It's not every day you get an email asking if you are free to go and interview your hero, but this happened to me in early December when Sportive.com asked if, by any chance, I could be in Leeds that Friday to attend the opening of the Yorkshire Bank Bike Library. The library was being launched by cycling legends Bernard Hinault, Brian Robson and imminent legend Scott Thwaites. Hang on, let me check my diary...I'm there!
It is also the first time in my life I have had an embargo placed upon me; the press release detailed the embargo lasting until midnight on the Thursday. It felt a bit like being in the Magic Circle or Fight Club; the first rule of the Yorkshire Bank Bike Library is that you don't talk about the Yorkshire Bank Bike Library....until Friday! (Having seen the footage of Hinault taking umbrage to the protesting shipyard workers in the 1984 Paris-Nice I wasn't going to take any chances!)
The Bike Library is a legacy of the massive success of the 2014 Grand Depart, where, as anyone north of the capital will remember fondly, Yorkshire took centre stage and surpassed anything London could muster in hosting the opening stages of the Tour de France. Welcome to Yorkshire and Yorkshire Bank have come together with the Cycle Yorkshire initiative for this project, which attempts to turn an ambitious and ground breaking scheme into reality. The aim of the scheme is that "everyone, particularly children, regardless of their circumstances will have access to a bike" across Yorkshire. At the heart of this enterprising idea is the Bike Library, which will see the people of Yorkshire donate their unwanted and forgotten velos gathering dust and rust at the back of the garage to one of numerous drop-off points located across the region.
Yorkshire riders are renowned for being tough; hard as nails, legs of mahogany and a steely determination to succeed. Local legends include Brian Robinson, the first Briton to complete the Tour de France in 1955 and win a stage in 1958; he also won the Dauphine Libere in 1961 and continues to ride 80 miles a week at the spritely age of 84.
Another notable name is Victor Sutton, who was regarded as a worthy rival to Charly Gaul et al in the 1959 Tour de France where he climbed over the mountain stages with all the hitters and established the UK on equal terms with the European powerhouses of cycling. Then there's Barry Hoban, who won eight Tour de France stages between 1967 and 1975, a feat only surpassed by Mark Cavendish. Hoban's biggest win came in 1974 when he won Ghent-Wevelgem, out-sprinting Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck.
And it's not just Yorkshiremen: Beryl Burton of Leeds was a sort of prototype Marianne Vos, dominating women's cycling for three decades and winning seven world titles and 96 domestic titles. So dominant was she that her 12-hour time trial record exceeded the men's record for two years! In recent years we have Malcolm Elliott, Ben Swift, Ed Clancy, Lizzie Armistead, the Downing brothers, Adam Blythe, Scott Thwaites...the list goes on and on.
Who then could possibly be suitable to step in as guest of honour in such a place of cycling royalty? Mario Cipollini? Not hard enough. Chris 'Crash' Froome? Too robotic. Lance Armstrong? Do I really need to say?! No, no, no. Who lived and died by the sword? Who had an insatiable desire to win at all costs, but still remained stoic with a touch of Gallic romanticism? Who, in his 20s, took control of an independent, strong-willed peloton and bossed it mercilessly until he retired? Tour de France legend, World Champion, one of only six cyclists to win all three Grand Tours, there is only one Patron - enter Bernard Hinault.
The Bike Library organisers said Bernard Hinault was only too pleased to help support the initiative, and especially as it was in Yorkshire. Hinault himself commented, "The Tour in Yorkshire was incredible. I have never seen so many people out supporting the riders and it shows the passion for cycling here. That's why this project is so important as it can give the next generation the chance to experience cycling. I'd encourage anyone who can help to do so."
Perhaps it is through his birthplace and upbringing that Hinault identifies so easily with Yorkshire. He was born in Brittany, Northern France and is a proud Breton. As with Yorkshire folk, Bretons are often described as dignified, stubborn and the salt of the earth. Hinault was born into an agricultural family and in fact, once he retired from cycling he returned to Brittany where he farmed for several years. Again this link to nature and a simple life would seem to point that Hinault is in fact a Yorkshireman abroad - a White Rose brother from another mother, if you will!
