Skinny Tyres has a great team of cyclists that support the logistics and guiding of our trips. All our riders are very competent cyclists who have race and sportive experience and are passionate about supporting others to get the most out of their cycling. We hand pick the riders to be part of our team to ensure that we have a depth of knowledge and experience, but also to ensure that we have riders who will help you become the cyclist you want to be.

Meet the team:

Scot Tares: A qualified Level 2 British Cycling Coach in Road, Time Trial and Mountain Bike, he is also a qualified MBLA Trail Cycle Leader. He is currently studying for his Level 3 Road Cycling Coaching Award. Scot has been cycling since he was two years old. Steeped in the sport he is also an SICI cycle fitter, race organiser, coach of the Tay Titans junior club and a competitive cyclist. He writes a weekly cycling column for the Tayside Courier and Advertiser newspaper, and has also contributed articles for Cycling Weekly and Cycle Highland Perthshire. In his spare time he is also the Director of Skinny Tyres

1. I own six bikes. Three of these are fixed wheel bikes. A Specialized Langster that I do all my winter training on, a 1982 Raleigh track bike that I have used at grass track races and a 1952 Flying Scot. I believe you can never have too many fixed wheel bikes.
2. My favourite bike is my Dad’s old 1952 Flying Scot Track bike
3. Best ever cycling moment – There are so many to choose from. Probably one of the most recent was riding a 40 mile loop at Lochinver with Toby (below) and another friend. The weather was sparkling, the roads empty, I was on form and it was probably the best 40 miles I have ever cycled. Another recent one was cycling over Ben Vrackie in Pitlochry on a MTB in a blizzard in winter at night in the dark. Seriously! There were about ten of us out and we were buzzing by the end.
4. Worst ever cycling moment – when the cleat on my right cycling shoe sheared off during the Dundee Wheelers reliabilty ride and I found myself with 30 miles to cycle home, effectively one legged
5. I like cycling in Scotland because - the variety of terrain and scenery is unlike anywhere else in Europe. I never take it for granted and am constantly amazed at how lucky we are to live in such great cycling country.

Toby Green: A keen club cyclist for most of his life, Toby has ridden with clubs in London and Scotland and raced across the UK. When he tells you he has not done much training, you know he’s about to rip your legs off. Toby just completed Lands End to John O’Groats in May 2010 and has plans for many other touring expeditions. Toby is also a fully qualified MBLA Trail Cycle Leader.

1. I own seven bikes
2. Favourite bike – Now that’s a hard one. My Ridley Excalibur? It’s fast, light and responsive. My 1984 Falcon is so smooth it’s like riding a pint of Guinness. My Genesis steel MTB, rocks off road. My touring bike? With Brooks saddle is like riding a thousand miles on an arm chair.
3. Best ever cycling moment – Has to be my first time riding up the Alpe du Huez
4. Worst ever cycling moment – When I’m on my bike i’m happy, so can’t think of one
5. I like cycling in Scotland because – Cycling in Scotland gives mountains, great views, not much traffic and some of the most beautiful and challenging rides in Europe

Erni Hamilton: Is a keen triathlete and competes regularily. A strong cyclist, she has been riding with Skinny Tyres since day one and loves being able to help others achieve their goals. Erni also works with the Tay Titans Junior Cycling Club

1. I own bikes four. Too many bikes, as my non-cycling friends and family put it and not enough according to cycling pals. These include my Giant TCR (see below), my Giant winter bike, and an Orange Mountain Bike – we seem to part company regularly. I have the scars to prove it.
2. Favourite bike – My Giant TCR Hybrid. Not the most fancy, expensive or lightest, but we just get on well together and I love the DT Swiss wheels on it :O)
3. Best ever cycling moment – So many! Mount Ventoux and frankfurt Ironman routes were both spectacular for overseas experiences. However I just love cycling in Scotland, one of the best moments was a day mountain biking at Laggan Wolftrax. I’m a roadie and have no balance at the best of times, but loved it and completed all the runs.
4. Worst ever cycling moment – The Ironman training, 120 mile training ride that ended up being mostly in the rain and very hilly. I was crying as I realised I had 30 miles of riding into a howling headwind and rain, I was on my own, so no shelter and then crying even more when I realised I had to get off the bike and run for 13 miles to complete the session. Never again! A close second would be the 100 mile TT at Invergordon. 100 miles into a headwind on a dual carriageway. And here was me thinking I’d get to see some nice countryside. How wrong could I be.
5. I like cycling in Scotland because – no matter what the weather the scenery is usually stunning and has so much to offer. I have seen parts of Scotland I otherwise wouldn’t have if I didn’t cycle, and coffee shops I wouldn’t have known about

Grahame Hay: Is a keen time trialist and strong road racer who competes regularly through the season in open and club events. He organises his local club open time trial and is actively involved in a lot of other cycling activities. He will be riding the “Maggie’s Bike and Hike” event in 2011 with his wife and hopes to raise a huge amount of money.

