Do You Need AQR?
The AQR Crew are dedicated cyclists, professional and experienced guides both on road and in the mountains. AQR has been created by a team of bikers for bikers and adventurers at heart. Everything that has gone into creating A QUICK RELEASE HOLIDAYS has been due to the hard work and dedication of our team and their passion for riding a bike.
“Excellent skills coaching alongside guiding (other companies seem to employ people for whom biking is a third or fourth profession)”
Read on to find out more about AQR and their role in bringing A QUICK RELEASE to you.
JON PETYT - FOUNDING MEMBER OF AQR, AQR SKILLS COACHING DIRECTOR, COACH & GUIDE:
Jon is one of the most experienced mountain bike guides in the UK, in fact he was probably one of the first as there was only one mountain bike holiday company around when Jon first started guiding. Jon has been biking since 1986 and spent a couple of years racing XC in the UK before starting guiding in 1993. Jon has guided in Greece, the French Alps, and has set up resorts in the Canadian Rockies and New Zealand as well as running mountain bike trips across the UK.
Now that Jon is back in the UK long term and working as a teacher during the week, on weekends when not guiding or running skills coaching days for AQR, he will be out exploring new trails on his Cotic Soda.
Jon's home is very central to the country, and he will often be out for a ride in the Peaks, Lakes, Yorkshire Dales, Shropshire and Wales, as well as locally at Cannock Chase and in the superb trails around Stoke.
h2>IAN POTTER - DIRECTOR, LUCHON RESORT MANAGER,SKILLS COACH, MECHANIC & GUIDE:Ian started mountain biking in the eighties when mountain biking started to take off in the UK. Before then he was a keen BMX rider and also took part in motor cross. For five years he raced competitively both cross country and downhill, before his love for guiding and coaching took over. Ian moved on to become a resort manager in Nidri (Greece), Alte (Portugal) and Chamonix (France). Ian has also guided groups across the Ionian Islands, on training camps in Spain and throughout the UK.
2004 was the year Ian established AQR in Luchon and at the same time became a test rider for award winning bike company Cotic (www.cotic.co.uk).
Ian has received his Mountain Bike Instructors Leadership Award (M.I.A.S) Level 1-4, and when some spare time arises he will complete Level 5 to become a M.I.A.S Instructor so that he can train and give people hands on experience to guide in the mountains, such as Luchon. Ian holds an up to date Mountain Leader's First Aid Certificate.
Ian is an accomplished mechanic and will ensure your bike is fit and wheeling to go for your holiday in Luchon. When not guiding, Ian has been working for Cycling Australia as mechanic and pit support for the Australian mountain bike squad in Europe. In 2010 Ian will be at world cup and national races for wife Kate Potter who races on the Cotic Bontrager Race Team.
You know what guiding mood Ian is in by what he wears and what bike he chooses to ride. If he is planning alot of climbing on a guided ride or you wind him up then the lycra comes on and the Cotic Soda comes out. If he is feeling chilled and happy the baggy shorts are on and the Cotic Hemlock is ready to roll....BUT if he has extra fast guests who only want to go down hill or if he goes free riding with Russ then the Nikolai FR and full body armour stay on. Ian also has a little secret, he loves the tarmac too and has an extra light Lightspeed Vortex road bike that takes good care of him on the cols.
KATE POTTER - DIRECTOR, EVENTS ORGANISER...QUALITY CONTROLER TO ENSURE THE BOYS ARE ON TIME, SKILLS COACH, GUIDE, PERSONAL TRAINER & BABY SITTER:
Before Kate dedicated herself to cycling she was a keen long distance runner, gym instructor/personal trainer and high school teacher. Kate specialised as a speech and drama teacher passing Trinity London (A.T.C.L) and Australian (A.M.E.B)examinations at 18 years old and went on to work as a teacher for Sydney Performing Arts Schools, as well as running her own drama school for primary school children. During this time Kate received an Honours degree in Theatre, Film and Dance at the University of New South Wales and specialises in Youth Theatre.
As all young Australian’s do at some stage in their life Kate settled in London and spent her long awaited holidays travelling across Europe with several leading holiday companies before deciding to become a mountain bike guide.
Kate has gone onto complete her Mountain Bike Leadership Award (M.I.A.S) Level 1-2, and holds an up to date Mountain Leader's First Aid Certificate.
Kate has worked as a guide in the UK, Nidri (Greece), Chamonix (France), Luchon (France) and on tours across the Ionian Islands. Kate races on the Cotic Bontrager Race Team and competes in elite cross country, marathon and 24hr solo events across Europe and Australia. Kate became the British Marathon Series Champion in 2007 and British Cross Country Champion in 2009, as well as represented Australia at the World Championships in 2009.
Kate is a keen writer and contributes blog entries and articles for several websites such as Single Track World and XC Racer.
