John Britton

John is the current treasurer for Marble City Cyclers.  He joined the club through the Monday night spins in early 2009.  While his goals for 2009 were at first modest, he quickly gained cycling fitness and soon realised that he was able to complete various sportives that he never intended/thought he could do.  He has since gone from strength to strength to do various cycling challenges including cycling from Kilkenny to its twin city, Moret-sur-Loing in aid of the Susie Long Hospice.  His time with Marble City Cyclers has gone full circle, as he is now in charge of the Monday evening spins!  John is currently single so ladies, please form an orderly queue.

You joined the club in 2009.  Is that when you started cycling?

Yes and no. I've had a bike since the age of four and always used one to get around and do a bit on. I bought my first road bike in 2008, when I lost my job in 2009 and I needed something to do I joined the club.  The difference group riding makes is phenomenal and I wish I was able to do more of it.

We know you have another challenge lined up this year.  Tell us more about it.

I'm cycling for the Susie Long Hospice Fund again, all money donated goes to them. I'm cycling from Kilkenny to where I did my work experience, in Montreux, Switzerland. On the way I'm going to catch a sprint finish of the Tour and I'll be joined in Roanne by another boardsie, Mike Dunne. Mike will be with me for the next five days, climbing the 2,770 meters of the Col de l'Iseran which is Europe’s highest mountain pass and onto Geneva. We're taking a day off and have a van rented, so we're heading up to watch the etape du tour sportive on the Alpe d'Huez.

What other goals have you for 2011?

I plan on cycling about 10,000km over the course of the year, do the Seán Kelly 160km in 5h30 would make me happy, finish the Tour de Kilkenny this year (had to abandon due to bad mechanical problems last year). There's a couple of short midweek sportives this year so I'll do them and hopefully one more. I work weekends so it's hard to get time off, other than that I'd be doing sportives every week.

Your alter ego on the internet is "Captain Havoc", probably the most famous poster on boards.ie!  Where did that name come from?

Boring story, I did a Captain Haddock impression, my friend thought I said Captain Havoc and I used it since, it's unique. Before that I had a pretty unmemorable one.

Who has impressed you most in the Club and why:

Whichever one of ye hands me the biggest brown envelope Pat Tobin ;)

Who do you admire in cycling:

Nicolas Roche has been a superb ambassador for Irish cycling, it was also fantastic that he got a zero rating in the UCI blood passport rating, proving that he hasn't been up to no good. His articles in the Indo are also fantastic reading.

What other sport do you follow:

I play soccer and golf. I must have been to every soccer and GAA ground in the country, I've been to cycling, rugby, boxing and cricket events also. I'd follow any sport that involves a bit of tactics really.

Who do you admire most in sport:

Alex Ferguson and Brian Cody just keep doing it, even if Kilkenny go through a lull, you know Cody has a team on the way, same with Fergie.

Who do you admire most outside sport:

Michael O'Leary, people love a moan about Ryanair but still use them. He's got a very successful product, he makes no apologies about his product and he uses the media phenomenally well. They are still the biggest airline in Europe even if people do love to have a moan about them. I never had any fault with them to be honest, I just made sure never to carry much baggage.

Sporting occasion you would like to attend:

I'd love to see an Irish team in the latter stages of the Champions League.

What was your first racer?

It was a Carrera.

Campag or Shimano?

All my bikes are Shimano, makes it easier for swapping parts.

Favourite cycle route.

I like heading up around the hills between Carlow and Kilkenny. Single route though, probably Kilkenny, Ballymurphy, Ferns, Gorey, Carnew, Bunclody, Bagenalstown and home. Credit has to go to Kilkenny County Council, our road surfaces are the best in the south east.

Favourite TV:

Outside of sport, I'm going to confess to watching Eastenders and despite having no interest in cars I love Top Gear. I love the older British comedies and also South Park and Family Guy for my immature side.

Last book:

"Laurent Fignon: We were young and carefree." I don't read much anymore since I stopped taking the train to work.

Favourite movie:

I love a lot of films, it would be hard for me to pick one or even a few.

The Beatles group riding skills ~ not their strongest attribute but nothing the Marble City Cylers Monday night Beginners Spins couldn;t sort out!

Favourite musician:

I think the Beatles still haven't been matched in terms of the amount good music produced.

Favourite place/holiday:

Switzerland, I've lived there twice and still go back on holidays. Due to the increase in airline tickets, I'm cheap-skating it this year and going by bike :D

Favourite drink:

I drink gallons of coffee during the day followed by a couple of gallons of tea in the evening.

Favourite restaurant in Kilkenny.

Joes, which is why I don't go there anymore.

Ideal celebrity date:

Katie Taylor, good looking and knows about football but I wouldn't want to get on her bad side. She's someone I really admire.

What would you done if you won the lotto:

I'd buy a shop and live off that for the rest of my life.

What can you not live without:

I'm an internet geek.

For relaxation:

I cycle.

If you could turn time back:

No regrets, you don't make as many mistakes as me without doing a lot of things right in between.