Anna Beck aka AB is an all round amazing mountain biker and mother to a gorgeous girl Elva. AB works causally for us here in the shop, on top of running a small business – RLC Sport with partner and fab husband Aido. Plus add in to the mix her load of training/racing at an elite level and on top of studying to become a Paramedic, this is one extremely positive motivated and all round inspiring woman.

Congratulations on competing at the nationals just held last weekend at Mt Stromolo, Canberra. This was Anna’s first serious step back into elite XC racing. Finishing in the top ten (9th placing) is a tremendous effort, watch out ladies, this is one determined rider.

FIVE FAST QUESTIONS….

1. How long have you been in the bicycle/retail industry?

Way too long! Before I even rode bikes, I just commuted to Sydney uni where I was completing my first degree. I joined the BikeSoc (Bike Society) and met a few people and one of them hooked me up with a sales job at the local bike shop, Inner City Cycles. From there, I eventually I moved from the grungy inner west to the northern beaches and just hung out and studied for a while before I was offered a job at King of the Mountain Cyclery, or KOM, in Neutral Bay. It was the golden era of bike shops, and KOM was the gucci’est of the elite. I worked there until I got a ‘real’ job post-uni at a media sales compant. That was short lived as my then fiancee had accepted a job in Brisbane, and the rest, they say, is history.

2. Commute to work – bike and route?

I generally cruise to work on my race bike (MTB) on the bike path as road bikes on bike path is a bit scary with people salmoning all over the place at peak hour! I use the Kedron Brook and Ithaca Bike path and then sometimes shred some trails and blue nurses en route.

3. Favorite or most funny or memorable Epic shop moment?

Flooding? Picking tiny fish out of the post-flood detritus perhaps, or maybe just working through one of Brisbane’s numerous summer storms. It’s a good vantage point being inside with the huge glass windows.

4. Scariest/craziest thing a customer has asked you to do or seen in the shop?

They’re all crazy I guess (just joking). We have people coming in measuring chainstay length on a entry level commuter, and on the other end of the scale the occasional customer that will just buy a very expensive bike on a whim.

5. What is the thing that your addicted to most about the bicycle or related item?

Nothing. I just like riding! I try to get excited about ‘bling’, but really it all comes down to loving the ride.