Ashley Hayat

Name: Ashley 'the Vegeterian Beefcake' Hayat

Riding Discipline (or lack of): MTB Enduro, XC, little bit of road, the occasional ergo

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 the pants of Jason English in the 24hour Solo World Champs - chance of success = slim to none. The Long term goal would have to be the Crododile Trophy & a Solo 24hr Victory.

Favourite Bike: Specialized Epic 2010 - it is so black, I don't think I'll ever go back.

Years Racing: 10. Started as a tri-athlete (cough) but couldn't swim so I got into road racing and now MTBing. It looks like cyclocross will be the next big thing but I don't know if I'm cool enough to get involved.

 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. Then racing, just for the fun of it. Then riding overseas for the thrill of packing my bike and trying to avoid excess baggage charges.

Have you suffered any serious injuries cycling? Describe what and how: Until the 2009 Tour de Timor nothing more than bruises and scrapes (I obviously know how to nail those landings!). I arrived back from Timor with a fractured neck of femur (undiagnosed for 3 weeks) which put me on the couch for 3 months. I was a little bit grumpy - sorry housemates!

Describe your greatest cycling achievement to date: 2009 24hour Solo Nationals - 6th place. St Kilda Cycling Club Criterium and Road Champion. 2nd Place Solo Gravity 12hour 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: Anything long enough to warrant the inclusion of cinnamon donuts in the feed zone - mmmmmmmm.