Kate's bike of choice is anything Cotic with Bontrager finery, but when riding the Pyrenean tarmac then her Trek Madone comes out to play
JAMES DYMOND - UK WEEKEND & LUCHON SUPPORT GUIDE, AQR RACE TEAM MANAGER & STOCK PURCHASER:
James has been mountain biking since the mid-90s but racing cross country as part of the AQR Race Team since 2008. James was promoted as the AQR Race Team Manager and stock purchaser as he is far more organised and on the ball than the Potters :). James is based in Nottingham, he's another serial Cotic owner and when not racing his Soda is usually found on his Hemlock on the local woodsy singletrack or the Peak District's rockiest offerings. A lover of the climbs as well as descents, James is also developing a strong love of the tarmac side of riding.
JOH EDWARDS - UK WEEKEND & LUCHON SUPPORT GUIDE & MECHANIC:
As with many things in his life, Joh was a late developer when it came to bikes - he didn't take his stabilsers off until he was 19 years old. Since then however, he's devoted much effort to making up for lost time. Weekdays he can be found playing fakenger in London traffic, or riding very slowly round Richmond Park on an expensive looking roadbike. Weekends, he's usually found hanging out at trendy bike locations - Peaslake village stores, the Woodbine in Hope or the Trulythai takeaway wagon at Chicksands. Rumour has it that he has been seen actually riding, rather than talking about riding, but no photographic evidence is yet available.
A long time hero-worshipper of the mighty Paul "Stoppie God" Dexter, he was introduced by Paul to Ian and Kate, plus Cy of Cotic at roughly the same time in 2003. This has led to serial Cotic purchasing, plus regular trips to Luchon to polish off Russ's excellent food at Hotel Le Lutin. One thing led to another, and Ian, recognising a willing mug when he saw one, invited Joh to work in Luchon as a trainee table setter, bread slicer and walking wheelie bin.
RICHARD BURFIELD - UK WEEKEND & LUCHON SUPPORT GUIDE...but also regarded as AQR'S MOST LOVED ENTERTAINER.
A QUALITY RIDE COACHING INSTRUCTORS
IAN POTTER
Ian started mountain biking in the eighties when mountain biking started to take off in the UK. Before then he was a keen BMX rider and also took part in motor cross. For five years he raced competitively both cross country and downhill, before his love for guiding and coaching took over. Ian moved on to become a resort manager in Nidri (Greece), Alte (Portugal) and Chamonix (France). Ian has also guided groups across the Ionian Islands, on training camps in Spain and throughout the UK.
2004 was the year Ian established AQR in Luchon and at the same time became a test rider for award winning bike company Cotic.
Ian has received his Mountain Bike Instructors Leadership Award (M.I.A.S) Level 1-3, and when some spare time arises he will complete Level 4 and 5 to become a M.I.A.S Instructor. Ian holds an up to date Mountain Leader's First Aid Certificate.
Ian is an accomplished mechanic and will ensure your bike is fit and wheeling to go for your holiday in Luchon. When not guiding, Ian has been working for Cycling Australia as mechanic and pit support for the Australian mountain bike squad in Europe. In 2010 Ian will be at world cup and national races for wife Kate Potter who races on the Cotic Bontrager Race Team.
You know what guiding mood Ian is in by what he wears and what bike he chooses to ride. If he is planning alot of climbing on a guided ride or you wind him up then the lycra comes on and the Cotic Soda comes out. If he is feeling chilled and happy the baggy shorts are on and the Cotic Hemlock is ready to roll....BUT if he has extra fast guests who only want to go down hill or if he goes free riding with Russ then the Nikolai FR and full body armour stay on. Ian also has a little secret, he loves the tarmac too and has an extra light Lightspeed Vortex road bike that takes good care of him on the cols.
KATE POTTER:
Before Kate dedicated herself to cycling she was a keen long distance runner, district tennis champion and qualified gym instructor, personal trainer and high school teacher. Kate specialised as a speech and drama teacher passing Trinity London (A.T.C.L) and Australian (A.M.E.B)examinations at 18 years old and went on to work as a teacher for Sydney Performing Arts Schools, as well as running her own drama school for primary school children. During this time Kate received an Honours degree in Theatre, Film and Dance at the University of New South Wales and specialises in Youth Theatre.
Kate's settled in London where she worked as a personal trainer and gym instructor before discovering mountain biking.
Kate has gone onto complete her Mountain Bike Leadership Award (M.I.A.S) Level 1-2, and holds an up to date Mountain Leader's First Aid Certificate.
Kate has worked as a guide in the UK, Nidri (Greece), Chamonix (France), Luchon (France) and on tours across the Ionian Islands. Kate races on the Cotic Bontrager Race Team and competes in elite cross country, marathon and 24hr solo events across Europe and Australia. Kate became the British Marathon Series Champion in 2007 and British Cross Country Champion in 2009, as well as represented Australia at the World Championships in 2009.
Kate is a keen writer and contributes blog entries and articles for several websites such as Single Track World and XC Racer.
Kate's bike of choice is anything Cotic with Bontrager finery, but when riding the Pyrenean tarmac then her Trek Madone comes out to play
AMANDA BRENT - AQR UK OFFICE
Amanda handles the AQR office affairs in England, which includes processing bookings, payments, gift vouchers, but more importantly ensures AQR has paid their bills on time. Amanda was brought up in the hotel business, has accountancy, teaching and yoga teaching qualifications. When in Luchon for an annual holiday Amanda can be seen playing on a Cotic Soul around the calmer trails of Luchon.