I would like to share a quick summary of my cycling experience so far. I started racing in Sydney during 1974 at the age of 4 on the Merrylands velodrome. At that age we were known as mini midgets.  My father and mother would drive me to all the carnivals around Sydney and NSW. I believe racing on the track is essential for anyone wanting to improve their skills and tactics. I didn’t just race on the track though; my first Australian title win was for the road team time trial as a juvenile. I went on to win 9 Australian titles in total. Along the way I represented Australia in 2 junior world titles and an Oceania games as well.

Stephen McGlede and the AIS Track Squad (Stephen standing on left hand side)

As my last year as a junior was nearly over, I received a telephone call from Charlie Walsh (National coach), inviting me to come to Adelaide and train with the AIS track team. I responded, saying I was too busy, as I had just started an apprenticeship as a plumber, and declined. I was with my coach Trevor Masterson at work later that week, and mentioned the call from Charlie, telling him I had turned down his offer. As this was well before mobile phones, he got me in the car straight away and drove me to the closest phone booth to call him back and to say I would be coming. 

1988 Seoul Summer Olympics

Within 10 months I was lining up at the Seoul Olympics in the team’s pursuit and in our first round we beat the world and Olympic record. Later that day the USSR team just beat our time. We went on to win the bronze medal with Russia beating the East Germans for the gold.

The next 4 years were very hectic with lots of time spent in Europe and the USA. During those years I won a World Championship in the 50km Point Score, and also a Silver the following year. Also, I was a member of the team pursuit which got a 2nd, 3rd and 4th at the World Championships.

Leading into the Barcelona Olympics our form was unbelievably good. We broke records during the heats, and I lapped the field in the points score qualifier. Regardless of these results, I only came away with a silver medal in the team’s pursuit, which at the time was disappointing. 

During those years leading into Barcelona I had many successes on the road in Europe. Places and wins in international tours and one day races such as: 

- Baltic Sea Race

- Baby Giro

- Giro Della Regioni 

- Settimana Bergamasca 

- Franco Belge 

- Olympia’s Tour 

- Giro d’Campania 

- Tour of Normandy 

Just to name a few!

The Australian track team spent 6 months racing in Europe each year with our base in Buttgen Germany. After the 1992 Olympics I had a year off and took up a position as the assistant coach for the AIS track squad. I had a few races in Adelaide, and also did some Madison races with David Solari and was sponsored by Niño Solari (RIP) and Colnago. In 1994 I took a trip with the Jayco team to race in the USA and Canada. After this campaign I decided I’d had enough and retired from professional cycling.

In 2000 I was helping Graham Seers in Port Macquarie and he got me enthusiastic about bikes again. I started riding again in 2000. But I moved back to South Australia and the riding stopped again.

From 2000-2014 I hadn’t touched a bike until I met Frank and Rocky in Sydney during one of their bike launches for Colnago. Frank was very adamant that I needed to ride again and later that week he sent me a bike. At first, I was just going for little rides once a week, this was just the push I needed. These rides slowly got longer and more frequent. I actually started to enjoy my riding at this time, I started to lose weight, my body and mind were showing signs of the years when I was younger.

I contacted Frank and told him I was thinking of racing and that I needed a racing bike. That’s when we decided that an Argon 18 would be a great bike for me as I needed a little more comfort, So the Krypton equipped with Fulcrum Racing Quattro Carbon wheelset which are just an amazing set of wheels Were delivered by Bikebug and another journey started.

I was training very hard this year for the Berri race in the Riverland of SA And got a decent mark in the handicap which included the Australian Girls squad. They were also riding Argon 18s. But unfortunately, with 4kms to the finish, I got caught up in a crash with nowhere to go except over the handlebars. That left me with a couple of busted ribs and an injured shoulder. With winter around the corner I took a couple of months off. 

This spring I have raced the South Australian super series with the Chesser Chemical /PV podiatry team. We finished second in the team’s classification and second in the overall standings. I am aiming to race this summer’s races in SA and hoping that I can have a good result in Berri and Mount Gambier classics too. I am also in training for the Revolve24 in March at the Tailem Bend Motorsport Park.

Please let me take this opportunity to thank Frank, Rocky and Bikebug for their help in getting me back into this wonderful sport that I and many others love. It’s great to have such a fantastic Australian business that us cyclists can get the best deals worldwide on our bike gear. 

Yours in cycling,

Stephen Mcglede.