London to roubaix

I’ve wanted to do something like this for years. My role at Decathlon is UK PR and Community Manager and this “activation” ticked both PR and community.

This post isn’t about work though (ish) it’s about the impact the trip had on me personally. I know the people on the trip fairly well, I ride Regents Park laps with Jon, Ben and Rich every week, Paddy and Charley have both come on board recently to support my rides and events, Dan Jones in one of our Van Rysel Ambassadors and Harry and I go back a few years but I don’t think they really know me or know much about each other except for our social media profiles. I show people what I’m OK for them to see and think about me, I’m guarded and I’ve have curated a persona I’m comfortable with.

This trip changed all that in a way only shared time on the road can. There were moments where I completely let go, the new me came out and The Rebrand started, the new Nick was shown to the world.

The trip took me back to when I was on the road as a guide, the conversations that were had, the bonds that were created, the memories shared, this is what cycling means to me. Watching the racing was fun, the riding in a new place opened my eyes but it’s the shared experiences, the laughs, the town sign sprints, the Greggs stop, Charley’s shredded hands, Rich’s inability to nail the focus on his camera in-spite of being a professional photographer (sorry mate) and the dancing on the side of the road with the blue sky and rocket fuel French beers. They’re what I’ll take away from this trip and that’s what cycling does for me.

The video Harry’s produced captures all of that. Yes it was for work and a brand but the point of the trip was community and camaraderie and I think he’s showcased it brilliantly here.

Next stop The Tour!

More of Harry’s work can be found HERE

Dan Jones YouTube

The Decathlon Van Rysel range.

Images below from myself and Richard Oxford, Superstar Soigneur.