Oh Lloydy, Lloydy, Lloydy

Testing Times corners the enigmatic Dave Lloyd for an exclusive, energetic and extremely frankly interview 
Dave Lloyd, holder of numerous records, winner of dozens of races, former professional rider with the eponymous TI Raleigh team, bike builder extraordinary, creative innovator, hugely successful coach and a bloody nice bloke to boot, was cornered by the fearsome figure of Frankly Franklin and forced, yes forced, to answer fifteen questions. Here goes . . .  

Frankly Franklin: A lot of people have latched onto the news that you are making a racing comeback after dominating every sportive from here to the Kerguelen Islands. It has been greeted with some excitement out there in nosey wosey land. Are there any plans to emulate Malcolm Elliot in the Premier Series, or are you going to out-Hutch Hutch? 
Dave Lloyd: I had thought about racing again, but then realized that I didn’t want to ride the ‘Wobbly Wheelers Road Race’ after having ridden things like Paris-Roubaix and all the other classics and stage races. I have nothing against the Wobbly Wheelers Road Race, but I decided it wasn’t the best idea I’d ever had. However, if I can get the form, I may ride the veteran worlds next year. I’m going to try out a private time trial at some point using a ‘proper’ tt bike. The road race at the worlds is interesting, but may be far too short for me and normally ends in a sprint, which definitely won’t suit me. We’ll have to see how things go. In the meantime, I’ll be riding the usual sportives . . . especially la Marmotte! 

FF: I remember in 1976, long before I knew you, that you were sidelined with a heart ailment. I was devastated at the time, but you must have been even more so (after all it was your heart and your career). Can you tell us what went on with you at the time? 
DL: It was a congenital condition my mother also had and I made it worse by training through a virus . . . I was suicidal at the time as all I wanted to do was to ride the Tour de France. If it hadn’t been for Chris [Dave’s long suffering wife - ed], I am convinced I’d have topped myself. I couldn’t see any future without the bike and the pro racing I loved so much! Thank goodness Chris was with me (as usual!). 

FF: In 1972 you were one of the 7170 competitors taking part in the ill-fated Munich Olympic Games. Did the massacres of the Israeli athletes affect you personally at the time? How come you didn’t finish the road race? Some years later you started time trialling in a black hood. Was there any connection? 
DL: Yes, we actually saw it all taking place. We saw the hostages being taken into the helicopters on our way back from our evening meal. We saw the terrorists with hoods and machine guns and hand grenades. It was like a movie. We couldn’t take it all in! It put a real dampener on the games village. Terrible! I fell off in the road race at the feed when some tosser got his bag stuck in his wheel and brought about 20 riders off. Me being one. I was slightly concussed, chased for 4 laps, but had lost 3 to 4 minutes. It was a hopeless task! I wore a white hood . . . It was Pyne who copied me by wearing a black one. 

FF: You appear to be one of those annoying people who is absolutely outstanding at everything you do, riding, frame building, racing, coaching and being irreverent and getting away with it. What is the secret of your success? 
DL: I just try harder than anyone else I know, I hate losing, and I have a fantastic work ethic. I will always go the extra mile . . . always! 

FF: Back in the days when you were with Peter Post’s TI Raleigh team, there were many riders taking substances more usually associated with mods in Brighton or hippies in Scarborough. Many potentially great British riders backed off from Euro-dope when they realized what was going on and didn’t want to know. How did you cope with the cheats around you? 
DL: It was desperate and 5 of my then team mates are now dead. I had huge peer and managerial pressure to take stuff, but always refused. I was treated like a leper because I wouldn’t ‘tow the line’! I just bloody trained harder and thought that if I did a good ride, I wanted to be proud of it, not that it came from some bloody syringe. 

