Josh Bryceland: Jack The Lad on Bikes, Podiums & Pressure

December 5th, 2010

Josh Bryceland is spearheading the new crop of talented, fast and confident downhill racers coming from the UK. A former junior world champion and two time junior world cup champion, and now entering his third year in seniors, Josh is well and truly in the pressure cooker of world cup downhill racing.

With what could be described as a less than favourable season behind him, and with the potential everyone knows he has to be a podium contender, all eyes will be on Josh when the 2011 season kicks off.
But Josh is no stranger to the media, at only 20 years old he has spent the last three years on one of the most high profile teams on the circuit, the Santa Cruz Syndicate. As the younger rider on the team, Josh has always been under the watchful eyes of his more senior team mates and arguably the most famous rider currently competing, Steve Peat.

It could be said Josh’s rise to the world of professional racing was to a degree the result of his association with Steve, but lets not forget you don’t get to have such an association on merit alone. Josh is fast, really fast, and almost effortless in his style on a bike.

A likeable and always animated character, Josh stands out from his peers in everything he does on and off the bike. But with what could be a crucial season ahead of him, he needs to step things up and prove to himself, and indeed his boss back in California, that he has the vital ingredients to be one of the fastest downhill mountain bike racers in the world.

Interview: Olly Forster

Photography: Jacob Gibbins & Kathy Sesslar

Josh Bryceland Interview.

So, Josh, tell us about growing up in Poynton, its hardly the Alps. How did you get involved with mountain bikes?

Ha-ha, tell me about it! To be fair though the peak district has some mega riding in it and I think the fact it Isn’t 6+ minute DH tracks makes you really get the most out of the short sections you ride!

You had a pretty meteoric rise through the junior ranks, ultimately winning the world cup overall twice and then the world champs title. How did you feel going into 2009 and your first year in seniors?

Yeah I just didn’t want to set my sights too high but I was really happy with my year! After a poor start I ended up getting 4 top tens which was 50% of the races! I learnt a lot that year and didn’t crash in one event which for me was a big thing.

2009 was a pretty good year for you, 13th overall, but 2010 seemed less favourable, especially crashing at Leogang and Champery. How would you sum up your 2010 season and what are you taking with you into 2011?

Yeah this season was a bit crazy, it just seemed to go so fast and before I knew it half the season had gone, and not exactly to plan. I have had a lot of good luck in my career so far though and its all part of it dealing with bad races so I’m just trying to take all the lessons I learned into next year with a positive attitude. It was mainly just dealing with the pressure of a previous bad result building up each time but I finally broke the bad streak in Val di Sole and it was a huge weight off my shoulders!

Lets talk about the Santa Cruz Syndicate, its no ordinary mountain bike race team. Your boss is a former pro skateboarder, your team manager, a former downhill pro and you’ve got two of the most successful downhill racers ever as your team mates. Pretty dialled team, how does it feel to be around all these influential and successful people?

It seems to work so well I don’t know. Like rob is a driven dude and he totally understands our needs and is always keen to develop the bike and that as for Sessy its the same, she will do everything within her power to help us so its mint! As for Greg and Steve, I’m just their apprentice so I take all the shit off them but they are two amazing individuals and both very different really!

Every year the Syndicate have some of the best looking bikes on the race circuit, awesome colours and graphics and now carbon. Since you’ve been on the Syndicate, which has been your favourite looking bike and is carbon the future for downhill bikes?

I think our ‘Worlds’ bikes the year Steve won looked the dog’s bollocks! I’ve kept mine just because it reminds me of what a wicked race that was! Steve killed it and I was buzzing just to experience that kind of atmosphere it was something else. Got off topic there but the blue and silver worlds bike in 2009 is my answer!

I’ve read in other interviews that you always wanted to be a pro biker when you were a kid. How does it feel now, years later, being a professional downhill biker? Racing your bike for a living and traveling the world. Is it pretty surreal or do you think it’s just been some kind of destiny you’ve worked hard to achieve?

A bit of both really like, I’ve definitely worked hard, shit I’ve over-trained too many times just being desperately hungry to achieve a goal but, also it seemed to all fall into place as I’ve gone along! Without my parents though and Steve it would have been an awful lot harder they have supported me so well I could never repay my dad the hours he has put in are incredible!

A new and unmistakable face in the Santa Cruz pits last year was the French wild man, Cedric Gracia. What was it like having Cedric around and were there any shenanigans you can tell us about?

Cedric is brilliant! I’m always trying to lighten the mood with Steve and Greg but when CG is around its so much fun you can be anywhere and he will do something outrageous and just crease us all up

Okay, lets talk about your nick names, ‘Miami Bryce’ and now ‘Rat Boy’, where did these come from and who’s to blame?

