Friday, March 29, 2024

James McCallum – on Fatherhood and a New Team

-

HomeInterviewsJames McCallum - on Fatherhood and a New Team
James McCallum
James McCallum.

It seems just like yesterday we were asking James McCallum if he’d ever consider turning pro – but that was back in 2006 after his second Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal in the scratch race.

The following year he did indeed turn professional for Plowman Craven and since has ridden for Endura, Rapha Condor; and for 2014 he joins new – and much talked about – NFTO.

Not For The Ordinary’ is an outdoor clothing company based in Hereford with ex-military man John Wood behind it.

Wood has numerous business interests, including a bike shop and his team already have their clothing and bikes – always the sign of a good set up.

We spoke to ‘Jamesy’ soon after the birth of Penelope, the new Miss McCallum was four days early but weighed in at a healthy three kilos.

Our first question had to concern her arrival.

Congratulations; are you enjoying being a dad, James?

“Yeah, and there’s a hidden advantage – we’ve been so busy with her that I keep forgetting to eat!”

How did you get the ride with NFTO?

“Dean Downing spoke to me earlier in the year about it – initially it was going to be just him and I chaperoning younger riders, which is a role I’m familiar with from Rapha.

“But the man behind things, John Wood wants to do it right and now we have Adam Blythe, both the Downing brothers, Sam Harrison, Jon Mould and James Williams.

“I have a meeting in Hereford next week to get to know everyone – it’s going to be cool having Sean Yates as DS. It’s a very strong team but names on a bit of paper are one thing, I’ll be happier when we start racing and get some results.

“I’ll be playing a selfless team roll with us having those big names but I’m sure I’ll have my opportunities, too.”

What does the programme look like?

“Whilst we’ll support UK races like the Tour Series we hope to ride events like the Tour of Taiwan, the Herald Sun Tour in Australia and races in the US.”

The Tour Series is a big deal in the UK but I believe it’s a costly enterprise?

“I think it’s a grand per round; so to ride the series you’re looking at 20 grand out of your budget with travel and accommodation.

“I’m not sure what the UK scene will be like in 2014 – Rapha will be less of a development team, Madison are there and Sigma despite IG pulling out but I’m not sure about Node 4.”

How’s the team hardware coming along?

“We already have our road bikes – Swift carbon – and clothing, John Wood doesn’t mess around, he decides what he wants and goes out and gets it.

“I may have to ride an unbranded track machine initially but track frames are currently being developed by Swift.”

James McCallum
James’ steed for 2014, a very smart looking Swift.

When’s the first training camp?

“I was due to go to our camp in Majorca from 23/11 to 7/12 but with having the baby that’s not possible.

“Scottish Cycling has a camp from the 5th to 15th December with Andy Fenn, David Millar, Evan Oliphant as well as the MTB guys – so I’ll be attending that.”

How was 2013 for you?

“Not the best; albeit we were second in the Tour Series.

“I didn’t have much personal success but fulfilled my roll as a team player and mentored the young guys.

“It was my driest year for results in a long time but I had a lot of bad luck – crashes, illness and a bad ear infection.”

James McCallum
James is at home on the road or track.

The Games?

“I want to ride road and track – points, scratch and maybe team pursuit.

“That’s something we’ve been working on with Gary Coltman – me, Evan, Silas Goldsworthy, Michael Nicholson and perhaps Ben Peacock.

“To qualify you need a top five in a British championship – which Michael and I achieved with fourth in the British Madison Championship.

“There’ll also be a timed standard to achieve which will involve a short distance sprint effort and an endurance distance to be ridden back to back.

“These Games will be my fourth (at VeloVeritas we reckon this will make James our most capped Games rider?) and I they’ll be very hotly contested.

“Not only do you have the Aussies, New Zealanders and Canadians; you have four home nations to contend with; England, Isle of Man, Ireland and Wales – and are all strong.

“NFTO have me for Scotland, Sam Harrison for England and Jon Mould for Wales; we should all be there which is good publicity for the sponsor.”

2014 will be your eighth as a pro?

“Yes, PCA, Endura, Rapha-Condor and now NFTO.

