Channel hop’ across the water – Dover- Calais- Boulogne – Folkstone, this was my first country visited outside of the UK and climbed my first BIG – the Brunig Pass – in 1976.
9) Did you often think : "I put my wheels where professional racers put theirs" or "where other BIG members put theirs" ?
As my climb count in the BIG club increased – yes, I would agree that I enjoyed the thought of cycling where other BIG members had visited, especially when I read their expoits in the annual BIG review
10) Were there a final competition or race between those at the end who were near the Grail of 1000 ?
(In English, by the way, it’s called ‘The Grail’) No, I was never concerned about competition with others to reach the 1000. It was only my own personal ambition.
11) What are your best souvenirs of relationships sharing in the BIG world ?
Enjoying developed friendships with other BIG members but especially Francois Candau then later Heiko Linnert and Irene Schneider followed by Axel Jansen and Daniel Briollet
12) What are your worst souvenirs inside the 1000 ?
Cycling in thunderstorms and soaked to the bone in deluge in northern Italy – but I enjoyed the climbs in better weather! Some of the climbs in Bulgaria and Romania were boring to climb but on the whole great countries to visit.
13) The several languages used in the BIG Cycling World : is this an additional interest or a real problem for you ?
Being English and typically mono-linguistic as most Brits are – yes a problem but thank God for the internet and universal translators! I’m always grateful to my European friends for their willingness to speak English to a Brit would couldn’t be bothered to learn a second language.
14) Do you think that your kind of passion is very similar to the majority of the other members that you met ?
In conversation with many of them, yes the passion is similar. We share the same goals and outlook.
15) Had you a good feedback inside your country when talking about the BIG ?
Local friends and family were always interested to hear of my latest adventure when I returned home as the places where the BIG’s are situated are in locations where few British peole would visit.
16) Do you think that the national British challenge will give an additional interest to your fellow countrymen ?
What do you think generally about the parallel challenges ? (Natachas, Ironbigs) The British Natacha’s should add interest to Brit who might find it difficult to explore further afield for lack of time or financial constraints. Personally I don’t think the Ironbig’s hold the same interest. I like the idea of Natacha’s that each member can attempt in their own countries as it adds interest to explore other areas
17) Among your 1000, what are the most difficult ones with the slopes ?
Was there in those places that you suffered more ? Kitzbuhl Horn was a killer! Especially the day I cycled it (and eventually walked) as it was in fog and couldn’t see the road before me except the wall of a road before my eyes. L’Angliru was another one – been there three times now and each time walked the higher section. I must go back with my lower gear mountain bike and attempt it again.
18) What do your family and friends think about this passion for cyclo-climbing in Europe ?
They think I’m mad, but admire my determination and sense of adventure. While they go to Benidorm or Blackpool they’re interested in hearing about my exploits. They say “but it’s not normal” to which I say “What I normality? By what standard do you judge it by? Normality is relative!”
19) Do you have any bad or sorry feelings somewhere about all these years used to build your score in BIG ?
Yes, time away from Ruth who had toput up with my being away from home too much, especially when I was working and only had limited holiday periods away from work and our time away together suffered. Personaaly for her – she’s glad it’s all over! Ah but is it? I ‘ll be revisiting many to cycle other unconquered sides! The mighty Ventoux is on my list for next year!
20) How do you see your future in your cycling practice ?
Probably as I become older I’ll visit more gentle cycling areas such as cycling the European lake boundaries of Lake Geneva or Lake Constance but over the next few years I’ll be revisiting BIG’s and exploring the unridden sides
21) What do you want to say to those who begin the BIG now ?
If you’ve got the time and money to spare visit all the BIG’s as it will give you a better appreciation of European landscape and culture – and visit those areas as soon as you can as Brexit may result in some constraints to travelling for British people in mainland Europe in the future
22) Can you sum up BIG in one short sentence ?
The BIG is the Biker Information Guide and the Best In the Game to all of it’s members
25-12-2018 - CALENDAR 2019
27-11-2018 - CHANGES IN THE BIG WEBSITE PART 2
12-11-2018 - CONTRIBUTION 2019
07-11-2018 - OUR SECOND SUPER IRONBIG JUST ARRIVED
28-10-2018 - ALREADY SOME DATES IN 2019
28-10-2018 - YOUR TEXTS FOR THE 2019 REVIEW
01-10-2018 - 5 FINISHERS NOW !!!!
01-10-2018 - ALAIN JACQUEMIN IS ... A FINISHER
14-09-2018 - HOW TO DECLARE OUT OF EUROPE
02-09-2018 - CELEBRATE KEVIN SPEED
29-08-2018 - 07.10.2018 MEETING IN EUPEN (B-D)
17-08-2018 - NOW YOU CAN ORDER, PAY & RECEIVE THE NEW CLOTHES
04-08-2018 - OUR NEW CLOTHES JUST ARRIVED
02-08-2018 - BE CAREFUL : HARDANGERVIDDA TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE
16-07-2018 - HURRAH FOR OUR 3rd SUPERBIG FINISHER : DOMINIQUE JACQUEMIN
04-07-2018 - WE LOVED YOU JULES
29-06-2018 - NATaCHA GERMANY IS BORN
27-06-2018 - AFTER 6 MONTHS IN 2018, HOW DO OUR 6 PRIORITIES WORK ?
20-05-2018 - CHANGES IN THE BIG WEBSITE
11-05-2018 - LAST NEWS ABOUT OUR CLASSEMENTS
06-05-2018 - SUMMARY OF THE DUTCH MEETING 2018
05-05-2018 - GIRO IN ISRAEL WITH OUR HIGHER-AILLEURS
17-04-2018 - NEW DYNAMIC MAPS FOR THE NATIONAL CHALLENGES
15-04-2018 - AMAURY PREILLON IS OUR NEW COMMUNICATION MANAGER
21-03-2018 - DUTCH CROSSROAD 2018: 10 BIGs IN 1 WEEKEND !
24-02-2018 - HIGHER-AILLEURS MOUNT IGMAN
23-02-2018 - ANNUAL MEETING BIG 2018 PORTUGAL
17-02-2018 - BIG DECISIONS 2018
15-02-2018 - IMPROVED MAP FUNCTION
15-02-2018 - RESULTS OF THE VOTES
31-01-2018 - OFFICIAL ELECTRONIC VOTE 2018
29-01-2018 - POSITIVE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
