麻豆约拍

Titch Cormack and the team are back with more Speedshop adventures. Turning broken bikes into beautiful bespoke machines to take on incredible life-affirming challenges, from Saharan sands to Icelandic snow.

We caught up with Titch to find out more about the man behind the machines.

What would be your dream bike?

Titch: That Really depends what for, however I’d love to own Steve McQueen’s 1970 Husqvarna 400 CR motocross bike or McQueen’s 1963 Triumph T120 Desert Sled and of course I’d have to race them!

You are an Ex-Special Forces Operator what skills have you brought with you to your SpeedShop?

Titch: Artist flare, which may surprise many. As an Operator you're required to think outside the box to achieve your aim. An operations success may depend on bringing something new and unexpected to the battlefield which requires a vivid imagination. You’d be surprised at how many SF Operators are quite arty individuals.

You also know Foxy from C4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, tell us more!

Titch: Foxy and I served at similar times in the service. However, we were never in the same squadron. We all knew each other as we were such a small group and we’ve sunk our fair share of beers together. What I like about Foxy's TV presence is he has not changed his persona to do it, the guy you see on “the Box” is the guy I knew in the service.

If you could make a bespoke bike for anyone, who would it be and why?

Titch: My Brother, he’s been such a rock for me and has helped me every step of the way. I’d love to build him something to show how much I appreciate him.

Keanu Reeves, David Beckham, Pink, Ewan McGregor, Ryan Gosling, Cher and many more are all huge bikers. If you could make a bike for your favourite celeb who would it be and what would you do?

Titch: I’d build a bike for Pink, she’s such a fantastic performer with a very strong character and image. The bike would have a post-apocalyptic Tank Girl style to it, portraying bespoke accents of her life. It would be such a fun build to do.
Alternatively, I’d love to build something for Tom Hardy, he’s been a great supporter of the armed forces, particularly the Royal Marines. I’d build something not only stylish but hugely capable that could be ridden on a motocross track or global adventure (obviously I’d have to tag along!)

What’s the most outrageous bike you’ve ever seen?

Titch: If you want to see outrageous bikes check out the Japanese Bosozoku bike culture. They are no-holds-barred builds and the more flamboyant the better. Love them or hate them I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite as off-the-wall as these machines.

Any bike tips for beginners, starting to look for their first bike?

Titch: Its never to late to start, my mum did her CBT when she was in her 60’s and loved it. If your mum says take it easy before you start a race, listen to her…I didn’t!
When buying a first bike, make a judgement on how passionate the seller is about the bike and riding. Something that has higher mileage is not an issue if the bike has been well maintained and cherished. These machines will often be a better buy than a lower mileage bike that’s been neglected.

Top bike tips?

Titch:

1) Always buy a new helmet, you’ve no idea what may have happened to a secondhand lid.
2) Before each ride check oil, brake pads and chain tension. Three easy quick checks that’ll help keep you going forward, slow you down and keep you safe.
3) Put a pair of thin rubber gloves in your bike jacket pocket. If you get caught in the cold and wet pop them under your wet mitts to keep the wind off those chilly digits.

Are there any biking adventures on your bucket list?

Titch: Where do I start! Alaska to Argentina, Heraz Railway (Jordan), India to Nepal, Ho chi min Trail (Cambodia to Vietnam), the Darin Gap (rarely travelled jungle between South and North America), Baja 1000 and Dakar Rally...just to name a few.

Did you know that you made ‘The Times - TV Hard Men Hotlist’ last year?

Titch: I was made aware of this by many of my friends, didn’t hear the end of that for quite a while. My Dad actually sent me the article!

What is it about biking that beats everything else?

Titch: Life in the Special forces is an intense existence, when you leave that adrenaline fuelled job you need to find something to push you and replace that feeling. For Foxy it’s Rugby, for Nims its mountaineering, for me it always been bikes. I used to race bikes for the military, for me to make a living doing something I love is an absolute dream.

Watch Titch on the The Speedshop, available on 麻豆约拍 iPlayer and 麻豆约拍 Two from Sunday 20th March at 20:00.