Mat Shotbolt
My passion for cycling stems from my fathers love of the bicycle and is something which has been passed down from generation to generation. From the very start, he was an active member in several prominent London clubs, albeit riding very different machines to what I know and love today.
Bikes and frames with varying levels of completion would litter the sheds at home and old biscuit tins full of Campag and Suntour filled the shelves. One classic example was his Hobbs blue riband frame which, having been sprayed some 30 years ago, was finally built in 2009.
As a youngster I was into mountain biking in all of its different forms.
Most of my sixth form study periods would be spent at the local forest practising and honing my skills! It was only once I had started at LifecycleUk that Rob convinced me to jump on a road bike.
Since then, road riding has become my main form of cycling and my daily commute is an absolute blessing, allowing me valuable time on the bike and on a good day gives me time to enjoy the sun and fresh air.
I still love cross country racing and enjoy a trip further afield for some more challenging offroad terrain whenever possible. I enjoy a diverse mix of cycling including Road riding and racing, cross country, Time trialling and the occasional hill climb, velodrome visit and criterium race.
My involvement in the cycling industry started on a year out in Australia where i got a job working as a mechanic in one of Brisbanes busiest bike shops. My love of fettling and fine tuning saw me progress onto bigger and better things moving on to a second, larger shop soon after. It was when I returned at the beginning of 2005 that a chance encounter brought me into lifecycleUk and it began…
I have now been with the shop 6 years and in that time i’ve gained qualifications up to the highest level in the industry including Cytech level 1, 2 and 3. I am also DT Swiss certified wheel builder. I enjoy everything about working here, getting to play with the new and shiny and the atmosphere that a proper bike just seems to have.
As a fully signed up member of the Shotbolt family, I also have a growing collection of frames, wheels, parts and components, lining the attic!
