Lee Gratton is a midlands based rider riding for Trek Coventry in 2014.

Originally coming from a downhill background, racing in the British Downhill Series for a few years but never really breaking top 10 in the senior category. He didn’t have much luck and through the time I’ve known him had always had some sort of problem come race runs, with punctures and chains snapping bringing his races to an abrupt end. He has also overcome some massive crashes, after hitting a tree in 2008 and having surgery on his knee, he also took a tumble breaking his wrist and collar bone late in the 2013 season.

But this never stopped him, he found a new love in Cross Country racing. Due to a crash in training last year he had to miss the last 3 races, but was so far up on points he was still promoted into the elite category where he will be racing in 2014. So this year he has gone all out, dropping his job to part time hours and getting out riding as much as possible, training for the seasons races. He is an absolute whippet up the hills and a monster down due to his previous background, so expectations are high, but I’ve no doubt he can do really well.

Lee is always smiling, joking and such a pleasure to be around. Make sure to keep an eye out for him at the UK Cross Country races (you can’t miss his socks).