Nob off ... Darryl Webster

Another multi-champion who is on the come back trail is Darryl Webster. Darryl took time out to run through my questions.
Love him or hate him, Darryl was forthright with his views and was a great talent to behold in the 80’s. We wish him well on the comeback trail and hope he will soon be winning events once he is back in the swing of things.
  Photos courtesy of Paul Ransom  

Full name?
Darryl James Webster.

Height?
5`10".

Weight?
How rude! Currently a beefy 13 stone. Old race weight 10st. 4lbs. It was often reported I weighed 9st. I don’t know were that came from but at 7% body fat at 10st 4lbs me finks I’d be in a clinic at 9st!

Place of residence?
Ickle village called Pencader, nr Carmarthen in West Wales

Current club?
Not currently in a club.

Most memorable moment?
Moment? Jesus, that’s a hard one!...I know it’s supposed to be ya wedding and kids etc but it isn’t! There’s so many. Memories, not weddings and kids! 
Time trialling wise it’s probably the Manx Mountain TT when I beat Lloydy and took the record in 83.  
Gig wise: seeing Radiohead at Glastonbury in the 90`s at what has since been regularly voted the greatest rock gig ever...it was truly unforgettable!

Most embarrassing moment?
Leaning on a 12 foot long plate counter on the M5 motorway when with the PMS/ Dawes team in 1988, causing the whole thing to collapse and send literally hundred of pieces of crockery crashing to the floor. That made me blush! 

Who was your boyhood hero?
Merckx and George Orwell...not in that order.

Biggest influence on your career?
That’s a hard one. There’s a few peeps so in chronological order: my Granddad, Albert Norton, without whom I’d never have ridden a bike. The members of the Leicestershire Photographic and loiterers section of the CTC, with whom I began cycle riding. Martin Cowling of the Wreake Valley Cycling Club, my first club. Janet and George Basset of the Zenith CC who gave me my first track coaching and remained supportive throughout my career. It was a shame I never got to ride with the Zenith. 
Bill Duffin, of the Ratae RC...for teaching me how to pedal fluidly. 
Graham Smith and Dave Edlin of the Bradgate RC, both talked tirelessly with me through my formative years to help me get my training right...and Graham gave me rather a lot of battering as a 16yr old trying to keep up with him. They also gave me casual employment building wheels to make ends meet.  
Janet and Ian Collins, Lincoln Wheelers, the ex`s parents, who gave me tremendous support from the age of 18 and through the rest of my career. 
Jack and Nora Fletcher, sponsors of the Manchester Wheelers, without whom I probably wouldn’t have ridden past 1983 and finally Eddie Soens for giving me a kick up the ass when I needed it. 
There are others to but this isn’t the Oscars ... to those above and all those others: Thank You.

Campagnolo or Shimano?
Used both, pity they don’t work with each others’ gear system. I’ve no loyalty or preference to either; they both work as do many other makes.

Favourite musical group or singer?
Pink Floyd and Leonard Cohen...but not on the same stage!

Educational attainment?
Couple of O-levels and CSE`s and various counselling qualifications.

What’s the most trouble you have ever found yourself in?
Arrested 3 times for various minor infractions. Convicted twice and charges dropped on a 3rd. That’s as much as I’m saying!

Current job?
Person Centred Counsellor.

Current make of car?
R reg Mercedes E300 Turbo Diesel.

Married or single?
Living in sin with a Show jumping divorcee and her two teenagers.

Best TV show?
Any documentaries by John Pilger, and Have I got News for You. 

Best film?
Schindler’s List. Harrowing and deeply moving.

Favourite actor or actress?
Another very hard one, there’s so many fantastic actors. 
Vanessa Redgrave and Robin Williams, but another day I’d probably pick others.

Favourite drink?
Good cappuccino coffees and Southern Comfort with Ice.

Favourite food?
Fillet Steak.

Chocolate or vanilla ice cream?
Can I have a scoop of each please Mr?

Is there anyone thing you would change throughout your cycling career?
Oh blimy, aint hindsight a wonderful thing! Firstly I’d have taken no notice of Albert Hitchin in the 1985 Sealink International (I still owe the barsteward a punch on the nose) and I’d have forsaken the ‘25’ Champs in ‘85, ‘86 and ‘87 for a chance to have led a team in the Milk Race.

Favourite bike you would like to own?
Never really had one, in all honesty I can’t answer.

Wet shave or dry shave?
Wet, soap and water.

Most impressive EVER time trial?
Ian Cammish’s 3-31-53 ‘100’. ;-)

What advice can you give to up & coming cyclists?
Mix it up ... ride everything, road, track, TT, MTB and cyclo-cross & sportives? 

10 years from now you will be...?
Living in sin somewhere with no kids around our necks.

What can’t you live without?
Sex, movies and music.

Who would you share a desert island with if marooned & why?
Jarred Diamond http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Diamond 
can’t imagine I’d ever tire of the chat with this world renowned anthropologist, though I wouldn’t want to shrug him.... even after sunset!

Favourite clothing material (PVC, Lycra, wool etc...)?
Cotton for day wear, silk and lace (but not on me!) in the evenings. 

Thank you Darryl for your goddamned forthright answers and let’s hope you get to meet Mr Hitchen for that little chat one day. Best of luck for 2010. 

1 January 2009