My Steve Peat Story – A nod to the champ!
Intro
Sunday the 4th of September 2016 saw downhill mountain bike racer Steve Peat competed in his final World cup race. This man has inspired generations of budding downhillers, myself included. I’m about the same age give or take a few years and have been into the sport during the same period as Steve has been racing. This got me thinking and looking at photos I was fortunate enough to take of Steve during my time as a race photographer. I thought I’d try and put my spin on how the peoples champion certainly made an impression on my life.
Back in the day
The first time I saw Steve race was way back in 97-98 ( I think ). At this point in time we would’ve both been in our 20’s. Steve was a face in the mags racing downhill for GT. Me I was buying the mags and riding my GT RTS 3 mountain bike in town performing BMX type tricks, riding down steps, jumping off them and occasionally hitting the local dirt jumps.
Let’s go racing – Or maybe not…
Apart from what I had seen in the mags I didn’t have a clue about downhill mountain bike racing but it looked awesome. Getting a bit fed up with riding just street and thinking I’m a good rider, without giving it any thought or preparation I decided to enter a nearby race. The race was at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
Come the day of the race, as well as having no body protection, apart from a white bullet lid (Peak less full-face) I hadn’t practiced and thought I could just rock up and race a track without seeing it. I was wrong, and thankfully I got a puncture on the push up and couldn’t race. Thinking back this was a blessing in disguise, I think I would’ve honestly really hurt myself that day.
Leave it to the Pro’s
Not racing allowed me chill, watch the race, look at the track and actually take in what was happening here. I was totally shocked and blown away how quick these top riders were. Peat and co were just on another level to what I could possibly image from looking at photos in magazines.
It’s Steve Peat
Between racing I wandered down to the pits to have a look around, being a VW fan I spotted an old type 2 camper van, I went to check it out and on approaching I noticed it was Steve Peat. This dude was one cool kid, he kind of had the surfer look going on but instead of a surfboard strapped to the back he had a mountain bike. You could tell this was a way of life for this guy, It sure looked free, fast and fun. I never did approach him but you kinda knew this dude would be happy to say hi. I said to myself he’s probably in some sort of race mode and best not to disturb.
I want to race downhill mountain bikes, travel to races and sleep in a van!
Coming away from the race I knew I wanted a slice of this, I wanted to race downhill mountain bikes, travel to races and sleep in a van. From here on in I was buying all the mags, videos and watching Eurosport when a ever a mate could record it for me ( We are now so blessed to have the internet and Redbull TV ). My riding style also changed from riding around town to scoping local hills to start practicing on, I was hooked. I wasn’t the only one and along the way I gained many friends just like me who had found this “downhill bug”. We called ourselves “The Repack Racers” This was a nod to Charley Kelly and gang the pioneers of downhill bicycle racing. Our crew all went on to race at a pretty dam good level. I have to slip in a little fact that Steve and I have both beaten those Atherton brothers ( Cough, cough… they were about 15 and I was about 30 but a win is a win… ).
The fan and the photographer
From racing another interest grew for me and that was race photography, this ended up taking me all across the UK and to some amazing parts of Europe watching and photographing the fastest downhill bike racers in the world.
During my time as a “pap” I got lots of riders to sign my photos. The first signature I got early days went straight into a frame and on my wall. This was a photo of Steve Peat at Ae Forest when he rode for Orange.
Going the Distance
Hanging trackside you end up meeting the riders and the surrounding crew that make it all happen. Pretty much all were approachable and happy to chat. I always remember a few going that extra distance with their fans, Steve was always one of those guys, nothing was a problem for his fans and the massive crowds that would gather around him would confirm this.
Steve Peat the champion
Fort William 2008 was the last time I watched Steve race in the flesh. But thanks to modern technology we can now keep up to date and watch live downhill in full HD from the comfort of our chairs. Watching Steve’s progression over the years from those early days to rising to the top of his game has been an amazing journey. Along the way Steve bagged himself 17 World cup wins, 52 World cup podiums and we can all remember the roller coaster ride trying to take the World Champion title, something he did achieve in Canberra, Australia in 2009
Time at the bar…
It’s a fact of life we get older and we get slower, downhill racers have a shelf life too. The last 2 sessions we have seen Steve drop back from the insane level you need to be at to get those top spots, but let’s not forget he was still fast enough to race at World cup level.
As a fan of Steve, you understood Steve knew his place and the young guns are now dominating but he carried on, why? Because he could and he enjoyed it! More so we his fans enjoyed it. Steve Peat is Steve Peat the man they call the sheffield steel! He is Downhill mountain bike racing!
The future
But as Steve now gracefully bows out of the World cup race circuit he leaves behind years of experience to riders like Josh Bryceland whom he mentored while riding for the Santa Cruz Syndicate alongside team mate Greg Minnaar. I also wouldn’t be surprised if we see the Peat surname pop up again in a few years time, Steve is married to Adele Croxon who in her own right is a World class mountain bike and BMX racer. They have children…
Outro
When all is said and done the time is right for Steve to hang up those world cup clogs for new chapters to begin. I look forward to these and I raise my glass to celebrate Steve’s amazing carrier, influence and making downhill racing what it is today.
Cheeeeeeeers Peaty!
Words & Photos: David Lane
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