Name:
Emma Osenton

Age:
34

Hometown:
Hebden Bridge

Profession:
Painter & Decorator

Years riding:
Since the stabilisers came off!

A summary of your riding skills:
Long, Fast, Up

Why bikes:
A sense of freedom

What type of bike got you into riding:
I think it was a Grifter, mudflap folded under to make a noise against the tyre…

When or how did you realise riding bikes was the path for you:
I’d been touring, a friend suggested I go ride with the local tri club. Slightly scared off I pedalled…I had an old MTB with slicks and a dribbly paint job, most of it worked. All I knew was that I wanted to pedal a long way. Surrounded by drop handled road bikes I was rather intimidated. Expecting to be dragging along at the back we set off. I pedalled past them up the first hill! Quite why as a cyclist I joined a tri club I’m not quite sure but I had fun.

What do you get from riding or racing:
Adernaline and good views.

Why MTB/Cyclocross:
I’m a fell runner! Mud is for running in!

Why Road:
Its pure, its beautiful

Why Track/Fixed:
I will turn the heap of spares into a fixie…..one day!

Riding and racing history:
It started with touring, turned to testing, ventured into road racing and circuits, dabbled in triathlon, decided to do Ironman. Did a few of those, some halfs, got talked into ultra running. Did a few of those. Realised I’d never done a marathon on its own, so I did. And all the way though I pedalled and pedalled and pedalled…

Best bicycle moments:
Gosh, so too many to choose from!

Worst bicycle moments:
I remember training for my first Ironman. I’d set off on a bike with half its gears working, no waterproof, about a fiver in my pocket and no map. On a winters morning in February. Suffice to say it started to rain, cold soul chilling rain, somehow I decided that it would be amusing to ride to the Lake District. 70 miles in i turned for home…straight into a head wind. I have no recollection of the last 30 miles. I was shaking with the cold so much I couldn’t get out of my sodden kit. The fire was out at home and I’d not bought any food. I honestly considered ringing for an ambulance I was convulsing so much. I didn’t. I carry this little demon with me. I can always remember it and think ‘well it’s not as bad as that!’

What do you hate about bicycles:
Mechanicals that I can’t fix.

How would you change the bike world to suit you:
I quite like it as it is! You create opportunity.

What bike races inspire you:
The Iditarod….mainly because I get really cold!

Whose the rider or riders who made you think that bike riding really is the best thing in the world:
Beryl!

What bike skills most contribute to your enjoyment of riding:
Climbing

How would you describe yourself off a bike.
Bit of a geek

What made you want to join The Kinesis Morvelo Project?
Ride and race and talk about it? How fantastic is that? Who wouldnt?!