Introducing Philip Ross, your Time-Trial Secretary for 2017/18
17th January 2018
Tell us a little bit about your role and what is you’d most like to achieve this year?
I’m the club’s Time-Trial secretary for the 2017/18 season. My role this year is to provide a challenging and competitive but – most importantly – fun Time Trial and Hill climb series for everyone in the club in 2018.
My main objective is to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to try or practice the discipline, and I’d love to find someone who’s passion for TT’ing has been ignited by the spark of the 2018 club series.
What would you say attracted to you to the Cowley Road Condors in the first place?
I was cycling a lot with a small number – literally you count them on a single hand – of like-minded friends, and it was difficult to organise regular and spontaneous rides, given that such a small number restricted the opportunities available. I was also looking to get fitter, stronger and faster, and the club provided me with the opportunity to ride with people who were fitter, stronger and faster than me – to help me in my development.
My thought was – and still is (both privately and professionally) – if you want to improve, you’re not going to get very far by being the best in the room. Put yourself in the mix with people who are better than you, and work hard to beat them!
I was sitting in Atomic Pizza with a friend, and someone in full pink and black rode past. You bet I googled the club straight away, and was out on my first ride the next week. So, whoever you were, you definitely set the wheels in motion (sorry about the pun*). *I’m not sorry.
Describe your absolute favourite moment since joining the club?
My favourite moment since joining the Condors was Silverstone 2017. Getting an opportunity to race in the Men’s B team, and standing alongside 44 other condors along the Silverstone pit-lane was an amazing sight, so much so that people started applauding and taking pictures!
The day was made all the sweeter when the first corner after the finish turned pink and black as teams finished. All the racers waited for the other teams to finish, and congratulated each other as people rolled up.
So, what’s your main interest outside of cycling? It’s OK to not have any. Cycling rules!
I’ve often been told that this is quite unexpected, but I’m a massive adrenaline junkie. You name it and I’ve done it, or it’s on the list. Skydiving; scuba diving; motorsports; aerobatics; ski racing…
I really want to go base jumping, and try skydiving in a wingsuit one day. It’s not just adrenaline sports I’m into, I’d also like to learn to play ice hockey!
What three words immediately spring to mind when you think about the Condors, or bikes, in general?
- Pink
- Diverse
- Can Cheryl’s laugh count as a word? Yeah…. that.
Lastly, which Velominati rule do you fully support and will always abide by?!
Oh damn, that’s a tough one, there’s too many! I’m going to say #17:
RULE 17: Team kit is for members of the team. Wearing Pro team kit is also questionable if you’re not paid to wear it. If you must fly the colors of Pro teams, all garments should match perfectly, i.e no Mapei jersey with Kelme shorts and Telekom socks
…but I’m definitely an advocate of everyone following
#1 RULE 1: Obey the rules!
Thanks for your time, Mr Ross! Do reach out to Philip if you would like any further information on club TTs, or any advice on TT-ing in general. There’s also lots of information within the TT section of our website.
