Our friends at TREK mentioned that they have a customer, or rather a member of their TREK family, in Johannesburg, with an amazing collection of TREK bicycles. My ears pricked up immediately. I love stories of people with a passion for two-wheeled vehicles, be they pedal or engine-driven. Ever since researching the TREK story, I have developed a deep appreciation for the brand. So it was that Bjorn and I rode through to Dainfern on a Friday morning to meet with Ian Gilley, the owner of the TREK bicycle collection.
I was in no way surprised by Ian’s appearance. He has the lean and ripped physique of a top cyclist or athlete, confirming that his collection of epic TREKs is certainly not just for show. Following him into his entrance hall, it was immediately apparent that TREK bicycles are not his only interest. Arrayed on the floor were an assortment of sports cars and supercars that would make any petrolhead drool. I won’t go into detail lest I go off at a tangent and detract from the subject of this story. Maybe they should be the subject of another tale, together with the immaculate Honda Mini Trail parked at the front door. Note to self: This man likes collecting epic stuff!
In the world of bicycles, Time Trial bicycles are, for me, the “Formula 1” equivalent, being built with total focus on speed, but not suitable for general consumption. A Racing bicycle, as you would see the guys riding in the peloton of a Tour de France, is the “supercar” of the bicycle world. The perfect blend of form and function, lightweight and dripping with tech, but also allowing extended time in the saddle. Built to worship at the Altar of Speed. The Madone is TREK’s player in this space. Derived from the 5000, 5500 and 5900 series, which Lance Armstrong used in his years of Tour de France dominance, it is the result of years of being forged in the crucible of competition at the highest level.
One of the things that makes Ian’s splendid collection of TREKs special is that he never endeavoured to “collect” a cool bunch of racing TREKs, but rather just kept all the bikes that he and his late dad rode over the years. The father and son history of Ian’s athletic journey resonates with the TREK story of co-founder Dick Burke and his son John, the current CEO of TREK. Ian, now 54 years old, grew up on the West Rand and, with the support of his dad, excelled at athletics, breaking age group records in the UK, as well as an age group World record, while competing under a pseudonym to disguise his South African heritage. He went on to study engineering, both Industrial and Mechanical, at WITS.
The passion for fast cars was born in motorsport with Ian competing in Karting and Group N. Ian’s next sporting success was in power lifting, which he enjoyed immensely and where he set a SA record in his weight class. He enjoyed cycling in high school but only revisited bicycles around 2000, riding a race in Knysna on a borrowed bike. The bug bit and has had its fangs in him ever since. He self-coached, using the renowned Carmichael training programme. He has raced several Argus Cycle Tours, as well as 94.7, with highly creditable results. An Argus best of 2h35min and a 2h42m at the 94.7. If you are even vaguely familiar with cycling, then you will appreciate how good those numbers are. 2008 saw him take to the dirt and ride the first of three ABSA Cape Epics, where a claim to fame was beating the SA cycling prodigy of that era, Burry Stander. 2012 saw Ian add a TREK Top Fuel Mountain bike to his stable.
He has also finished ‘The Munga’. If you don’t know what this is, let me fill you in. It is a 1000+ kilometre single-stage mountain or gravel bike race which crosses the Karoo during summer. Riders contend with excessive daytime temperatures and even really cold nighttime riding. As if that is not hard enough, headwinds are often hectic as well. To rank as a “finisher”, you need to complete the ride in 120 hours. There are 5 race villages for food and sleep along the way, as well as around ten water points.
Ian reckons that whilst he is not a particularly spiritual person, the Munga was a deeply spiritual experience where he experienced every emotion known to man and then some. Both physically and mentally sapping, the Munga is considered by many to be the toughest cycling challenge on the planet. Participants ride dirt tracks from Bloemfontein to Wellington in the Western Cape. This is a next-level achievement not even considered by most mortals. You will learn things about yourself during a Munga that you could not have dreamt of. Respect!
Entering Ian’s bicycle room is something of a sensory overload for a bicycle enthusiast. The walls are adorned with Trek Team jerseys as worn by Lance Armstrong on the various teams on which he rode, as well as our own Darryl Impeys jersey, which he wore on the last day of the Tour de France. Other bicycle helmets and memorabilia are displayed on shelves. The centre of the room contains a whole bunch of Trek racing bicycles ridden by Ian over the years, as well as his dad’s bike. Every bike is spotlessly clean and beautifully displayed. At the end of the lineup of Madone’s is Trek’s superb Supercaliber mountain bike. Pride of place is Trek’s latest weapon, the Emonda, the lightest bike which they build. This purchase was prompted by having decent control and fade-free braking ability on Alpine descents. After his first time out on the bike, he felt compelled to ride past the Trek store where he bought the bike to say that, after riding the bike, he felt that the purchase price was totally justified. Well, as the old saying goes, “What you pay is what you get”.
Chatting with Ian, his passion for the brand is palpable. He rides some European cycling tours when time allows and, as such, really uses his bikes for their intended purpose. He clearly has impeccable taste when it comes to fast wheeled objects, and his Trek collection bears witness to just that. Still single and obviously eligible, he says that despite the odd close call, Mrs Right has still not come his way. Listening to his story, I have to say I get it. Doing what he wants when he wants has resulted in an incredibly fulfilling and achievement-filled life. After all, when you are part of a cycling family like Trek, you will never be lonely. Ride on and ride strong, Ian, and thanks for sharing your inspirational Trek journey.
For more information on TREK in South Africa, visit: www.trekbikes.com
