Member Profile - Brian Powney

It's the turn of the Club President, Brian Powney to let us know a little bit about his cycling history.

Brian in the 1988 12hr TT

 What’s your bike ownership history or what do you currently ride?

Steel Framed Reynolds 531’s etc.  Sturdy and lightweight.  Used for all aspects of cycling from club runs and touring on a slightly longer wheelbase to more responsive ones for TT racing and full on training rides.  I now have a Giant Defy Carbon framed racing bike which will be out during the 2014 season.

How did you start cycling?

I was brought up in a cycle racing family by my parents Ron and Doreen Powney.  Along with my sister Rosemary and brother Michael some of our earliest memories are out at early morning time trials and other events.   I was a member of the KPRC from the age of one.  I started cycling during the winter I turned 13 and set myself two targets.  Firstly to achieve 100 miles average per week and to ride 100 miles in one day.  I achieved both these.  5208 miles for my first year and 101 for my longest day.

What made you join Kingston Phoenix?

As above – I’ve only ever known the Kingston Phoenix and would probably say – it’s in my blood.  The Phoenix and everything to do with the club and TT racing is the most important aspect in my life, apart from family that is.  I would not be where I am today without my wife Diane and two daughters, Kathryn and Loren.  And I would not have got where I am without the wider family and Phoenix members who have supported me along the way. 

What has been your most memorable cycling experience?

Many, oh so many.  Early club Easter Tours, led mostly by Pete Mitchell, god rest his soul.  Touring round Scotland (the land of my dreams), with my Dad Ron.  Riding from Strathpeffer to John O’Groats on day 5 of one tour.  I was “on fire” that day and led Dad for the first 80 of 127 miles.   He told me at lunch that he moved out to take the lead and couldn’t come by, so he stayed there!  And you just have to cycle the West Coast of Scotland to appreciate the natural beauty.  Organising 10 of my school friends to cycle to Brighton and then talking them into going along the coast to Worthing, just so that we did 100 miles in the day.  They all completed it.  And now I’ve completed 36 years racing, with no end in sight.

What has been your worst cycling experience?

Three crashes.  The first one descending Ranmore in the dark, hitting something, crashing and breaking my collarbone.  I got back on the bike and cycled about 5 miles to the bottom of Givens Grove, when I gave my bike to someone filling their car with petrol, before nearly passing out!  The second in Scotland, going over the edge of the road, separating from my bike whilst flying through the air, seeing the rocks below and landing in the grass!  He was smiling on me that day.  The last one going down Reigate Hill at 30mph, hitting a bump and going over the handlebars and sliding down the road – on both arms! 

What cycling / sporting achievement are you most proud of?

My personal best 50 at 1-57-21 on a day when both Keith Dorling and Frank Cubis also beat 2 hours.  Check that club team record out!  My personal best 12 hours at 246.515 miles.  But my Dad’s is 246.648. Ouch!  Many other 12 hour events something I’ve really enjoyed, from truly wet ones to 90 degrees hot ones.  Breaking the club’s Kingston to Portsmouth and back club record that had stood for 31 years, 122 miles on the A3 in 5-35-48.   Lastly, being a long distance nut you might find this odd, but the end of season hill climbs, when with Gary Dodd and Simon Mitchell we won the Bec CC Team award 7 years running.

What are your plans for the rest of this season or next season?

In recent years I haven’t had specific plans although a full racing season has to include a 12 hour.  This year my main aim is to ride most club events from 10 to 50 miles and to guide club racing through the SCCU events.

Do you have any particular cycling or sporting heroes?

Tony Doyle – already an amateur racing cyclist when I started racing.  I saw him race and my Dad pointed out his smooth, fast pedalling action and said that was how to ride.  Tony holds the unofficial national record time for the medium gear (72-inch) with 56m 30s for 25 miles.   He became a professional cyclist, won 23 six-day races and was world pursuit champion twice.

Gethin Butler – From another cycling family, 5 years my junior, became a prolific time trial winner and record breaker.  Won the British Best All Rounder (BBAR) season long competition twice, in 1994 and 5 and many road races.  Then in 2001 he broke the national record for Land’s End to John O’Groats in 1 day 20 hours 4 mins and 20 secs and went on to break the 1000 mile national record!  When he stopped cycle racing he decided to run the marathon.  He won his first marathon in 2 hrs 43 mins and 29secs.

Bernard Hinault – France, my true professional racing hero, five times winner of the Tour de France and winner of all three major tours and many other classic races.

Sum yourself up in three words.

Competitive, Loyal and a Perfectionist.



Enjoying a slice of watermelon; not an energy gel to be seen!