Name:
Oliver Pepper
Age:
33
Hometown:
Brighton
Profession:
Graphic Designer and co-founder of Morvélo Bicycle Apparel
Years riding:
MTB: 20yrs
Road: 5yrs
CX: 3yrs
Track: 3 yrs
BMX: On and off for 25 years
A summary of your riding style in three words:
Make it fast.
Why bikes:
It’s a wonderfully simple invention and one that, in essence, hasn’t changed since it’s conception. They offer joy, fear, exhilaration and a shoulder to cry on depending on my mood or type of riding.
What type of bike got you into riding:
BMX, like most kids in the 80’s. Did some BMX racing when I was younger and loved it. Even though I was quite shite.
First memory of riding:
Climbing frame. Mum’s old bike leant against it. Over enthusiastic sister egging me on. And a downhill into a bush. Don’t think my feet ever touched the pedals.
When or how did you realise riding bikes was the path for you:
8 yrs old I loved BMX but really it must have been about 13 yrs old and my first mountain bike ride. Crappy Apollo Atomic out in the hills around Derby with some older kids and something just clicked. Out in nature, fresh air, skids, jumps, mud, no brakes and a rejuvenated mind and body at the end of it. How could I refuse.
What do you get from riding or racing:
Riding helps me clear me of stress. The natural rhythm clears my mind of all that random fluff that is part of day to day life and lets me focus on ideas, family life and the things that really matter. Racing offers a challenge and the thrill of speed. All my riding due to work and family life is generally condensed into about 1.5hrs so I have no choice but to make it fast. It hurts like a bitch during but nothing matches that post race rush. Like a wiser man once said “It doesn’t hurt any less. You just get faster.”
Why MTB:
It’s what started the fixation. Away from it all and in the beauty of nature. Also the diversity from within MTB. It’s taken me from XC then into Dirt Jumping, then into Street Riding, then DH and now back into XC. I love it all.
Why Cyclocross:
Old skool fun. It really shouldn’t be so rewarding but the challenge of bad brakes, drop bars and skinny tyres just reminds me of the careless joy you have when you borrowed you’re Dad’s racer and took it down the woods.
Why Road:
Speed, climbs, speed, Professional road racing, speed, heritage
Why Track/Fixed:
Bike racing in it’s undiluted form. Raw, fluid and elegant.
Why BMX:
Creativity and persistance. Being at skateparks or on a street ride and spotting and creating lines. And then spending the next hour trying to do it smoother.
What makes you want to try other forms of cycling:
They all offer something completely different but with the same foundation.
Are there any you’re itching to try:
Would like to go back and ride and race BMX and DH once again. I did some DHing in Devon recently and had forgotten how much fun it was picking lines and pinging off roots.
Riding and racing history:
If I ride it sooner or later I’ll want to race it. From BMX riding/racing in the 80’s I went on to to MTB XC riding/racing in the early 90’s with a stop off a MTB dirt jumping in the mid to late 90’s. This took me then in two directions. One of which was DH racing (on a singlespeed Azonic DS2 with one V-brake) in the late 90’s and also MTB street/park riding. The latter of which got me back into BMX and brakeless street/park riding on 20″ wheels. For a couple of years BMX was all I rode and Southsea skatepark was my home almost. Moving to Brighton BMX faded away to be picked up by MTB again in the form of a Santa Cruz Chameleon in about 2000. This went from skatepark to XC and DH so lived up to its name. This was then brutally hacked of it’s gears by Phil Moore at the 2000 singlespeed Euros at Cheddar. From then on I haven’t ridden a geared XC bike apart from a few DH monsters in the Alps. As my friends started trying other disciplines I followed. Road riding and then Track and then CX. I can’t get enough.
Best bicycle moments:
My first ‘proper’ win at the G2 Revolver with long term friend and accomplice in most biking adventures, Phil Moore.
Worst bicycle moments:
Grabbing an American’s bike at the Singlespeed Worlds in 2001 during the bike derby. Full speed. On goes the back brake. Oh no it doesn’t. American set up, so on goes the front brake instead by accident. Headfirst into a stash of bikes, frames and sharp objects. Ruined the race for me the next day as I felt so battered.
What do you hate about bicycles:
Maintenance. I like to ride, not fix.
How would you change the bike world to suit you:
For everyone to embrace what Morvélo stands for. A love of bikes.
What bike races inspire you:
Pro road racing. Speed, style and heritage especially the classics
Track racing. Raw speed mixed with acute tactical awareness
BMX. Fluid, floating jumps, manuals, racer tabletops and x-ups
Across the board – grass roots racing. Seeing people of all abilities and ages getting out their and loving it.
Whose the rider or riders who made you think that bike riding really is the best thing in the world:
Jason McRoy and John Tomac for me. Both of which showed they had the skill, speed and natural ability to achieve great things in several bike disciplines. The ultimate all rounders.
What bike skills most contribute to your enjoyment of riding:
Jumping of roots and drop offs. Keeping smooth and floaty and I like to think I have some vague climbing ability.
What bike skills most contribute to your potential in bike races:
Spin to win. The way of the one gear. Forget the bike and focus on the race.
How do you fit your love of bikes and racing around your full time job:
In one hour blasts. Early morning or evenings. Have learnt to do training exercises whilst out on proper rides. See that hill. Pedal at it fast! Also all these riding experiences then go into ideas for Morvélo products.
Does it actually help with your riding:
In so much as I think about riding and racing through my work. I need Morvélo to make me a small fortune so I can retire to a life of just riding and not having to figure out ways of paying for it.
How would you describe yourself off a bike.
Easy going, creative, loyal.
What made you want to join The Kinesis Morvélo Project:
It was partly me that suggested came up with the idea :-)
