Ashley Hayat
Name: Ashley 'the Vegeterian Beefcake' Hayat
Riding Discipline (or lack of): MTB XC and Enduro, little bit of road
Favourite Riding spot: Rotorua, NZ (thanks to its incredible collection of amazing, well maintained, flowing, groomed trails from heaven).
Short and long term goals: In the short term - to beat Chris Jongewaard...at anything...perhaps a yoga pose-off. The Long term goal would have to be the Crododile Trophy & a Solo 24hr Victory.
Favourite Bike: Specialized Stumjumper Carbon Hardtail - it would be the perfect bike, if only it had Zertz!
Years Racing: 7. Started as a tri-athlete (cough) but couldn't swim so I got into road and have gradually made the transition to a full-blown MTB and enduro racer.
When did you begin cycling and why?: As a kid, just to get around, on a road bike that was miles too big. Then as I grew up a lot of commuting to get just about everywhere (still no car) and then racing (which is now the only reason that I would comtemplate getting a car).
Have you suffered any serious injuries cycling? Describe what and how: Nothing more than bruises and scrapes (I obviously know how to land) but I've had some spectacular encounters with cars, dirt jumps and water bars. The transition to Mountain biking has meant that I have traded the asphalt scrapes for those inflicted by rocks and bushes.
Describe your greatest cycling achievement to date: St Kilda Criterium and Road Champion. 2nd Place Gravity 12 hour 2006.
Describe your worst race or cycling experience: 14 hours in Taiwan riding through a typhoon with a bee sting (or something) in my quad, descending wet mountain roads by moonlight and being completely lost...Actually I think that was my best cycling experience. From a racing perspective: Riding ahead of the bunch in the Top End Tour, missing a u-turn and riding 20km in the wrong direction before realising.
Describe your favourite race: I love the You Yangs or Stromlo - anything with lots of technical climbs and descents. I also loved Wildside back in 2006 and am keen to have another crack.