Back to the launch, and Hinault notes that, "Today bikes are expensive. This initiative will give the opportunity for people who could not afford to buy a bike to have the opportunity to ride, and hopefully we will uncover future champions."
Hinault is turned out in a smart suit with interpreter glued to his side. I am unsure as to whether he speaks English, I would imagine he knows enough to get by - and if not, a sharp look would suffice to get his point across. He seems to take the fuss around him in his stride and flicks through a glossy book detailing this year's massive success atop the Buttertubs Pass and Grinton Moor.
When asked what his favourite memory of his cycling career is, he modestly responds, "I do not have a favourite memory of my time in cycling. For me taking part in all those great races and the passion I had and still have for cycling is what I take from my cycling career." An unpretentious, self-effacing answer from the five-time Tour de France winner. Il est tres cool, n'est-ce pas!
Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries is a three year joint project with Welcome to Yorkshire's cycling initiative, Cycle Yorkshire. The collaboration is committed to using Yorkshire's Tour de France Grand Depart 2014 to deliver a region-wide legacy for all generations and all abilities. Admirable. You can see and completely understand what they are trying to achieve; bring cycling to the masses. I am sure I do not need to tell you, dear reader, that bikes are great. Why not then offer this freedom, this effortless exercise, this carbon neutral 'velocipedic' way of travel to all.
Looking at some of the previously donated bikes that have been gathered for the photo shoot I am less convinced though. I think it would be best for them to be put out of their misery and melted down for scrap. I can tell that Monsieur Hinault has a similar thought as he is made to pose astride a ladies 1980s Raleigh which, with its handlebars dipped and set at 90 degrees to the frame, causes distress to both the eye and cycling soul. But as I said, it is a commendable cause and I wish it every success.
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, who came up with the idea said, "I'm delighted that Yorkshire Bank shares our passion for helping everyone in Yorkshire to have access to a bike. They're turning this dream into a reality and we need the public to help us do the same by donating bikes that perhaps have been sat in a garage gathering dust."
Next I am introduced to Scott Thwaites. He is what is known on the continent as a neo-pro, but after this summer's bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games and further improvement on the road he has gone some way to establishing himself as another British class act in the peloton. You can tell that this is not his natural environment but he is coping well. Approachable and sincere in his answers, his short sleeved polo shirt reveals several battle scars on his forearms from previous tumbles, no doubt in the pursuit of glory.
Thwaites, who rides for NetApp-Endura, said, "I think people always remember their first bike or the first time they hopped on a saddle. For many it's the start of lifelong enjoyment but not everyone's fortunate enough to have access to a bike - hopefully this project will change that."
I'm keen to press him further on his involvement, aspirations and thoughts of the current peloton and teams. "It's nice to give something back to Yorkshire after all the support I have received over the years," he replies.
While Thwaites acknowledges the prowess of Team Sky, he recognises that it's not for everyone and he is very happy at NetApp-Endura, in fact he feels he has had more opportunity to develop in this squad than maybe he would have had at Sky. With the type of rider Thwaites is, it is easy to see his aspirations lie in race wins and not being a rouleur, part of a train, driving day in and day out into the bottom of a climb to slingshot the leader to glory. I ask him what it was like to race against Team Sky and lots of his fellow Brits.
"It's good. If you have too many Brits in the same team the tendency is for them all to develop in a similar way. Riding for a different team allows different methods and mentalities to develop which helps in the races where we come together like the World Championships."
Thwaites is quick to identify Mark Cavendish as a big influence. While he acknowledges the success of Wiggins and Froome and what they have achieved, he recognises that they are a different type of rider to him. He recites the qualities of the Manx man as something to aspire to:
"He always fights for everything and he never gives up. I've spoken to Mark quite a bit this year, raced with him and just being around him in the peloton and seeing how he copes when he gets dropped on some of the tougher parts of the stage and he comes back and he's still up there to win the stage. I think that's a really good trait to have as a rider, to never give up and always fight until the end. That has given me a lot of confidence to use these same traits in my riding and develop as a fighter, and that is the kind of rider I want to be like in the future."
