Founder Story

I didn’t come from a racing background. I came from spreadsheets, site visits, and 12-hour workdays in the offshore wind industry.

As a full-time engineer, my calendar was packed. The work was high-stakes, the hours intense, and yet, cycling became my refuge. It was the one place where I could push my limits, and find that flow state.

But like many passionate riders, I quickly realised that loving the sport wasn’t enough. Between the demands of work and life, I had to fight for consistency. I didn’t have time to waste on guesswork.

So I went deep.

I devoured the science. Not just on training, but everything: gear optimisation, fuelling strategies, bike maintenance, mindset, and recovery. I tested obsessively. I experimented with different structures, habits, fuelling protocols, and gear setups — often learning the hard way through trial and error.

I used every tool & hack I could find: time-blocking, atomic habits, pre-ride checklists, etc. Anything to help me ride more, ride better, and feel prepared. I built ride plans like a project engineer. Every session had a purpose. Every ride was part of a bigger system. The result?

I went from commuting to racing, and hit a 5W/kg FTP while working full-time. I trained 8 to 12 hours a week, consistently, even through the busiest seasons of life. Not because I had more time than anyone else, but because I built a system that made it work.

But here’s the truth: it was hard.
It took obsession. Discipline. Mental fatigue. And it wasn’t sustainable for most people.

That’s why I created Souplesse Cycling - to give riders what I never had: a ready-made ride-life system that removes friction, fuels progress, and makes cycling feel effortless again.

Today, that system supports riders who want what I wanted:

To ride more consistently

To feel confident and in control

To keep progressing, without losing the joy

Because cycling should make your life better — not busier.

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James - Founder of Souplesse Cycling