Meet The Team

This blog started on a whim back in September 2008. I gave it absolutely no thought and simply opened up a Google Blogger account and wanted to write one tip per day on cycling. Looking back it was horrible, but it seemed to fill a need. CyclingTips has evolved into something very different since that time and it's given me some opportunties that I would have never dreamed of. It probably obvious, but it's not just me sitting in my boxers at my kitchen table anymore. There are a lot of others who make this possible and some who spend just as much time on it as I do. I want you to meet them.

The newest member of CyclingTips will be starting this week. His name is Matt de Neef and I’ve hired him as our full time Editor. Matt runs his own blog which I’ve followed for years called The Climbing Cyclist. His passion for documenting Australian climbs is so infectious that he’s spawned a series of Dirty Dozen rides all over the country. I encourage you to have a look and even take part in a Dirty Dozen ride.

What I feel will make Matt an superb Editor of CyclingTips is that he comes from one of the finest sites on the web, The Conversation, where we was the deputy editor of the Science & Technology section. I’ve been following Matt’s work in both The Climbing Cyclist and The Conversation for a couple years now and I’m excited that he’ll carry the content you read on CyclingTips to the next level. Matt’s best work is still ahead of him.

Please welcome Matt and you can follow him on

That doesn’t mean that I won’t write anymore. In fact, Matt’s job will free up my time to write more about the stuff I’m interested in. You’ve noticed there are lots of contributors here and Matt will help coordinate and strengthen their work as well as mine. He will also give the site some consistency and more regular content. I simply don’t have the time to take on everything anymore and it’s time that I hand over the reigns to somebody who knows what he’s doing. Most importantly, the overall flavour on CyclingTips will not be changing. It will simply be growing and and getting stronger.

		Veeral Patel’s photography has helped build this site into what it’s become and I can’t thank him enough for that. We’ve managed to keep Veeral from going back to his I.T. job and for months now he’s been helping with his photography, his technical skills, managing the Photo of the Day, and working his way through my “to do” list. You can follow Veeral on

		Matt Wikstrom has been our CTech Editor for more than a year now and he’s doing a terrific job. It was important to me that product reviews remain as credible as possible, so I saw it as a necessary step to have a Tech Editor ensure that reviews and advertiser relationships do not overlap. Matt has come up with some fantastic review formats from the CTech Product Picks, attending Industry Expos, to our Featured Reviews where owners of the product can cast their own review. You’ll sometimes still see me writing reviews because of the practicalities of me living in Melbourne and Matt living in Perth, but I’ll always add a disclosure statement so you know what conflicts of interest may exist.

		Ankush Agarwal has been a keen reader and commenter here for years and he’s now taken on the task of posting race results. He’s a huge Mark Cavendish fan, loves to ride his bike and is also a keen runner. Not only that, he’s cycling stats geek and solve math problems for a living. Ankush lives in India which is the ideal timezone to be able to get us race results straight after the race so you can wake up to it in the morning. You’ll notice that all major pro and domestic race results will be updated immediately on the left of the homepage where you can filter by nationality or team. You can follow Ankush on

		The technical wizard who makes this all possible is Ben Dunn (App-Fusion), also a mad-keen cycilst. Ben is an Australian living in Japan and I couldn’t ask for a better guy to work with. He doesn’t just do what I ask him, he comes up with brilliant ideas and suggestions on how to make things better. You can follow Ben on

		Someone else who deserves recognition is Simon Moody (SimpleSime) who does a heap of the design work here. Everywhere from kits, The Secret Pro, the CyclingTips logo, Sime has been here ready to drop everything whenever I ask him for a hand. You can follow Simon on

CONTRIBUTORS

When I first started writing a blog, it became very apparent to me that it can get very boring reading one person’s thoughts all the time. Would you ever want to read a magazine where one person writes all the articles? There have been many contributors who have come and gone and have have contributed some sensational content. I always welcome new contributors, however there is a more consistant set of contributors beginning to form. Jamie Jowett’s “Where are the now?”, Alan McCubbin’s nutrition articles, Jono Lovelock’s insights into the racing scene, Lewis Rattray writing about his European cyclocross escapades along with Paul Alburey’s insights, Dave Everette’s Shoddy Interviews, various Bikes of the Bunch that come through, Le Grimpeur’s News Shorts (coming again soon), Gregor Brown’s pro cycling coverage, Koen de Kort’s “Ask Koen“, Jered & Ashley Gruber, Kristof Ramon, and of course Matt Keenan and Scott McGrory for The Bike Lane. There are probably many more I’m probably forgetting.

