Ian Cammish: Time Trialling 'Legend' / 'icon' / 'wannabe' / 'has-been' / whatever floats your boat.
The what, why and wherefore of British Time Trialling as seen through the eyes of me … Ian Cammish, holder of over 50 National Cycling Championships and Records. Or ... the aftermath of an extended college project, “how to create a web-site” by son Jack, aged 17, Hills Road College, Cambridge. (I think winning and breaking over 50 National Championships and records were easier!).
“I could write a book” I said. But Peter Whitfield, author of Twelve Champions, The Condor Years and more, told me “there’s no money in it” so for anyone who’s interested here’s a totally free, unexpurgated insight into time trialling through the ages from yours truly … Ian Cammish aged 55 ¼.
Over the forty-plus years I've been cycling, a lot of influential people have helped me achieve what I set out to do but inevitably, over the period of time, we have all each gone our own separate ways. This is just one way of expressing my gratitude to you all. If it also brings back fond memories of yesteryear to any time trialling enthusiasts who happen to stumble on the site, then so much the better :-)
National Champions choose PDQ.
PDQ headquarters is pleased to have National Junior Champion Jake Wright riding one of its PDQ trispokes during 2017. Jake (formerly of Identity RT) is currently riding for the strong Zappi Racing Team but will be dabbling in domestic time trialling when time permits ... and the mood takes him. Woe betide anyone who would back him NOT to break a competition record should the V718 be blessed with his presence.
He's already won at least one 'open' this season and has had several good placings abroad.
PDQ's trispokes are renowed for their speed, but Jake has had no problem whatsoever keeping up with his (although he's still to do a turn at the front of course!). ;-)
Photos courtesy of Martin Holden
... and north of the border ...
Not content with dominating time trialing in the metropolis of nightlife that is the village of Waresley,
Bedfordshire, the management team behind PDQ cycling products has released a press statement
announcing its intentions to take on the world. First on board to help with achieving the objective is
Scotland’s newest National time trail champion Callum Finlayson – Moray Firth CC (right).
PDQ’s oldest ever rider in the Universe Ian Cammish was pleased with their latest ‘acquisition’. “Callum’s
got great potential. Just look what he’s already achieved at the tender age of 41. There aren’t many
cyclists living in Forres who have suffered a stroke and won the Scottish national 100 miles championship
all in the space of 5 years. Wait until he’s my age … he’ll be 57 then”.
Finlayson, flush with his national success and the public adulation arising out of Ed Hood’s excellent
Veloveritas article HERE has been chomping at the bit and intends finishing his season with a flurry.
“Hoots mon … the PDQ bars I fitted earlier this year have helped me bridge the gap from a 21 stone
caber tossing, whiskey swigging, haggis loving also-ran with a dodgy ticker to the brink of international
stardom.”
A PDQ trispoke has only very recently been fitted to Finlayson’s Cervelo arousing fear amongst the
opposition north of the border.
Finlayson has been warned that the difference between his current front wheel set up and the PDQ
trispoke will be significant … “it will be like coming down from altitude” … “it will be like steering a razor
blade with a rocket up its jacksy” are just two of the claims being made by the PDQ boffins.
They go on to insist however, that the stories circulating around the international time trial circuit
suggesting that PDQ trispokes are so fast their owners are required to sign forms of indemnity before
using them, or that they carry any Government Health warning stickers (ie the trispokes … not their
owners), are completely unfounded.
Despite already having ridden a set of PDQ time trial bars to the second fastest EVER 100 mile time in
Scotland, Finlayson is confident that he can go even faster in the future and is targeting Cammish’s old
100 mile record once his new front wheel has been fitted. “Everyone knows English miles are shorter
than Scottish ones but we’ll be changing all that when we gain our independence in the next few months.
Cammish’s 100 mile rides are sheer fabrication … in my opinion anyway. No-one could go that fast
unless they were charged up to the eye-balls on Porridge and Iron-bru.”
Finlayson is clearly full of ambition and has no intention of following in the footsteps of two great Scottish
iconic figures that have disappeared without trace (Nessie in Loch Ness and Robert the Bruce’s incy
wincey spider up the drain-pipe).
Scottish National 100 miles champion Callum Finlayson chooses PDQ tt bars.
Photos (above and below) courtesy Martin Williamson
Finlayson's Cervelo freshly kitted out with his new PDQ trispoke.
Photo courtesy of Pedigreed cars Forres, Clunhill School of Motoring, Citroen and Roundup Pro Biactive 360 Total Weed Control for car drives.