ALEX ON JOE

Joe is good at admin jobs and I’m good at chewing the fat. Someone once told us to stick to what you’re good at. I agree. I’d like to think we compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses, we bounce off each other pretty well and don’t often miss the mark when we’ve got a job to do. Working with family isn’t always easy, when we’re not working we’re bro’s, in work time we’re Al and Joe who just happen to be brothers! It works well.

He literally never stops training. If he does stop he isn’t himself. Being active and training isn’t really a choice for Joe, it’s a necessity. Sort of like a crack head without his fix… Not good to be around. Put him in his element – in the hills, on a bike and in any given weather, and he’s the kingpin in any situation. Just don’t take the fish out the water.

So Joe represented GB at triathlon (I’ve got some mental pics in some horribly tight gear…). The top guys are regularly tested to make sure they’re gonna reach the targets set by the coaches. Joe usually exceeded them, in one test he had the same result as Lance – basically you smash yourself until you collapse on a turbo. The level he pushed himself to has a very short list of achievers.

I’ve known people who are seriously fit, fast and with incredible endurance, then the other people who get by on their sheer grit and determination, a drive to win, ultra competitive. Joe has the rare ability to achieve a maximum in both. Show weakness and he’ll exploit it. Show pain and he’ll begin pedalling.

Flat out, no compromises. I’ve heard people say he’s too fast for his own skill level, but then they’re usually watching from the sidelines wearing a cast and rocking crutches or being smoked on the next section of trail like a lycra clad, body armoured, full face, glasses wearing euro shredder. Sometimes he does get a little sketchy but that’s usually followed by a podium.

I’m pretty handy with tools…he exploits that. I think more because I’m a bit of a tweaker and he can get away with it.

What’s his attitude on a night out?

I usually get him pumped up with some barking beer and tequila. After that he usually disappears for a couple of hours and comes back smelling of either vomit or perfume…usually the latter.

Give everything into what you’re doing – physical, mental or just fun. Joe is pretty calculated, if it won’t make him happier or risks boring him he won’t undergo the stress. If he’s not interested you’ll know pretty sharpish.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Would the most competitive man in the UK admit that his little brother (me) would beat him at anything? Not likely. Ha ha. We ride together so much that we’re pretty even on a lot of things, but we recognise each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Keeping it simple, Joe is the fitter of us. I’m heavier so roll faster. Any more discussion would end in tears (Joe’s).

Having raced all over the world, trained and lived the athlete lifestyle he’s a pretty damn focused guy. He’s got his own way of doing things, make a plan and execute. No deviations. Crazy good at getting jobs done fast and doesn’t care much for the bullshit. He’s the best kind of person to have supporting you if you’re a pretty chilled ‘it’ll happen’ guy. He keeps me on track and cracks the whip. I think a lot of people recognise and admire his desire and need to always better himself, whatever the task he’ll recognise research, formulate and evaluate (so he says). He’s pretty opinionated and direct but he isn’t ever too far off the mark.

We have the same parents and we both like beer and girls. Our personalities and approach to situations can be like chalk and cheese, but ultimately that creates exactly what we stand for, covering each other’s backs and filling in the gaps. Without him I probably wouldn’t have got back into biking after my accident. Without me he’d never know how to down a pint of beer hanging from your feet…