Meet the Bike Mechanic

We are asking everyone who has come across our brilliant bike mechanics on one of our trips to to vote for your favourite bike mechanics and then we will quiz your favourites before finally inviting them to a skills test final at the Manchester Velodrome to determine Britain’s Best Bike Mechanic.

VOTE NOW FOR BRITAIN’S BEST MECHANIC

To jog your memories, we would like to (re) introduce our mechanics to you. Have a look below and we look forward to your support of these great guys.

Roy Pearson

Roy built his experience servicing hundreds of bikes at Ribble Cycles and Dolan Bikes, building countless wheels at Hewitt Cycles and surviving Pro Cycling without much sleep at the Tour of Britain when working for the United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team. As well as working as a mechanic, Roy is also one of our expert guides and he has raced at an elite level. Not so long ago, he was in the same race as the Yates Brothers. So when Simon Yates rode away from the entire GC to the surprise of the world’s media at this year’s Giro, it was no surprise to Roy as he’d seen this for himself during that race.

Roy is a Sports Tours International veteran of many spring classics campaigns in Belgium with his pal Darrel, our Costa Blanca cycling training camp, the Etape du Tour, the Maratona, the Haute Route and the Marmotte. You may also have bumped into Roy at Ghent 6 or on one of the Grand Tours. he has been everywhere this guy!

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Darrel Glover

Car mechanic and owner of DRG Bodyshop, Darrel is not strictly a bike mechanic but he has built up a fabulous wealth of experience over the last few years. Many of you have enjoyed Darrel’s company on events such as our spring classics tours, the Haute Route, the Tour de France and of course on Darrel’s favourite, the Costa Blanca training camp at Albir Garden hotel. Darrel has been coming there to train for the last 17 years! Often spotted in the wild with his pal Roy, you are in good hands with Darrel.

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Ed Nicoll

Ed is a French based Cyclist, Runner, Triathlete and Cross Country skier. After serving in the British Army, Ed competed for Great Britain in the Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada in 1988 and the Nordic Ski World Championships in 1991, and in 1993 Ed also toured the World Biathlon circuit as a professional Cross Country skier. Ed was Head Coach and World Cup team Leader of the Great Britain Biathlon Team with responsibilities including physical and technical preparation of athletes for selection in international competitions. In this role he was also responsible for organisation and logistical arrangements for National Team on World Cup circuit. Ed was National Team Manager Mountain Biking, WCPP, British Cycling Federation, Manchester, GB where he was responsible for the performance and direction of athletes and staff for all major competitions. Ed lives in the Vercors region of the French Alps and in the winter he is head instructor for the British Army Cross Country skiing team.

In the summer and on some events in winter, you will meet Ed and his background end experience means he knows a thing or two about bikes.

Ed Beckmann

Ed’s background is in finance and training and Ed has experience in working in the outdoor team development arena. Ed is a man with many talents like route or general planning, briefings, preparing snacks, logistics and baggage handling as well as the main role of cycling or driving mechanic. Ed is also a motorbike enthusiast and as such has experience of providing specialist moto escorts. Ed had worked with us on the Etape du Tour, the Maratona, the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships among other events.

Howard McAlpine

Howard is a fully accredited national standards cycle trainer as well as a certified and experienced cycle mechanic. Howard successfully organised and led tours from London to Amsterdam for high profile clients who expect the highest level of service. Howard’s skills include route planning, map and gps preparation, leading, supporting and entertaining groups of whilst ensuring their safety on the road, liaising with support crew, vendors and hotel management and providing initial first aid or mechanical support in the event of an incident.

In his personal time Howard partakes in regular training rides, rock climbing and participation in sportives and events such as Nove Colli, Ride 100, Ride Around London, Dunwich Dynamo, Ride of the Falling Leaves and the London Classic.

On the road with Sports Tours International you can find him in Italy, Belgium, Spain and France on such events as the Marmotte, the Etape du Tour and the Spring Classics.

Mick Stoodley

Mick has been a keen cyclist most of his life and he recently had the opportunity to take early retirement. Mick came to Sports Tours International as he was looking to further pursue his passion for cycling in particular with respect to helping others get involved and enjoy the sport. Mick successfully completed a Cytech Level 1 mechanics course and has since completed his Level 2 course followed by wheel building course.

Phil Bird

Compact Phil started off working for us as a representative but after completing his bike mechanic training, Phil has been assisting our customers with his newly acquired bike mechanic skills as well. In his spare time Phil leads a weekly mountain bike clinic in his home town in Greater Manchester. Phil has worked all over Europe for us from the spring classics in Belgium and France to the Tour de France and everything in between.

An injury forced Phil out of working summer 2018 but we are looking forward to Phil re-joining us in 2019.

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