Perhaps the biggest change in my life is that I’ve stepped down from my role as General Manager of ANZ at Rapha so that I can focus on CyclingTips. No more safety net, no more paycheque. I’m in this neck-deep and there’s lots more to come.

Cheers,

Wade Wallace

http://cycling.norbtech.com/ norbs

Good luck Wade. Good to see the faces behind the blog.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Thanks Norbs. I just hope none of the team get done by ASADA.
  
  ;-)
  - Matt de Neef
    
    Wait, what? You never mentioned drug testing …
    - Notso Swift
      
      Micro dose and plenty of water ;-)
http://twitter.com/Tinea_Pedis Nick Squillari

Ankush is also a huge Gunners fan. Short of living there, he could not be more Euro :)
Sam

Was enjoying those subliminal Rapha porn, but nevertheless, all the best for the future, CT! May the website go strength to strength!
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Cheers Sam. I’m sure there will be more Rapha here, but I won’t be getting my allowance every season anymore so you’ll have to settle for my old worn-out kit.
http://byke.com.au/ Byke

Good luck, Wade. Not that you - or the team - will need it.

This is a fantastic site, and I look forward to watching it evolve and prosper. It’s a fun time to be involved with cycling on the web.
Tricky Dicky

Wow, good luck Wade - as you say, you’re in “deep” now! Perhaps I’d better buy that flouro CT kit from you after all to help keep you afloat!
On “other contributors”, I just wanted to share that I have just read an amazing piece by Jono Lovelock in the Roar. Thoroughly recommend it. I don’t know you Jono, but you have a future as a writer if the cycling doesn’t work out (or maybe even if it does)! You should lock him in on a long-term contract ASAP Wade.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Definitely swimming upstream without a paddle now! Indeed - Jono Lovelock is good. He has a piece coming up here tomorrow.
  - Anonymous
    
    Woo hoo!
- Anonymous
  
  Thanks! I guess I’m allowed to plug that I’ve got a couple of articles on the next RIDE mag ( right wade??). ;-)
jules

you’ve got guts Wade. i often think, when enjoying your blog, that it must put a lot of pressure on your time. seems that’s true.. good luck to you and the team.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Yes, it’s definitely crunch-time where I made a decision on where I wanted to take this site. It was either shut it down completely and concentrate on Rapha, or vice versa. It was a hard choice, but obvious now that it’s done.
  - Steel
    
    Ballsy decision CT. Good luck. There is plenty of scope for a good quality Australian focused cycling website IMO.
    
    Looking forward to seeing Matt’s climbing cyclist influence. I really enjoy his site and I can relate more to his enthusiast perspective than the racing tips.
lefthandside

The climbing cyclist is now part of cyclingtips? It’s like having my cake and eating it too.
- Matt de Neef
  
  Thanks LHS. ;) Importantly, I’ll be continuing to work on TCC in my spare time. :)
http://www.facebook.com/barry.vangramberg Barry Van Gramberg

I remember finding this site when I was trying to improve my riding…
My riding still sucks but this site has become amazing!
Good luck Wade and the crew, nothing like it out there, that’s why I love this site
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Interesting you say that Barry. When I was first only writing “tips,” the audience was small enough that I could see many of the cyclists who I was writing for. Now most of them have progressed into some excellent cyclists and I feel strange to be writing about tips these days. I’m sure you’re better than you say!
- mattb
  
  My thoughts and experience exactly, well said
Marcus

If that’s the C Team, just imagine the A Team!
- jules
  
  they were awesome, but they retired and started a cancer foundation
- jules
  
  they were awesome, but they retired and started a cancer foundation
Timo

I predict a dramatic decrease in spelling and grammatical errors.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Can I predict a lot less comments on my spelling/grammar from you Timo? ;-)
  - Mariano Kamp
    
    Less -> fewer?
    
