John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.
He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.
Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.
John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.
He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.
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5 comments
WTF is 'cyclingDMlondon' on about?
There was no victim blaming whatsoever in there. No compulsory helmets or hi-viz, just sensible information on use of lights, choice of clothing, and choice of routes.
Good info, and nice to know organisations can provide free helpful advice and training....
How is this blaming cyclists ? There's no mention of that anywhere on the website. Is anyone who offers any form of advice to new cyclists blaming them for anything ? The website gives good general advice for riders who might not have done much winter cycling before eg road markings being slippery when wet, more important than ever to take up the primary position etc
It's a good, pro-cycling idea
Seriously?
How on earth is offering free cycling training and advice to those that want it in any way "victim blaming" you utter fucktard?
Even if you removed all traffic from the roads, people would still need advice on maintaining their bikes through winter (and other seasons for that matter).
Even if you removed all traffic from the roads, people would still need to learn how to ride a bike.
I would point out that nobody rode a bike out of the womb but we all know your Neanderthal hate-filled views on pregnant women you pathetic little fucking troll.
Sorry - am I reading a different article to you ?
Do you have a problem with a council offering advice as part of its campaign to get people riding ?
What is going on with people today? Have I missed the fact it is "Del Boy Day" or something and people are deliberately misusing phrases?
How is this victim blaming?