At Activ, we want you to feel part of our world and we want you to get to know us a little better. So here’s the latest instalment of our Activ Heroes Series, featuring Liam from our Folkestone store.
Meet Liam
I’m Dover born and bred, and have been riding for 22 years. I’m in the Activ sales team but I’ve also recently qualified as a level two Cytech mechanic. I was fortunate to have been coached by the late Richard Wood, a stalwart of Velo Club Deal who did so much for the sport. I recently just got back on my bike as a member of VC Deal. I joined Activ in April 2022 after being introduced to the store by Richard. Coincidentally my now colleague Steve Hambling sold my parents my very first Trek. In brown!
Current Rides
My first ever bike was an Action Man bike. I’m now the proud owner of five!
- Trek Procaliber 9.8 with added invisFRAME protection
- Trek Stache frame build from 2021
- Trek Cronus Gary Fisher Collection
- Trek FX3 for getting about on
- Brompton fold-up bike to throw in the car and get out
I love the Stache build. The frame is great and it’s the bike I change things on and play with; it’s my own bespoke thing. A heavy bike with tyres so big they take a whole bottle of sealant!
Favourite ride
Betteshanger Country Park near Deal is a great place to ride. It was VC Deal members who created the MTB side of the country park.
Dream bike
I’ve got it in the Procaliber. I’ve upgraded the brakes to Magura SL8s. They first made brakes for motorbikes so they’re great for modulation and power and are so much more controllable
Most memorable ride
This was riding The Wall at Afan in the youth section of VC Deal for their annual group outing. We went up at dusk and came down in the dark. It was amazing.
Fun facts
You probably wouldn’t guess it but I’ve got a degree in prop making and special effects. I was considering a career backstage in the entertainment industry and had studied sound, lighting, set design and construction at college. I actually flew to Sydney and sailed round the world as stage crew on Queen Mary II and Queen Victoria.
When I’m not riding bikes…
I love gaming and have a very high spec PC with studio quality sound. It creates an epic immersive experience.
Where would you love to ride?
New Zealand looks amazing for riding. I visited once but didn’t try the trails that time. If I had, I don’t think I’d have ever left.
Bike Feature: The Procaliber 9.8
Who is it for?
It’s the racing machine (XC) if you don’t want full suspension. It’s equivalent to an F1 car. It’s so fast!
What makes it great?
IsoSpeed is an excellent feature for better comfort, which means you can ride for longer and feel less discomfort and fatigue. It’s a great climbing bike and is so efficient that every effort is rewarded. It comes with Bontrager RSL one-piece carbon handlebars which have “give” in the right places and are stiff when you need them to be.
The range
Trek Procaliber starts at the Procaliber 9.5, currently with 20% off at £1,540, going up to the Procaliber 9.8 from £3,199. We think the Procaliber 9.7 is a great pick for the price of £2,589, featuring carbon wheels and a carbon frame so it’s easy to upgrade. It’s the best of the bike at the right price
Come and say hello to Liam or check out Trek Procaliber at our Folkestone store.