    :) what do I know. English is not my first language.
http://www.facebook.com/colin.rourke Colin Rourke

Ive followed cycling tips right from the start Wade and enjoyed every thing about it.
Also Matt you have a great site also i love reading about all the different climbs@ have tackled many myself mainly in the dandenongs,keep up the good work Wade @Matt and all the others helping behind the scene,Just an idea Wade why dont you get a female cyclist too write articles for woman cyclist Bridey O”Donnell would be ideal if you could get her or maybe Kate Bates
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Hi Colin, thanks for the kind words and for the long-time support. I’ve written about this before, but only 5% of the readers here are female. I would love to team up with somebody to do a women’s cycling site properly but don’t feel that it’s worth the investment here. I believe that women would be much better served on a women’s only cycling site.
  - Catherine
    
    Hi Wade, great to see CT expanding. Like Colin, when I saw the CT team list I also wondered if you’d include some female cyclists. Interesting that only 5% of your readers are female. Just wondered how you measure that? is it by comments? I just thought, like me, there would be other women interested in cycling who would regularly read quality cycling sites but might not add comment (first time I have).
    - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
      
      Hi Catherine, first of all, thanks for being one of the 5%. The way I measure that is through the reader survey. Thousands responded so the trends are pretty reliable. If there were two of me, I’d love nothing more than to start a cycling blog dedicated to women. Perhaps in the future. That said, there’s a lot of stuff I post on here that isn’t necessarily gender specific. Cycling is cycling and I think everyone gets many of the same things out of it.
Notso Swift

PRO!
- Notso Swift
  
  On a serious note I read Matt’s site regularly (even though I climb like a one legged crab) and his site is quality, so it will work well.
  
  One person you didn’t profile CT… the magician who convinced Mrs CT this was a good idea!
Mudroch

I found this site about 3 years ago when i just started road cycling. Now its a daily routine of mine to check out whats going on in the cycling world. Fantastic site guys, love the reviews, the photos and all the stories as well. Looking forward to the next chapter in the CT world.
http://www.facebook.com/paul.kleores Paul Kleores

Awesome stuff Wade! You must have been having one of your meetings when I passed you on Beach Rd yesterday am. Look forward to the ‘new’ content. Cheers Paul
http://twitter.com/patrickxsmith Patrick Smith

Wow, good work Wade and team, it’s been a pleasure to see this site develop and grow over the years, even if you’re not in Oz it’s my go-to cycling website alongside Inner Ring. I look forward to more great content.
Mariano Kamp

Awesome. Cycling tips media empire.
MJ

Shoddy interviews were my highlight of the TDU coverage - keep em coming :)
Zoom Video DS

Good luck Wade, it’s tough to take the plunge, few do so good on you. BTW don’t make Mark Zuckerbergs boo boo and get onto monetizing mobile too late (posted from an iPhone, no adds veiwed)
BikeventsBruce

Welcome to the high wire Wade! Good luck, even though I can’t imagine you’ll need it.
http://twitter.com/EM_Berg2013 EM Berg

Good on you Wade. I remember when Cycling Tips Blog was a little link from the SKCC home page full of great tips, but just about training. Not that long ago either! Hope the new (ad)venture is a success for you.
Ratbag

Good luck with the expanded empire. Content is consistently good and the site has continued to maintain its easy going, not up itself vibe. Never one to miss an opportunity, who at Rapha do I send my CV to? ;-)
Ratbag

Good luck with the expanded empire. Content is consistently good and the site has continued to maintain its easy going, not up itself vibe. Never one to miss an opportunity, who at Rapha do I send my CV to? ;-)
- In Agreeance
  
  Well said on the “easy going, not up itself vibe”. It’s why I love this place too
Cam

Yeehah! Along with the fact it’s snowing heavily outside and my studded tyres have arrived, this is the week’s cycling-related highlight. Awesome, Wade. Hope this means you can take a junket to EU soon.
NY’er

Congratulations Wade, what an exciting adventure you’re building for yourself. I’m totally excited for you! As I often try to say, what sets you apart from the others is your willingness to tell your point of view, show some personality and go with your heart. It hasn’t failed you yet by the looks so stick with the winning formula! I look forward to many more years of Cycling Tips!
http://twitter.com/ben_pilot Ben Pilot

I keep bouncing between “proud” and “scared shitless” - I am sure that it’s going to be a great success, as they said about Danny Hart ” how does WW sit down….. :D ”

In the meantime, it can be my shout for coffee!!! - and I’m scared for how many more km you are going to be able to get in now!!!! yeowwwww!
JanJan

From one of the 5%, I wish you super good luck with running the site full time
- Cycling Tragic
  
  I’m one of the 5% also…don’t forget us CT!! Love this site and all that I keep learning from it!
Mike

This is my new favorite blog. Found it four months ago. A wealth of information. Thanks.

Mike
Los Angeles, CA
http://historymaker.co Chris Young

I like how you snuck the news of doing the site full-time in at the bottom of the post. All the best Wade - you and the team are doing an amazing job with the site and I look forward to more and better!