• First bike: My first "proper" bike was a Giant something or other. Christmas 1993. My Dad had bought a Marin earlier that year and as soon as I saw it I knew I needed a mountain bike. It was Giant by name and giant by nature – I still think it is the largest bike I've ever ridden. I'd "grow into it" apparently. But, it had purple lightning on the frame and it was my ticket to adventure. I rode that thing in Scotland, France, Wales, the Lakes, Dales, Peak District, North York Moors and along every bridleway within pedalling distance of my home in Halifax.
• Current bike: Er, I'm a serial collector to the extent that we now have to maintain a one-in-one out policy. Over the last few years, the bikes that I've actually ridden (rather than the ones that stay buried at the back of the cellar "just in case") are a Cascade and SolarisMAX (first gen). I've also got an early prototype Cotic Solaris that was my late wife, Jenn's. It doesn't fit me very well, but has an enormous amount of sentimental value. This year I needed a new hard hitting trail bike, and the Jeht was the first that came to mind.
• Favourite trail: There are so many. I try to eschew favourites when it comes to everything. I don't have a favourite colour or band or food. Variety is my favourite. There are some trails that are truly special though. Maybe one particular trail from Stone King Rally last year... endless, eyes wide open, laughing like a madman, whooping like an American, breathless flow. Or the descent down to Achnashellach in Torridon is pretty special. Especially when ridden under a blazing early-spring day. Then there are the snippets of trail - a corner or single rock that bring so much joy - bite size pieces in my local woods.
• Dream trail: It would start at a summit. And end at the sea. Ridgeline rocky tech... hard earned flow. Rideable (by me... just about). Into swooping switchbacks. Into high-speed alpine meadow singletrack – brightly coloured Mint Sauce flowers blurring into a magic eye picture as you pump through rolling flow... And plummet into tightly packed woodland. Fall line/catch berm/repeat... all the way to the beach. Where there happens to be a cold beer in your hip pack and some good friends to share it with.
• Best mtb invention in the last 10 years: Everything I think of, I realise is now well over 10 years old now. In terms of true innovation, I'm not sure if there has been one thing that has blown my mind. I like that though. It feels like mountain biking is reaching a new level of maturity. For me, the best things have been personal discoveries - and again relatively small: bikes that fit me properly, running a water bottle and hip pack instead of a riding pack where possible, longer drop droppers.
• Pick two cyclists from history to be your parents: I'm immensely fortunate to have met and spent time with so many cyclists that I look up to and respect, and are all round good people. First of all though, shout out to one cyclist who was my parent – my dad indulged my passion for riding and was always up for an adventure somewhere new. My first ever mountain biking hero was Jason McRoy - I wore out a VHS copy of Dirt and had his posters plastered over my bedroom walls. I'm not sure if I can imagine him as a parent figure though. I'll forever see him as a the young man he was when he died. I reckon Beryl Burton would be pretty inspirational; a Yorkshirewoman, World Champion and holder of the British 12 hour time trial record for a while - beating the then mens record in the process.
• If you could be anyone for a day who would it be: Part of me wants to say someone with a load of influence so I can change the world... but no matter their influence, no one changes the world in one day. Then I was thinking someone with a level of skill that I'll never have. Just to experience it. Loic Bruni... but would I then forever feel even slower than I really am? I don't need to be anyone else for a day... I just need to remember how fortunate I am already. And that I can make my modest aspirations happen if I work for them.
• If you could do another job for a day what would it be: I'm very lucky in that I love my job and I'm not sure I'd swap it. I reckon I could cope with being a whisky taster at one of the Islay distilleries though. Or a good enough poet to make a living out of it.
• What would be the title of your autobiography: Lost is found.
• One thing people probably won't know about you: I'm mostly an open book. Seeing as it's you and I know you'll keep it strictly hush-hush... despite being a proud "Yorkshireman", I was actually born across the border, in Preston. I only moved to Yorkshire when I was four. My life has all been a lie...

@24tom