The Rouleur Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Rouleur Podcast July - Desire at Biggin Hill Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

A very special Desire edition of the podcast as we reach for the sky at Biggin Hill airport with Spitfires and Hurricanes as a backdrop. Talking over the mighty roar of Rolls Royce Merlin engines are Desire editor Stuart Clapp, Claire Beaumont from Condor Cycles, photographer Benedict Campbell and your host, Ian Parkinson. Claire explains how a medium-sized shop in London competes with the major manufacturers, tells us what's hot this summer, and why the JLT-Condor team, started in 2007, was disbanded after an amazing run in the UK racing scene. We have some beautiful bikes to shoot, which Benedict balances on extremely valuable historic aircraft. And Stu gets emotional over Steve McQueen's jeep. Chocks away.

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Rouleur Podcast July - Mapei and Vaughters Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

An honest and revealing interview with Jonathan Vaughters of EF Education First.

"I realised what my performance could be with EPO and I realised what it could be without it. Once you realise that, any time you're racing without it....you kind of give up."

Jonathan Vaughters has always been one of the most outspoken voices in pro-cycling and, in his new book One Way Ticket, he talks frankly about doping - past and present, depression and the "five percent of joy" that keeps him in love with the sport. He stopped off on his way to Brussels to talk about the book and his career with Ian Parkinson.

Meanwhile, Rouleur Editor Andy McGrath reflects on one of the sport's greatest ever teams - the multi-coloured classic champions of Mapei. How did an Italian bathroom grout manufacturer end up creating a team that's still remembered with affection by fans and riders nearly two decades after their last race?

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Rouleur June Podcast - The Nationals: Stephens, Boulting, Brambani and Jones Jun 20, 2019

Show notes

"To have that jersey hanging up in the wardrobe, in the context of who has won it subsequently and before – Simpson, Wiggins, Cavendish, Thomas – to be on the trophy and on that list of names that I admire is very special.”

Matt Stephens recalls the feeling of being British national champion, a title he took in 1998. He was then promptly fined £500, and spilt tea down his gleaming white jersey, the stain stubbornly visible to this day. Ned Boulting and Ian Cleverly share the anecdotes and a few laughs along the way.

Lisa Brambani knows all about national champion’s jerseys - she claimed a remarkable four in a row in the 1980s. Now with her daughter Abby-Mae Parkinson making a name for herself on the road racing scene, Lisa is now more likely to be referred to as “Abby’s mum”. But that’s how she likes it: “I’m not one for blowing my own trumpet.”

And how do you top being national champion? The 20-year-old Mandy Jones from Rochdale caused a major upset winning the 1982 World Championships at Goodwood. How was that, asks Ian Parkinson?

"Absolutely fantastic, euphoric, and the best moment of my life.”

Plus Desire Editor Start Clapp is reading a fine book by Paul Fournel. Will he finish telling Ian about it before we lose the signal from deepest Essex? Probably not...

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Rouleur June Podcast: Phil White and Anna Dopico - the Cervélo Story Jun 06, 2019

Show notes

The Rouleur team are joined by Phil White, co-founder of Cervélo, and his wife Anna Dopico - who's written a book about the company's remarkable story. Phil and fellow engineering student Gerard Vroomen started Cervélo in a basement and it grew into one of the most respected brands in cycling. But the pressures of running a rapidly expanding business, financial crises and the - possibly unwise - decision to run their own pro team, led the founders to sell the company. Phil and Anna remember the highs and lows. Plus: which company is making its tyres out of dandelions - and why? And what happened when Stuart Clapp tried to put a cyclist on a thoroughbred racehorse. Spoiler - it didn't end well. WARNING: There's some strong language in this edition, mostly from the presenter, Ian Parkinson. But Stuart joins in as well. You can take the boy out of Essex....

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Rouleur Podcast May - Larry Warbasse, Conor Dunne and Lee Turner May 24, 2019

Show notes

As the Giro finally enters the mountains, we catch up with Larry Warbasse and Conor Dunne. At the end of last season they were jobless after the collapse of Aqua Blue Sport and set off on a bike-packing adventure they called the NoGo Tour. Now they're back racing the roads of Italy - Larry with AG2R, Conor with Israel Cycling Academy. We also meet the legendary Lee Turner, Melbourne's multi-hued pro-kit enthusiast, who's on a one-man mission to put a bit of fun and colour back into cycling. Stuart Clapp is planning a photo-shoot with cyclists on horseback, but he still finds time to have a pop at Adam Blythe's dress sense.

