Profile

Name: Andrew Howett

Home: I was born and brought up in south Lincolnshire. Don't laugh, if Jamaica can have a bobsleigh team, Lincolnshire can have a mountain bike racer. However, for the last few years I have been living in the Scottish borders, which is a huge improvement topographically, if not metrologically.

Age: 39

Describe yourself in three words: Very bad at counting.

How did you get into mountain-bike racing? I've been riding bikes for years. A friend took me to a local race way back in 1999 and I thoroughly enjoyed it, I have no idea where I finished, somewhere near the back, but I had a great time and so did a few more races over the next couple of years. I spent the best part of a decade coming last in short olympic-distance XC events before I discovered 24 hour races and then another five before I tried one on a singlespeed.

Best bit of racing? I love a nice technical descent as much as anyone, particularly when it is dry, dusty and 30°, I love the heat. Oddly enough, I also enjoy the climbs, seeing how hard I can push myself. But by far the best bit is the people I've met along the way.

Worst bit of racing? When I'm cold, wet and knackered, it's dark, -5°, raining hard and there's fifteen hours still to go. And my lights have just packed up.

But the harder it is, the bigger the sense of achievement at the finish.

Favourite race? Tough question. Probably the best course I've ever ridden was Finale Ligura in Italy for the 2012 24hr World Championship. In this country it has to be the National XC Champs at Innerleithen in 2009, I got my first UCI points in that one too. Fforrest Fields is fantastic in the dry and I love Badaguish as well.

For the race itself though nothing can beat the 2010 24hr World Champs at Mount Stromolo in Australia. Another fantastic course but the sheer size and scale of the event was like nothing I've ever seen. A real pain to get to but well worth the effort.

Most successful race? Well, a world title in 2019 has to be a contender. However, the competition there was a little thin, I don't think singlespeeds are really a thing in Brazil. I am probably more satisfied with my third place at the 2017 World Champs, the competition there was really fierce and I felt like that's the best I have ever ridden, I really gave it everything that day. 

Favourite place to ride?

Off-road. I love going up north and just exploring, the area between Spean Bridge and Glencoe is fantastic. In the winter I do stick to the man-made trails, and Innerliethen/Golfie are definitely the best (and within riding distance of my house, which is great)

Road. I know a lovely route from St. Andrews around Glendevon, through Gleneagles and Blackford to Dunblane and then back to the sea. Only around 90 miles but very hard work. Shoalhaven to Kangaroo Valley in Oz was pretty special too.

Plans for 2021?

Who knows? Last year didn't really happen as intended, one cross race in January and a running event in February and that was it.

If we are allowed out to do things this year there will be the usual 'Big Three' 24hrs, European (Czech Replublic, June) UK Nationals (Dartmoor, July) and Worlds (Armidale, NSW Australia, November). No doubt the later will involve falling out with my credit card company again, they are still a little cross with me after the Brazil trip! All of these are of suject to change and I'm not going to book anything just yet.

Last year I was talked into the European off-road duathlon champiosnhip in Romania, a bit of whim as I just happened to be in Eastern Europe at about the right time. I managed to qualify but then the plague interfered and it never happened. My qualification has been carried over to this year though

 
There are a fair few less serious races I would like to do, obviously subject to much change, the Macavalanche, SSUK, the Singlespeed World Champs in Belgium (that is all we know about it, no dates or venue info yet) a 50 mile running race, just because it goes passed my house, and whatever else I can fit in, the Deadwater 100 springs to mind as does theGlentress 7 and  Manx 100, all good fun, which is what racing is all about really isn't it?