FF: For one so small, you are known as a hard man who eats more miles in a week than the whole of the Rapha-Condor squad put together. Is the secret of your success the hard work you put in or do you just have an outstanding (and unique) physiology? 
DL: I always have been a mile eater and now is no different. I just love riding the bike and the feeling that riding it fast gives me. It’s a fabulous feeling when you are at one with the bike and you are flying along. Love it! I think I have great recovery and never seem to really get tired. When I get to hour number 5 or 6, I am going stronger and stronger . . . 

FF: If you had not been chucked off the TI Raleigh team, do you think you would have gone on to greater things such as winning the Tour de France or the Folkestone and District Cycling Club’s evening ‘10’? 
DL: I didn’t get chucked off the team, I was forced to stop because of my heart condition . . . I was the last Brit standing! 

FF: You are known as a controversial old so-and-so, but one who has been proven right on so many occasions. Has this approach ever got you into trouble? 
DL: Many, many, many, many times (ask Chris) but I am never going to change. I don’t suffer fools gladly and I say what I feel. There’s no point in bull-shitting people. Tell the truth! 

FF: You are also known as the inventor of the skin suit, hidden brake cables, lo pro bars and many other innovations - have you any new tricks up your sleeve for your comeback and, hey, how come you haven’t made millions from your inspirational efforts? 
DL: I’ve got a new sportive bike for next year which is very different. I always look for new things to try . . . unlike the UCI, I like progress . . . I don’t want to go back to Merckx’s hour record. Bollox! Things should always progress and new materials and the like should always be tried. 

FF: I know that you absolutely LOVE the British Cycling hierarchy. What do you think about their foray into the Pro Tour and top class professional cycling? Are they likely to give you a ride in Team Sky, or is my head in the clouds? 
DL: No Comment! 

FF: Talking about British Cycling, they have on the face of it been enormously successful. Yet you believe that they have mishandled some of the athletes in their care. If they had placed you at the epicenter of their operation, could they have achieved even more success? I’m thinking here of one of your former athletes who has constantly underachieved whilst with the national squad. How would you have changed things? 
DL: Yes, certainly, but who wants to know what I know? Certainly not British Cycling! 

FF: As a frame builder - an art that you learnt under the tutelage of Terry Dolan - you made some of the most beautiful bikes around. I have a time trial bike of yours here in Thailand and although it may be slightly old skool it is very much admired by all who see it. What do you think of the new breed of bicycle, made in Taiwan, badged and branded for every market and all getting a bit boring and samey. If you were in the business now, what would you do differently? What do you think of all this carbon /glass fibre mixed stuff drowning the market at 295 quid a pop? 
DL: Most of it is crap, but there are still some good builders out there producing lovely frames. Some small artisan companies in northern Italy and the like. 

FF: OK, some personal stuff now. I was coached by you for a few years. How come I didn’t make the National Team (like Wendy) or beat Mr Hutchinson on the F1 a couple of years back? Was I just plain lazy, had the wrong physiology or was my head in the wrong place? Or am I the first and only rider that you’ve ever coached that was just plain bloody useless? 
DL: You got the best out of what you had and you did have ME. I think we did a fantastic job and you did some great rides with the handicap you had. People have no idea how debilitating ME can be. 

FF: You’ve had a brilliant career Dave and have been an inspiration to many generations of cyclists - both the ordinary hacker such as myself and to riders who have achieved great things. These days the whole world and his dog write biographies - even Mark Cavendish had one out before he left school. When can we expect yours? 
DL: I keep starting to write it and then just get too busy to carry on with it. I am writing a sportive handbook though... 

FF: Finally Dave, do you read Testing Times? If not, why not? 
DL: Yes! 

Many thanks for this sterling interview Dave. I know it was all a bit of a pain - these things pass but are forever in print or on the web. So thanks for your help and cooperation.  
●If any reader wants to join Dave’s coaching programme or simply have a power test and inspirational chat, go to www.davelloydcoaching.com  It’s a great website even though it’s only ranked number 2,946,869 on the world search engine ranking system or some such nonsense.

1 January 2009