ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Johnny Taylor (Carn Wheelers)

In the latest of our athlete of the week series, we feature Johnny Taylor who swapped kicking football for turning pedals in the colours of Carn Wheelers.

Age: Too old (M40).

Club: Carn Wheelers.

Occupation: Car body repair shop owner.

What is your first memory of sport?

That would be an underage GAA blitz at primary school.

Who was your idol growing up and why?

I looked up to numerous members of the early Derry football teams.

Have you always been involved in sport?

Yes.  From primary school right through. GAA and athletics at ‘The Convent’ Magherafelt, karate, soccer and now I’m into cycling.

How long have you been involved in cycling and when did you join the club?

I was 2011 when I started on the bike and joined Carn Wheelers at the same time to be covered by the insurance.

Why did you start?

I was injured at GAA.  My father in law roped me into riding the bike one ‪Friday evening and ‪the next Friday I was in Cork to do Mizen to Malin for charity.  From 20 miles one Friday to 450 miles the next week.

What type of events do you compete in?

All club events from Time Trials (TTs), road races and hill climbs as well as open road races.

Which one do you rank as the toughest so far?

The An Post Rás has to be the toughest yet. It’s an international eight day stage race held in Ireland and up until this year sponsorship couldn’t be found.  To be a man of the Ras is a great achievement. Hopefully it comes back next year as it’s on a different level.

What has been the most memorable one so far?

It definitely has to be competing in the Rás.

What have been your main achievements to date?

I’ve went through the open ranks from A4-A1 in my first two seasons.  There has been plenty of podium places but I’m still waiting on the top step, and it’s not getting any easier as I get older.

What has been the highest point so far?

I’m still waiting on that one, other than the Ras medal with some of the Carn lads.

What is the most disappointing point?

A few mechanicals have cost me.  There was a mechanical and bike change in the Rás Dun na nGall stage one.  There was a gear failure at another race where I had to ride the race in one gear and was just caught 300 metres from the line after a solo effort.

Have you had any injuries in your career?

From playing GAA, I’ve wrecked everything on my right hand side. I broke my thumb, arm, collar bone, ankle as well as cruciate ligament and cartilage.  In cycling, I’ve had a few bad crashes at high speed but thankfully only road rash and a few stitches.

How often do you train and what all does it entail?

I train six days a week with one full rest day and one easy recovery day, so that’s eight to 12 hours a week usually.  On stage race weekends, it can be up to 20 hours.

At the weekend, there are longer rides, three to four hours.  In mid-week, it is shorter stuff, ‪one or two hours with harder efforts thrown in.

What are your targets for the rest of 2019?

I’ve a few.  After moving into the M40 category this year, it means I can ride a few more races.  The Newry 3 day is coming up a few weeks and I’m up for it plus the M40 Irish nationals are later in the season.

Is there a long term goal you have, something you have always wanted to achieve?

Getting to the top step is still the goal and a 19 minute TT, I’ve a few seconds to gain to get into the 19 for 10 miles.

What advice do you have for anyone who is thinking about getting involved in the sport?

I wish I had started years ago.  You get out of it what you put into it. It’s a very sociable sport, from solo rides to clear the head and take in the views, to club runs for the social aspect and then of course there’s coffee................It never gets easier you just get faster.