“It’s early days yet but the signs are all good – there’s a great level of support and to have all the team kit and bikes for November speaks for itself.

“We have great sponsors; Castelli, Bontrager, Kask, Oakley – no half measures.”

Glasgow track, is it getting faster as the boards dry?

“If they’d switch the air conditioning off then maybe I’d be able to tell you – it feels like you’re riding into a constant headwind!

“It’s hard to say without being in competition where it’s warmer – it’s certainly a trickier track to ride than Manchester, you have to think about your line all the time. It’s made a massive difference with SC training sessions twice a week and the track league – albeit the squad members are restricted to 91.8” gears.

“I think the way the league is structured is better now with more distance races and not so much sitting about between events – it makes people learn how to go fast.

“There’s a Revolution meet coming up and that’ll be good, very competitive – they’re now UCI World Cup selection races so it’s all for real with the World Cups being the qualifiers for the Worlds.”

James McCallum
The Commonwealth Games next year in his home city of Glasgow are a major objective for James.

Life after racing?

“My contract is for one year but I’m thinking now about the side step into another area of cycling – I’ve done a lot of work with kids and I love to help people grow within the sport.

“I think I’ve made myself employable within the sport; but not as a DS, that way you spend even more time on the road.

“But for the moment I’m going to concentrate on being an athlete and squeeze the most out of it.”

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

John Watson – Racing a Great (Five Year) Career in the ’60’s

John Watson started racing at 18 years-of-age in 1966, his first race was a ‘25’ which he won with a 1:00. By the following year he was National ‘100’ Champion; in 1968 he went to the Mexico Olympics; in 1969 he set a 12 hour record which stood for a decade; 1970 saw him set a ‘50’ record which sliced nearly four minutes of the previous fastest time for the distance and lasted for 13 years, win the BBAR, get fourth place in the prestigious GP de France time trial and get offered a place with ACBB.

James McCallum – Winner of the David Bell Memorial 2011

Rapha Condor Sharp's James McCallum has been at it again; winning, that is-the 46th edition of the Davie Bell Memorial, this time. VeloVeritas unfortunately couldn't make it down to one of our favourite races, but we were on the phone to 'Jamesy' and organiser Chris Johnson, soon after the dust had settled.

Peter Jacques – I Did Everything I Wanted To

Peter Jacques used to be the track judges nitemare; but he's mellowed with age and is now easing open - rather than breaking down - the door on a management and promotion career. We heard there were a few commissaires went for a celebratory beer when you quit, Pete?

Neil Fachie – “I always set myself targets”

We continue our series of interviews with Scotland’s selections for the 2022 Commonwealth Games with a man who needs little introduction – Commonwealth, World and Olympic Para Tandem Champion, Neil Fachie.

At Random

David Griffiths – Scottish Hill Climb Champion 2016

Unfortunately, VeloVeritas editor, Martin and I got out priorities wrong and instead of freezing on Purrinden for the Scottish Hill Climb Champs we were in warmer climes. But fear not, we tracked down the new champion, David Griffiths (Pro Vision) and here's what he had to say...

A Hard “Easy” Day: TdF Stage 10 (breakaway)

A Hard "Easy" Day. Yesterday was always going to be the day that the breakaway succeeded. The profile of the course and the stages on the days either side of it meant that neither the GC nor the sprinter teams would be interested. It wasn’t hard enough to separate the GC lads, but wasn’t easy enough for the sprinters to make it to the finish with the main bunch.

George Atkins – Raleigh’s Winner of the Davie Campbell Road Race 2014

A familiar name cropped up to win the recent David Campbell Memorial Race in Fife, run on a tough course over the Cults Hills – that of George Atkins. Atkins spent time living and racing in Scotland a year or two ago and this year he’s stepped up from the 100% ME amateur squad to ride as a pro with the Raleigh.

The VV View – Laura Trott and an Olympi-rant!

It's all clear to me now, Lady Laura explained it: "The Worlds are irrelevant, all that matters are The Olympics." Right! So those riders who win the world individual pursuit championships and world kilometre title are just wasting their time, horsing around? I'm glad we've clarified that - and there was me hero worshipping Hughie Porter for 45 years for nothing ...