40 YEARS OF SHREDDING

Here’s one to make some of us feel old – Steve Peat has been riding for four decades! The DH racing legend and mainstay of British MTBing has had this milestone commemorated with a new custom lid from his helmet sponsors Troy Lee Designs.

Reminiscing on the early days, the big man from Sheffield told us: “I was about two-and-a-half when I first pedalled a bike. I had two older brothers who I used to chase around – hence the family portrait on the back of the new helmet. I distinctly remember my first decent wheelie. I got a few cranks in up a hill near my mum’s house and it was the best feeling ever!

“With racing, I was a bit of a late starter. I was 17 when I did my first XC race, and actually managed to win. I signed to GT Bicycles at the end of 1996 and got invited out to California by Mike King, my new teammate. Troy Lee sponsored some of the riders and I crossed paths with him a few times. He painted me a helmet for the ’97 season, and I remember the feeling when I received it. Even though I’d signed a biggish deal with GT, it was the Troy Lee helmet that made me feel like I’d finally made it. Haha! I’ve probably had 35-40 custom helmets in my 23 years with TLD.”

While we reckon winning three World Cup series and the 2009 World Champs has probably now eclipsed the triumph of that first custom lid, it’s good to know even the world’s best still get excited about new kit. Here’s to many more decades of shredding, Peaty!