1. I own four bikes
2. Favourite bike – My Planet-X Stealth Pro Carbon TT bike
3. Best ever cycling moment – My three Tour de France wins, four Olympic Gold medals and a wardrobe full of rainbow jerseys have all been great… Oh no! Hang on! Dreaming again. Seriously, I’ve enjoyed many sportives, APR’s and personal bests in Time Trials, but i’m always optimistic that my best cycling moments are still to come.
4. Worst ever cycling moment – An all day ride on Lanzarote through intense heat and sand storms where we ran out of energy and food. My friend and I were contemplating having to kill and eat each other just to survive the ordeal, when the hotel and bar finally appeared through the dusk. Never go out without your pockets full. Lesson learned.
5. I like cycling in Scotland because – While the weather makes you appreciate riding anywhere else, the scenery and the routes here remind you why you don’t want to live anywhere else. Oh and it’s close…

Anne Greig: Is a keen bike rider and enjoys racing in all disciplines of the sport. Her enthusiasm and enjoyment for cycling knows no bounds and she will travel around the UK to compete and race.

1. I own three and a half bikes. My new cyclo cross frame is currently being added to.
2. Favourite bike -  my road race bike, a silver and blue Giant TCR, which i’ve had for about seven years.
3. Best ever cycling moment – Competing in the 2008 British Road Race Championships. It was nerve wracking and exhausting, but what a thrill to be on the start line with Nicole Cooke and Emma Pooley. A great road racing experience I will never forget.
4. Worst ever cycling moment – Being chased by a dog up a steep hill, and surprisingly getting bitten. I must improve my hill climbing speed.
5. I like cycling in Scotland because – It’s breathtaking to cycle through the spectacular natural beauty, passing amazing historic sites on some really quiet roads.

Jon Soal: Has a huge amount of cycling experience and is one of those people who will do anything to help you reach your goals. Constantly smiling, even the wettest day on a bike can’t curb his enthusiasm

1. I own three bikes
2. Favourite bike – The one i’m riding at that time
3. Best ever cycling moment – Completing the Etape Caledonia in under four hours or riding 150 miles in a day over Glenshee and Deeside.
4. Worst ever cycling moment – A broken scaphoid (wrist) from crashing my mountain bike. It resulted in six months recovery, with no riding allowed.
5. I like cycling in Scotland because – It has great scenery and it’s so varied, with loads of quiet roads. There is aways something different to see.

Andrew Ralston: Fast up hill, climbing is one of Andy’s specialities and his results in sportives and open road races prove his ability. Currently racing the 2011 season as a 2nd Cat rider he is an assett to have in the Skinny Tyres team. Andy also coaches with Scot at the Tay Titans Junior Club.

1. I own three bikes – two road and one mountain bike
2. Favourite bike – Is my Specialized S-Works Tarmac
3. Best ever cycling moment – Being 8th Overall in the 2010 Etape Caledonia and dropping James Cracknell
4. Worst ever cycling moment – Any time I get dropped. I hate it.
5. I like cycling in Scotland because – The roads are quiet, the scenery is beautiful and you can climb, climb, climb.

Gordon Chisolm: Race, race, race! Cyclocross, SXC, road and time trial, if Gordon’s not racing, then he’s out training to race. After riding a winter MTB season with him in the snow, we are fearful that his race legs will be even stronger in 2011.

1. I own five bikes
2. Favourite bike – Is my Planet X titanium road race bike with super light carbon wheels, though I have fond memories of my Raleigh Commando
3. Best ever cycling moment – Winning a Triathlon on my single speed mountain bike
4. Worst ever cycling moment – Badly breaking my wrist whilst trying to show off to some kids at a BMX track. They weren’t impressed and neither were the ambulance crew
5. I like cycling in Scotland because – When you get the treat of a perfect sunny day on the Highland roads with a bunch of friends, it’s the best cycling there is.

Alison Chandler: Another great addition to the team, Alison has cycled in many places around the world, including Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. She is also a regular competitive cyclist and appears to enjoy a tipple at the end of her epic rides.

1. I own four bikes; a Trek Madone 5.2, a Lemond Buenos Aires, a Specialized Rockhopper and a Dawes Super Galaxy.
2. Favourite bike – Is my Trek
3. Best ever cycling moment – I have many, but three of the best were cycling to the top of the Stelvio pass in Italy, cycling from Zell Am See (via Grossglockner and the Brenner Pass) to Venice with a return cycle to the Munich Beer Festival. Closer to home there has been a wonderful ride from Perth to Cullen (Moray Firth) on quiet roads & cycle paths, on a day of glorious Scottish Sunshine combined with Speyside whisky!
4. Worst ever cycling moment – Dislocating my shoulder whilst carrying my bike up an escalator in Budapest.
5. I like cycling in Scotland because – of the quiet roads, clean air, good drivers and the spectacular scenery. Oh! And the yummy cafe stops.