Dave Lloyd has been described as 'one of the best cyclists of all time' and 'Britain's best ever time triallist', winning races such the Tour de Suisse and holding multiple UK speed record titles. After being forced into early retirement from the sport after 20 years at the top of his game, with over 220 wins under his belt, Dave now coaches some of the world's strongest up and coming riders. Dave and his wife of 36 years, Chris live in Cheshire UK, today we find out a little more about the former Olympian behind the machine....
How did your career in cycling start?
I began my cycling career in a very round about way really.. I had left my little home in a small village in Wales to hit the "big lights" of Liverpool in the mid 60's when the Beatles were around.. I was actually a "Mod" and had a scooter a Parka and the works.. I got a job in the Blood Transfusion Service in Liverpool as a Lab Technician and specialized in Haematology... I was living in a tiny bed-sit in Toxteth at that time a really rough area and bearing in mind I was only 17 years old it was tough for me really.. Anyway I was smoking about 50 cigarettes a day and drinking too much when my boss (who was a bike rider) got hold of me and tried to talk some sense into me before I actually killed myself with excess nicotine and alcohol... He knew I had been a good runner at school , but was never encouraged to train for running as all Welshpool Grammar School were interested in was Rugby, Football or Cricket... He suggested (strongly) that I packed in the smoking and boozing and took up bike riding.. just to commute to work for a start, to save on bus fares and get a bit fitter... To cut a long story short, I decided that what he said made a lot of sense and I packed in the fags and booze immediately and bought a bike he was selling for £5 and began cycling to and from work.. I actually began to enjoy it, so, again , on his recommendation , I joined a small cycling club in Liverpool called the Liverpool Century... I started to go out on club rides and entered a few low key Club Time Trials ..
Unfortunately this club was run by a "so called" Club Coach and he had me totally over stretched on my bike and after a short time my knees were wrecked... I was advised to go to see Eddie Soens , who was the "God" of coaches at the time and it took me a lot of time to get around to phoning him.. I eventually plucked up the courage , went round to see him and he had me ride up and down the road in front of him and he said "You look like a monkey up a stick !".. Not an auspicious start I thought, but he lowered my saddle by 3 inches and my knees soon cleared up and he took me under his wing. A week later he took me out behind his motorbike and he said I "had" what it took to make a great bike rider.. And that was it.. Within 16 months I was riding 4 events in the World Championships and within 2 years I had won the William Tell Grand Prix, which was the pre Olympic warm up 14 day stage race with ALL the Olympic Teams taking part and I beat them all...Then after the Olympics in Munich '72 I turned Pro... What a steep learning curve that was.. IT ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY !!
You've had a long running career as a competitive cyclist both amateur and pro, tell us about your top 3 moments?
Wow! That's a hard one... I guess the William Tell Grand prix has to rate as my best win as it was a win against all the best riders in the World at that time and I think I was the only guy who had a full time job, so was a great win for me...
Although I didn't win it, I think actually finishing the Paris Roubaix in 1975 when there were 130kms of cobbles and it poured down all day and the race certainly didn't suit me as I was too light for those cobbles. I will never forget the reception I got when I entered Roubaix Stadium.. Never forget that moment !!
I also think , when I came back as an amateur after being forced into retirement as a pro because of my heart condition , I rode nearly 3 1/2 years unbeaten in every time trial I rode , and also won the Girvan 3-Day and Ulster 4-day along the way. that was real pressure and I did some great rides in some of those time trials too... Like the 19'11" Comp record for 10 miles on an ordinary bike and the 3.47.10 I did in the Anfield 100 on terrible roads.. OH!! Just too many to list !!!
If you could go back in time, would you have approached anything differently as rider, given your experience as a coach?
Yes, I think I did a lot of junk miles as a Pro, but having said that, the training I did with Eddie Soens hasn't changed a great deal.. Even though we have so many advantages now with HR monitors, Computers, excellent equipment and superb bikes and power meters (not a fan of these though!).. I guess we can be a bit more structured now and train in a better, more costructive way... I like to keep most of my coaching "simple" though...
Are there any changes, developments or moments that you think have positively changed or evolved competitive cycling to what it is today?
I think the biggest change is the huge improvement in equipment and clothing since my racing days... The bike these days are way, way ahead of the bikes we had to ride and so are the Gruppos.. I would love to have had the bikes that are around now when I was racing... Also the development in wheel technology is amazing and a huge improvement on what we had.. Also some Computers are brilliant aids to training , and some are too technical and complicated to be of any real use... Nice for Sports Scientists to play with, but little help to the athlete in my own opinion...
Despite being forced to retire in 1975, following diagnosis of a heart condition, you remained in the sport, channelling your energy into coaching. What is the best thing about being a coach?
Helping people reach goals they never thought possible.. I've done that over and over again, and It's a HUGE buzz for me and I get a bigger kick out of that than when I used to win big races.. I truly love my job and am so enthusiastic with my athletes... LOVE IT !!!
You still ride Sportives, what are your favourite events?
The European events like La marmotte.. Winning the age related in La Marmote when I rode it two years ago was great, this year Viner want me to ride some Gran Fondos, so i am really looking forward to that...
Campagnolo, Shimano or Sram?
SRAM every time.. I have been a Campag man all my life, but the new Super Record 11 speed really disappointed me and had a lot of faults... SRAM is brilliant, works well and does exactly what it says on the tin.. I'm really into my SRAM Red ... It's the best Gruppo out there by far...
How do you think the British Cycling squad is placed for the 2012 Olympics?
HMMM!! Think Brailsford has taken his eye off the ball a bit with Team Sky and I think he's out of his depth on the Road.. He should have stuck with what he knew about, which was the Track and got the results it has to be said... I think these things go round in "cycles" and we have been the best track squad for a long time now, and I think that is changing as we speak and we are no longer the power we used to be, so I have a feeling we will struggle to repeat Sydney ... It's tough, but we'll have to look to our laurels and pull a few things out of the hat to win as much as we used to.. It's going to be difficult I think...
Road riding has been recently described as the new golf. What do you think this means for the sport?
I'd love that to be true.. I think Sportives have brought a LOT of people into the sport. Wheteher we can keep them, or they will be lost to the sport when they get sick of riding Sportives every weekend.. We need to feed those Sportive riders into the "core" cycling activities like Road Racing , Time Trials or Track... It's a question of how long the Sportive scene will last an whether we can "hook" riders into the sport for a long period of time... That would be great if we could.. I want our sport to develop and I'd LOVE it to be the new golf.. HERE'S HOPING...
If you could go on a one week bike trip anywhere, where would you go and which 3 riders would you wish to go with?
I'd go to the Alps as a first choice or the Pyrenees as a second choice and take Eddie Merckx and Roger de Vlaeminck at their peak and Fabian Cancellara .... also with me at my peak too please !!
For a recreational rider who is hoping to improve on last year's results, is there any technology or strategy that you would recommend they should consider?
Employ a really good coach... Don't just stick a pin in... do some research and look at the coaches track record before you invest a lot of money, bur that'll be the best money you will spend on your cycling bar NONE!!
Your track record as a coach and a pro rider is very impressive, what are your short and long term goals?
Learn more and get better at my job, until I drop off the perch !!
To find out more about Dave and how you can benefit from his track record and experience visit the Dave Lloyd Complete Coaching website
