Andy Cathcart

Why me?

You should pick me as I’m a mountain biker. To me, mountain biking is still mountain biking, not a bunch of different specialisations; it’s people riding bikes for fun, for a challenge, for their health. Although I’m not entirely clear which of those covers this event. I’ll have a damn good go at winning the solo category at TransScotland, and every stage, and I’ll try and do it with some (small degree of) style. I’ll try to win it on the uphills and the downhills, and I’ll relish trying to win it on all the technical stuff. I’m very determined, stubborn, can fix things and am not likely to be stopped by fire, flood, volcano or anything else.

Event CV

2006

• 10 Under the Ben Solo – 2nd
• NPS 100km Marathon Drumlanrig – 6th
• Merida 100km Marathon Selkirk – 21st
• 24/12 24hr solo – 9th (stopped after 7 hours, was in 3rd place)*
• SITS solo – 33rd (stopped after 9hrs, was in 4th place)*

Other assorted bits

• 7 Mountain Mayhems in Mixed teams – 16th place highest finish
• 2 SITS in Mixed teams – 9th place highest finish
• Many DH races from 1992-1999

Simon Raistrick

Why me?

I’m not a super-fit race-nut. However, I am seriously nuts when it comes to getting to the end of things. I’d rather collapse from exhaustion than quit, and I’ve never collapsed from exhaustion so far! I’m not about winning though. I’ll finish, but I don’t aim to beat everyone. Sometimes I do, but not often. When solo I’ll push myself hard and give it all I’ve got and I aim to enjoy the experience and help others enjoy it too if I can. For me it’s about finishing, pushing it and enjoying.

My endurance fitness is well established from long races and hard tours. My technical skills are good too from lots of downhill, Alps, and technical trailer and tandem manoeuvring. This will be needed on the Stanes stages. I don’t mind rain. I eat midges for breakfast (well, if they drop in my cereals). My fitness is good but not peaking yet. I’m very motivated; I miss racing solo and in the mood to push it a bit.

And I’m game for a laugh so if you want me to do some of it in a kilt I might consider it!

Event CV

2006

No races. Into MTB touring (eg 500km from Verona to Lienz via Dolomites) and MTB tandeming.

2005

• London to Brighton
• Isle of Wight Trailbreak
• Ruthin Merida 100

Focusing on getting my (new to biking) fiancée up to speed. Planned to do the Transalp solo but fractured my elbow so pulled out. Also started downhilling.

2004

BHF south downs way in a day – 175km solo. My aim was to complete it, which I did, but it hurt.

2003

• Iron Lemming with my brother in law, 170km, two days I think – UKs hardest event at the time. My aim was to complete it, which I did, and I didn’t hold him back too much.
• South Downs Way Trail Break, 170km, two days. Riding with my sister and brother in law but got bored half way through, so I zoomed off and got to the checkpoint so early I had to wait 10 minutes for the marshalls to arrive.

2000-2002

Various races which I cant remember as my brother in law arranged them all. We raced together, he being super-fit, and me trying to catch up. I probably did about six in this period, a mixure of navigators and set courses. In 2002 I biked over the Pyrenees on road from Perpignan to Puigcerda to Barcelona.

1992

My first race was the Potteries Classic in Trentham Gardens, and I did fairly well I seem to remember. Sounds very impressive except that my second race was ten years later!

Matt Carter

Why me?

Well, for a start I probably don’t deserve this honour. But as a mountain biker I enjoy a challenge and the TransScotland is certainly that! On my death bed I can say to myself, “OK, so I never got to climb Everest like I planned… But I did ride the TransScotland, damn it!”

I bet every other applicant will be more deserving than I, so what reason can I put other than that the whole event looks like fantastic (if painful) fun. I would love to experience the camaraderie and epic-ness, and my riding mates would all be so jealous too (added bonus!)

I’m doing the Rutland Cycle Classic Sportif the weekend before so will probably be knackered out anyway. Either that or I will be on super strong form the folowing weekend…

Event CV

I’ve been racing for 14 years, with various podiums, wins and top 10 places. 2006 was the year I got serious though (following the birth of my son – weird, huh?)

2007

• Salisbury Plain Challenge – 8th

2006

• Wins and podiums in the Gorrick series
• Couple of wins in the Southern cross country series
• Bontrager twentyfour12 – 5th solo
• Marin Dusk ’til Dawn – 5th solo
• Salisbury Plain Challenge – 7th
• Marin Series 4-hour – 6th

Keith Bontrager

Why me?

I’ve been grinding through the off season on half power due to various “injuries” (not age!), wondering if there was going to be a race season for me this year. The sun is out now though, and that seems to be ideal therapy. I am starting to feel good, and putting on some good miles. There is hope, even at 52.

I followed some friends in the TransWales event last year and was jealous. I thought it would have suited me, and am now ready to see if that is the case.

It should be cooperative weather too, by my standards anyway. Global warming has not been kind, and I am hoping that Scotland will not be blisteringly hot in May.

The only reservation I have in applying for this ride is that I might be displacing someone who deserves it more. I will be happy to enter on my own directly. Please keep that in mind.

Event CV

Though my bike racing career didn’t start until I was 40 (racing bicycles and not motorcycles of course), my CV is fairly long, especially if you count the results of the 60+ 24 hour races I’ve participated in. I have also done more than my fair share of stage races, not always with good results, but always giving it my best effort.

Mick Arms

Why me?

Never begged for anything but here goes…

Please me give the place, I’m too poor to afford a holiday
this year and I need a week away from the wife and kids. Ruggedly
handsome, in a darkened room at 20 paces sort of way, I have thighs of
steel and calves of doom (and an arse of death, but that’s mainly down
to diet). I live for cold pasta, coffee, jaffa cakes and jelly babies.

I’m not built for speed at 6’1″ and 15 stone, but can keep the
pedals turning, and enjoy good natural single track. Perversely for
my size I fair fly up hills, but then undo it all by mincing down the
other side.

The last seven years have been spent in the foothills of the Worcester Alps, training over the Clent hills, Lickey Hills and the mighty Wyre Forest. Lets see how that compares to the ruggedness of Scotland’s finest…

Event CV

2006

• Strathpuffer 24 – 9th solo

2005

• SITS – pairs
• Mountain Mayhem – solo

2004/2003

• SITS – solo
• Mountain Mayhem – solo

2002

• Mountain Mayhem – team

News on the team selection shortly…