For the ‘Miami Bryce’ it was Nick Bayliss (Royal Racing) just put it as a butt patch once and it stuck but I think ‘Ratboy’ was a mixture of Sam Dale and Steve, the buggers but, I love having a nick name it makes me laugh and I think other enjoy calling me Ratboy as well.

I’ve noticed and indeed I’m sure I’m not the only one that you seem to favour an MX helmet over a more specific MTB helmet, do you just prefer the fit and style or are just after all the protection you can get?

Yeah man well I have had a lot of concussions in my time probably too many, so I like a bit of extra protection because sometimes I have a tendency to bounce my noggin off the floor

You were on the Nike 6.0 team for a few years, a dream sponsor to many, how did that come about and what happened with their involvement in mountain biking? One minute they were involved with a good group of riders on their roster and then they just seemed to have lost interest and vanished. What happened there?

Yeah it was a shame to see them leave but they also were really great for me, they gave me budget from when I first rode for them to get out to Europe and do races I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do. I felt I was just jumping on the bandwagon a bit but at the end of the day they really helped me so even now I appreciate what they did for me.

2009 was your first year with your own mechanic, how did you and Martyn Hoyle hook up and did you notice the difference having someone to focus solely on your bikes? I know Martyn’s a real bike nut and must’ve been good having someone like that around.

Yeah, well actually before then my dad did all my mechanic work and he never let me down! Through my junior years it was ‘big bryce’ behind the scenes prepping the rig. Martyn’s great we get along really well and we have had some good times together!

You’ve been travelling on the World Cup circuit for a few years now, where has been the most memorable place you’ve visited?

I love Val di Sole. Had some great results there and there is a cool feel to the little town! Its only tiny on the side of a mountain in this gorgeous valley I could deffo spend some time there out of racing!

Away from bicycles you have a history on MX bikes, but now Motorcycle Trials seems to be the next big thing in two wheeled cross training for downhill racers. Can you tell us where this all started and is it just fun and a bit different from the usual MX cross training everyone does in the off-season?

Yeah well, I’ve done trials for years also! My dad is just a two-wheel fanatic and he’s always given me a chance at everything he does, which is mega, so I’ve just gone with it! I think anything two wheels just rounds off all your skills perfectly so you can be ready for any situation! It’s a right bloody laugh as well.

Cars seem to be another hobby of yours. What 4-wheeled machines are you currently playing with and what have you got your eyes on?

Well I got a bit giddy on EBay the other week and ended up buying a Toyota Corolla AE86, all tricked out with a roll cage and stuff! Picking it up this Friday, cant bloody wait so for now I just have that and my tranny van! Going sideways in 4 wheels is almost as good a riding push bikes, but you can do it in warmth when its dark and raining so it is a good alternative buzz for me!

Away from bikes and training what else does Josh Bryceland do in the off-season? Is it pretty normal back at home and what do you do to relax?

Hmm I struggle to relax really if I’m honest, I’m always doing something mainly just hanging with friends or in the local trying my luck!

What are your thoughts on the UK scene at the moment? British riders are getting increasingly dominant on the world stage, where do you think it will be in a few years?

Tough question really, I’m not sure hopefully it will just keep progressing at the same rate and fresh talent will keep coming through!

Winter is well and truly here, are you staying in the UK for the winter or are you jetting off anywhere nice for some fair weather training? Do you struggle finding the motivation to train during the winter?

Its well hard when its snowing and that, but this year I’m going to California for December, then planning to go to Malaga/Switchbacks in Spain for Jan and Feb!

Its well known you have a good friendship with Steve Peat, both professionally and socially, what has it been like having someone like Steve around?

Been awesome, he’s such a good mentor for me brimming with good advice! Just don’t let him near a pub…

How did you feel when you saw Steve finally get the title at Canberra in 2009 and did you think ‘this could be me one day’?

Over the moon, it is proper emotional! I hope it will be!

What are your plans and goals for 2011?

Really excited for next year, got a few different things lined up and you will see a way more focussed and ready for action RATBOY at all world cups and nationals! It’s going to be a ball I can’t wait. Plus I think Rob R has a few things up his sleeve to!

Were right behind you Josh and we’ll be keeping up with you on your Factory Jackson Blog. So the obligatory interview shout outs.

Good job on the interview mate, some really good questions in there! Big thank you to Santa Cruz, Monster Energy, Smith Optics, Burgtec, MRP, Switchbacks-dh and Royal Racing!