The Official Web Site of the Go-Ride Bexley Cycling Club
Home Contacts Events Safety Membership Club Rules Links Photo Gallery Club Kit News     website by MM	Coach Profile - Chris Pryor Profile on Chris Pryor - find out how he started cycling ... As a teenager I was into BMX bikes owning a Raleigh Burner, which I brought from my mum's clothes catalogue. It was not until I was 13 that I took an interest in cycle racing, in particular road. Joining the Gemini Bicycle Club in 1983 I was riding my dad’s old “Holmes” racing bicycle from Welling high street, unfortunately the shop is no longer there. The bicycle gave me the chance to take part in local open road races and also club events, like the club 10mile Time trial championships. In the early eighties and right up to the mid 90’s there was local racing on the Brandshatch circuit every Thursday evening with huge numbers of local club riders attending every week and it wasn’t long before I wanted a new bicycle. I eventually persuaded my parents to purchase me a bike. It was a Raleigh Scirocco fully equipped with Shimano components and 14 gears. This bicycle lasted me many years of training and racing. At this time I was racing at least 3 times a week and training on Sunday’s. I also had my fathers old track bicycle which I resprayed at home and put new kit on and rode at Herhill every Monday evening, often coming home with more money in winnings than my entry fee. By the time I was 16, I was now classed in the Junior category. Cycling began to come second to my future wife Alison who I met at work. I was still an active cyclist at weekends, but racing was not important to me any more. Years ticked by and I needed something new in my life and always being interested in the military I joined my local Territorial Army Unit (579 EOD SQN V) base at Stone. Yet again my new found activity took over my life to Alison’s disapproval. Over the years I became very physically fit and my ambition was to become a Physical Training Instructor which I finally passed and was awarded my crossed swords around 1996. I also ran the 1999 London Marathon for Diabetes UK as I am diabetic myself. Around that time in my life I felt I wanted to put something back into cycling, so I went on the ABCC (Association of British Cycling Coaches) course in Brighton and after some heavy exams I passed. This gave me certification to coach which I used within Gemini BC running circuit training on club evenings. Eventually I also became a member of the Gemini BC committee with the position of Social Secretary organising the club dinner for about 4 years. Throughout my years at Gemini BC I have been Social Secretary, Club Secretary and now Cyclo X Secretary. Eventually I left the TA in 1998 and cycling was once again part of my life. In the early months of 2002 myself and an old friend Ray Harrods rode the classic Paris Roubaix route which includes numerous sections of “pave” (cobbles). This was a dream come true for me as from the beginning of my cycling years my hero’s where the great Francesco Moser, Sean Kelly and later on Andrea Taffi. All these riders are specialists in their field. Still today this race is to me what cycling is all about. BLOOD AND GUTS. In recent years together with Mark, Eddie and your club committee I was fortunate to have been part of the team who put together GO-Ride Bexley and currently hold a seat on the committee as coach. Cycling has been in my life for many years and no doubt will continue to be for many years to come.