Inspirational Islanders: Joe Staunton, Road Racing Cyclist

Talented road cyclist Joe Staunton finds the Island the perfect place to escape the rat race. Although he works for Sport England as a data and innovation manager based in London, he is lucky enough to be able to work in the most part from home having relocated to the Island.

“My commute used to involve getting up at 6am to train on the bike and try and then ride into work through the dangerous busy central London roads. Now it’s either a ride around the Island, taking in some of my favourite views from the Military Road or a coffee on the beach with the dog.

I love the simple things, so having amazing beaches, country lanes, views, quaint coffee shops and restaurants all on my doorstep without the stress of living in a big city for me is really the dream.

Freshwater Bay is one of my favourite places in the world. It’s like the Island’s very own Mediterranean cove. You can swim to secret beaches and caves or just sit on the bay with a pizza and beer and watch the sunset over the amazing coastline.

But there’s so much variety. It’s pretty hard to live anywhere on the Island where you can’t do a great walk from your doorstep. Having a morning swim in Quay Rocks (Seaview) in the summer with all of the local ‘Seaview Mermaids’ wooden sailing boats moored up is another favourite place. If you want something a bit more adventurous it is hard to beat walking up along all of the downs of the south west (Brighstone Down, Mottistone Down to Tennyson) and back along Compton Bay with a coffee stop at Chessell Pottery.

For riding my bike it’s pretty hard to beat the West Wight. On a warm summer day you can feel like you’re in the Cote D’Azur with the beautiful coastal scenes. Then there’s Afton Down and the 180 degree view of stunning coastline taking in Freshwater Bay and Tennyson Down all the way along the military road to St Catherine’s Down.

I ride my bike up there almost every day and irrespective of the time of year or weather, it always puts a smile on my face.”

Joe is supported by Wightlink In The Community via the Isle of Wight Council’s Talented Athlete Scheme.