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Home Contacts Events Safety Membership Club Rules Links Photo Gallery Club Kit News Coaches     website by MM	Coach Profile - Mick McLaughlin Profile on Mick McLaughlin - coaching, bikes and miles ...   Background In May 2005, my oldest son joined GRB, soon to be followed by his younger brother. I was inspired by all the good work the coaches were doing at the time and impressed to see how my 2 were developing as cyclists. As a result, I wanted to give something back to the club and that's why I decided to go and get my Level 2 coaching qualification I've been coaching at the club for 2 years now and thoroughly enjoy it, but what is my cycling background before then ? I only really started cycling in my early 20's. I grew up in a large family and we never had bikes, though I did learn to ride on a friends's bike at the age of about 9. Bikes My first road bike was a very cheap, East European machine. I'm sure it was made out of cast iron it was so heavy (Made in (then) East Germany by Kalkhov) Needless to say, it wasn't terribly well used and I have to admit I wasn't too worried when my brother told me it had been stolen not long after I had moved down to London from Glasgow. My next bike was a Raleigh Equipe, all white with grey and yellow flashes (sounds horrible) but back then in the '80s it looked pretty stylish. I rode a few long-distance charity events on that before it, too, was stolen and so, in 1994 I replaced it with another Raleigh, this time a dark green Pro-Race. My current bike (left) is a Giant OCR2 and has lasted me well for 6 years, considering the mileage I now do. In 2010 I completed over 5,000 km (3,300 miles) on this bike. Miles on the bike What sort of cycling do I do ? Well, I have ridden the London to Brighton for the last 4 years (2007 - 2010) and also ridden back from Brighton on the day, so around 120 miles . Other 100 mile events I've done include the Surrey 100 and the Castles of Kent. I've ridden round the Isle of Wight and done sportives like the Gravesend "On Your Bike", the Kent Cyclo-Sportive and the Ride of the Falling Leaves. Other charity rides I've done (with GRB riders) include Brands Hatch and the annual Bexley Hospice ride along the Thames. I've also ridden time-trials and Reliability trials. Track-racing is a favourite of mine, and I can think of nothing much better than flying round Herne Hill track on a warm, spring morning with a load of other riders - this is 'real' cycling. No brakes, no gears, just you, the bike and the track. It's a great feeling. The Club My enthusiasm for cycling has reached a new level now with coaching the kids at GRB. They are a great bunch, full of enthusiasm, all different characters and - it has to be said - there are some very good cyclists at this club. Perhaps in the years to come, some of the current crop of members will also qualify as cycling coaches and add that new dimension to their pleasure of riding a bike.