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Rouleur Podcast May - Desire Edition May 10, 2019

Show notes

In a special edition of the podcast to tie in with the magazine's Desire issue, presenter Ian Parkinson is joined by Managing Editor Ian Cleverly, Desire Editor Stuart Clapp, Marketing Exec Miles Baker Clarke and top bike photographer Benedict Campbell. What are the latest trends in bikes and kits? How do you take pictures of your pride and joy? Are 650B wheels really the future? What's wrong with wearing pro kit if you're not a pro rider? And crucially, why are gravel bars that funny shape?

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Rouleur Podcast April - Eros Poli and David Millar Apr 26, 2019

Show notes

It's 25 years since the giant figure of Eros Poli pulled off one of the most surprising Tour De France victories ever with a solo breakaway over Mont Ventoux. Eros recalls that memorable mountain stage and reflects on his time as the Lion King's lead-out man. David Millar faced many challenges in the saddle during his career but nothing could have prepared him for his upcoming ride - Leicester to Blackburn in the company of Rouleur's Stuart Clapp. He explains why he's doing it, and looks forward to the Giro and Tour. Meanwhile, Stuart is getting excited about Rouleur's special Desire edition and a top secret product launch in Tuscany.

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Rouleur Podcast April - Flanders Special - De Vlaeminck, Maertens and Harry Pearson Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

A Flanders themed edition to mark the climax of the Spring classics season.

Ian Parkinson talks with legendary hard-man Roger “Mr Paris Roubaix” De Vlaeminck – always good value for an inflammatory soundbite, as seen in the latest edition of Rouleur. Freddy Maertens recalls the triumphs and disasters from a career which saw him win World Championships, Grand Tours and Classics – and reflects on his sometimes stormy relationship with Eddy Merckx. Harry Pearson – author of The Emperor, The Beast and The Milkman, analyses cycling fans love of all things Flemish – chips, beer, cobbles and the sheer grittiness of the riders. Our Desire Editor Stuart Clapp would never make it as a Flanders hardman – he remembers the time he burst into tears at the top of the Muur. It’s a long story…

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Rouleur Podcast January - Mike Woods and Nick Craig Jan 31, 2019

Show notes

Michael Woods led the EF Education First team at Tour Down Under, finishing seventh on GC. Ian Parkinson talks to the Canadian who had a fine 2018 season and started this year in decent shape. He’s been practising his descending using visualisation techniques, adapting to the intense heat in Australia, and building towards the Ardennes Classics. Will he have time for some gravel racing in the summer? Nick Craig is a legend of the UK off-road scene, a ten-time British cyclo-cross champion, holding numerous MTB titles and a three-time winner of the Three Peaks in Yorkshire. Now, at the age of 49, he has landed a rainbow jersey too. Ian Cleverly catches up with Nick on his fine career and finds out about the Ride For Charlie Fund, created in loving memory of Nick's son, Charlie.

And talking of legends, Desire editor Stuart Clapp waxes lyrical about the Colnago Concept with (shock, horror) rim brakes. Don’t @ him.

He also goes off on a flight of fantasy about Rouleur’s new columnist Romain Bardet – man crush and then some.

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Rouleur Podcast January - Grand Tours Preview and Seb Piquet - "Voice of the Tour" Jan 17, 2019

Show notes

Rouleur editor Andy McGrath and Ian Parkinson pore over the three Grand Tours of 2019 and consider the possibilities. Can Simon Yates return to the Giro d’Italia to correct unfinished business and take the maglia rosa all the way to the finish this time out? Will Team Sky go out with a bang at their final Tour de France before the sponsor leaves and its star riders are (potentially) scattered to the winds for 2020? And will the Vuelta prove, as so often, to be the least predictable and mountainous of the three-week races? Shorter stages and brutal climbs abound in September. No surprises there…

Seb Piquet is the voice of Radio Tour – keeping teams, journalists and officials abreast of developments on the road during the Tour de France and other ASO races. It’s a gripping job and he’s a fascinating chap. Plus Rouleur’s Desire editor Stuart Clapp, another fascinating chap (well, he has his moments), visits the British national cyclo-cross championships and thoroughly enjoys the racing – and warm cider. And is the bucket hat, de rigueur for ‘90s ravers and Gallagher brothers alike, coming back courtesy of EF Education First and Rapha? Get one on, matey.

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