This weeks 26 questions is with current club & state aggregate holder Mandy Hosking.
Name: Amanda Hosking
Where were you born: Baxter House Geelong
Occupation: Sales at the Bicycle Superstore Geelong
Family: Me and my three kids, Amy, Sarah and Josh.
Favorite Sporting Teams: Orica GreenEDGE and the Cats.
Favorite Athletes: Billy McConnell rider extraordinaire from the Geelong Super Vets… and Longy of course!
I admire Billy’s dedication and fierce determination to give his best; always producing incredible results. I love his humble approach, something I could learn from, but hey I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t a show off!
Favorite Movies: Massive movie fan. Favorite male actors are… Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson, Duvall, DeNiro, Mel Gibson, Brad, George Clooney, Robert Redford, Robin Williams, Paul Newman, DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Kev Costner the list goes on and on! Fav female actresses… Meg Ryan, Diane Lane, Meryl Streep, Sally Field, Cameron Diaz, Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, Ashley Judd, Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, Reese Witherspoon….
Favorite Music: Anything with a sick beat!
Favorite Food: Ask me what I don’t like, that would be much easier!
Childhood Ambition: Actress, but I was too shy to give it a go… It’s true!
Hobbies: Taking photo’s and posting them on Facebook!
History: Born in Geelong to Peter and Tonny Hosking. Eldest of five. Loved sports at school, did really well at shot put and discus. Hit a mean tennis ball. Enjoyed volleyball and netball. Good drawer found I was good at copying down on paper, images (of what I could see) with a pencil. Made many friends at school and met my first love, whom I married and had three great kids with. Found the gift of the gab came in handy as a salesperson, so I did that for a while before the family came along. Took up power walking almost daily as a way of getting out with the kids. Graduated to running and did a couple of half marathon’s then, at 40 cycling took over my life!
How long have you been riding? Nearly 8 years.
When did you start racing? 2007 after 6 months on the bike I raced in my Dad’s memorial race.
What other sports have you been involved in? Took up golf in 2000, playing three days a week at Queenspark, such a gorgeous course. Got pretty good at it, but never tried competition. I was too much of a cheat to take it seriously. What slice, I didn’t see anything? Watch out… Four!
Age Group and Handicap mark: 45-49. 3rd scratch at the club, mid marker in the Opens.
Goals: To be the best I can be, always.
Why did you join the club? As soon as I hopped on the bike and realised I loved it and having followed my Dad’s racing at the Geelong Vets… it was a no brainer to join.
Do you have any goals to achieve? I’d love to be the first girl to ride off scratch at the club…. Not yet Skinny (Robbo)!
Your greatest racing achievement? That’s easy, winning both the State and Club Aggregate’s last year.
Riding experiences: Racing Opens all over the state is a great experience. I have met and made some fantastic friends and foes along the way. I highly recommend racing Opens, the atmosphere is exciting everytime, with around 120 like-minded people all doing what they love.
Best? Riding along side Cadel on the Amy Gillett ride one year was so thrilling. Being motor-paced as fast as my legs can go, is always a fun thing, but my all time favorite thing to do on the bike is to go down hills crazy fast, preferably with the fast boys who thrash(ed) me up the hill… so I can beat them back!
Worst? Coming down hard at Seymour in the Benghazi Open 2008. We were all setting ourselves up for the sprint one kilometer out. 60 riders packed in pretty tight, when someone came up from where they’d ventured into the gravel… they hit my handlebars, I just went straight down, the noise was incredible; riders going everywhere. One guy did a cartwheel over the top of me and broke his collarbone. I ended up with heaps of bark off, luckily no breaks. Was back riding two days later.
What’s your favorite training or social ride? Bellarine 100 or a trip to Lorne with friends and at my own pace is heaven.
How often do you ride? I’d tell you but then I’d have to kill you!
Equipment: Shimano Dura Ace and Ultegra
Race Bike: TCR Advanced Giant T-Mobile 2007
Training Bike: Trek 5500
Other Bikes: Giant Alias 2008 MTB
Dream Bike: Cannondale Supersix Evo High-Mod Ultegra Di2 preferably in pink!