With just over 100 days to go until the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, Thwaites is tight-lipped as to whether NetApp-Endura will enter, and if they do, whether he would get a spot. "I'd love to ride it obviously. We don't get many chances to ride in this country, just the Tour of Britain, so it would be nice to ride; we'll just have to see."
As for the rest of 2015, it seems Thwaites' aim is to win races. "Now I'm getting more confident I can take last year's results (2nd at Ronde van Drenthe and 3rd at the Commonwealth Games to name just two podiums), move forward and take that next step. I think when I have won one race then more will come because I know that I am able to do it and take the confidence that comes with winning. Then in July, obviously the Tour is everything for me. I was pretty disappointed to miss out this year. But I think it was better in the long run that I do it when I'm ready for it, because I'd obviously want to get to Paris. This year I feel that I am ready for it, so if the training and racing goes well I will be fighting for a place in the team."
"So," I chirp, "Milan San Remo next year then?" With a sharp intake of breath, Thwaites straightens in his seat and answers stoically, "I'm not sure, I hope so. I think the early season classics like the Tour of Flanders and things are the ones I want to be really good at in the future, but I think this year I am still learning. To make the step from riding 200km races to 250km plus is bigger than it seems. A lot of riders start to fall apart after 200km, so if I can hopefully get in the mix in the shorter Belgian classics (still 200km long!), it will give me the confidence to move up in the future when I have got a bit stronger."
Another British classics winner, now that does sound good. No disrespect to Mr Wiggins' attempts for Paris-Roubaix, but I am convinced if Thwaites can duck and dive in the peloton and be up there at the end we could well see him podium or even win several of the early season one-day races.
Finally, I want to get Thwaites' point of view of the rejuvenated hunt for the National jersey. Up until five years ago it seemed that the Continental riders - Wiggins, Cavendish, Millar, Cummings, etc - were not interested in competing for the GB jersey. However, with the success and growth of interest in cycling in Britain, the soaring standard of GB riders and the dominance of UK-based Team Sky, to wear the red, white and blue hoops now seems a worthy prize for many to seek. Is it something that Thwaites would be interested in winning?
"Yeah definitely, it's pretty difficult though with the likes of Sky having so many riders - and they are all good enough to win it in their own right. So it's difficult, because you have all those guys working together. I think it's good that more riders are coming back to race it, and if you do get on the podium it just shows your pedigree. It's very difficult to mix it with those guys, as it was in the Commonwealths, as you had a lot of riders coming straight off the back of the Tour. So to be up with them was excellent."
Excellent indeed, Mr Thwaites. It is clear to see that he knows where he wants to go and where he wants to end up, and an unmistakeable vein of confidence runs through his answers. With confidence comes winning, and with winning comes confidence; it's kind of a Joseph Heller thing.
With the media frenzy coming to an end and people leaving to do battle with the pre-Christmas hubbub of Leeds, I take one last look around the Yorkshire Bank Bike Library. It is a wonderful and philanthropic idea; free access to bikes for all. The biggest thing I will take away from the day is the idea of legacy: after the sensation of the Tour and the current massive interest in cycling, the aim is not to let that momentum diminish. While all the corporate sponsors and money wavers are backing cycling let's take advantage of it and use it for some good.It's certainly about time more money was put into sports other than football. The benefits of cycling are well documented, and as my newest good close personal friend The Badger says, who knows: we might even see a future champion develop.
Will it work? I don't know, but I really hope so. Looking around at the passionate personalities behind it and the cycling names both past and present that have lent their weight to back it, this scheme has had the best possible start. Bonne chance!
If you do have any unwanted bikes gathering dust in the garage I would urge you to contact the Yorkshire Bank Bike Library, who will be only too happy and grateful to find them a new home. Who knows, your beater may even help kick-start the career of the next Hinault...or Thwaites.
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