About
The formation of our race team evolved through events that started with an idea that Grahame Layhe (Team Manager) and Tim Whitmore (Ex THRE Datawolves RT Team rider) talked about in 2015.
Approximately 4 years previous, I lost my father to illness (Mike Layhe), Mike was a very good club rider back in the early 1960’s with Harworth & District Cycling club. He held a couple of club records including a local notorious hill climb called the Bib Lane Hill climb at Brookhouse, South Yorkshire. Although I hadn't competed prior to the team formation in road cycle racing, my first love was MTB where I used to compete (very mediocrely) in National Downhill events. Mike was never that keen and always tried to sway me towards road racing. Alas, the offload calling proved far too much of a pull compared to the tarmac racing.
When I lost him I did naturally turn more to road cycle riding and used to go and ride Bib Lane as a way of feeling a connection with Mike, as I have photos of his fixed wheel exploits on the hill. This connection drove me to appreciate and want to do something in the sport he loved. So as a dedication to Mike I decided to form a race team for passionate riders to test themselves in the craft of racing on tarmac, whether that be road races, criterium or time trials, and on every piece of the team kit his signature is displayed so in a small way he rides with us all and shares the ups and not so many downs.
However, I wanted the team to be successful, not just in terms of performance but in terms of fun. If the guys all love to train, race and plan together then the team can only grow. This is the ethos behind our team, to Train Hard (but enjoy ourselves and each other’s company too) and Race Easy, hence the team name and mantra evolved into THRE. Okay, we never find any race easy, but the philosophy is just that, we train as hard as possible to be as good at our sport as we can but most of all we want and do enjoy it.
All the team members complement each other brilliantly. We are a ‘team’ in every essence of the word, no Prima Donna’s, just a unit that love cycling and training but all have equal standing and that includes myself.
It was mine and Tim’s idea and I am the Manager but I always consult the 'team' regarding actions that affect any aspect of our progression.
In 2016, we were THRE TechSense, TechSense being my data install company and a platform of sponsored help. We adorned predominantly blue kit supplied and manufactured by Raceskin of Huddersfield, headed up by Colin McNeil. Colin and his team make exceptional quality race kit and provide superb customer service, I can’t praise him and his team enough for what he has provided for us over this and last two seasons. Two changes of design, a National Champs Tri-suit and for 2018 all new collarless racing jerseys.
Initially we had seven riders and began racing Cat 4 with no structured training plan. We had a great year with all rider’s progressing to Cat 3, three rider’s left mainly due to family/ work commitments and we realised that we needed more support. In order to take the team to the next level of progression we all wanted, we approached companies for further sponsored support, and were extremely fortunate to peek the interest of a Data Communications company from St Neots, Cambs, called Datawolves. Datawolves MD, Gary Taylor, is a kindred spirit and obviously likes our mentality and the advantage of association, so has been instrumental in our 2017-2018 agenda. For 2017-18 we are THRE Datawolves with again raceskin produced our kit but in Datawolves’ striking red livery.
A couple of riders were unable to continue racing for the team into 2018 so the search began for two more riders. Hayden Allen was confirmed for the team in September of 2017 after a successful year which saw him go from having never competed in a mass start race to 2nd category in only weeks. Ellis Pullinger was signed up shortly thereafter after proving an equally impressive rise through the racing category ranks in 2017. With our 2017 arrival, Ryan Ellis and founder member Jon Farmer, we have our 4 man strong sponsored team. However, we are also extremely lucky to have a number of privateer affiliated riders whom we want to help by giving them a platform to race under and for them to in turn help our 4 man squad achieve their 2018 objectives. We thank the support from Bryan Cherry, Nick Moore and Joel Candy and also wish them the best in their endeavours under the umbrella of THRE Datawolves RT and Joel & Nicks own TT specific team UK - FEATHER FLAGS TRi RACE TEAM.
GRAHAME LAYHE
Approximately 4 years previous, I lost my father to illness (Mike Layhe), Mike was a very good club rider back in the early 1960’s with Harworth & District Cycling club. He held a couple of club records including a local notorious hill climb called the Bib Lane Hill climb at Brookhouse, South Yorkshire. Although I hadn't competed prior to the team formation in road cycle racing, my first love was MTB where I used to compete (very mediocrely) in National Downhill events. Mike was never that keen and always tried to sway me towards road racing. Alas, the offload calling proved far too much of a pull compared to the tarmac racing.
When I lost him I did naturally turn more to road cycle riding and used to go and ride Bib Lane as a way of feeling a connection with Mike, as I have photos of his fixed wheel exploits on the hill. This connection drove me to appreciate and want to do something in the sport he loved. So as a dedication to Mike I decided to form a race team for passionate riders to test themselves in the craft of racing on tarmac, whether that be road races, criterium or time trials, and on every piece of the team kit his signature is displayed so in a small way he rides with us all and shares the ups and not so many downs.
However, I wanted the team to be successful, not just in terms of performance but in terms of fun. If the guys all love to train, race and plan together then the team can only grow. This is the ethos behind our team, to Train Hard (but enjoy ourselves and each other’s company too) and Race Easy, hence the team name and mantra evolved into THRE. Okay, we never find any race easy, but the philosophy is just that, we train as hard as possible to be as good at our sport as we can but most of all we want and do enjoy it.
All the team members complement each other brilliantly. We are a ‘team’ in every essence of the word, no Prima Donna’s, just a unit that love cycling and training but all have equal standing and that includes myself.
It was mine and Tim’s idea and I am the Manager but I always consult the 'team' regarding actions that affect any aspect of our progression.
In 2016, we were THRE TechSense, TechSense being my data install company and a platform of sponsored help. We adorned predominantly blue kit supplied and manufactured by Raceskin of Huddersfield, headed up by Colin McNeil. Colin and his team make exceptional quality race kit and provide superb customer service, I can’t praise him and his team enough for what he has provided for us over this and last two seasons. Two changes of design, a National Champs Tri-suit and for 2018 all new collarless racing jerseys.
Initially we had seven riders and began racing Cat 4 with no structured training plan. We had a great year with all rider’s progressing to Cat 3, three rider’s left mainly due to family/ work commitments and we realised that we needed more support. In order to take the team to the next level of progression we all wanted, we approached companies for further sponsored support, and were extremely fortunate to peek the interest of a Data Communications company from St Neots, Cambs, called Datawolves. Datawolves MD, Gary Taylor, is a kindred spirit and obviously likes our mentality and the advantage of association, so has been instrumental in our 2017-2018 agenda. For 2017-18 we are THRE Datawolves with again raceskin produced our kit but in Datawolves’ striking red livery.
A couple of riders were unable to continue racing for the team into 2018 so the search began for two more riders. Hayden Allen was confirmed for the team in September of 2017 after a successful year which saw him go from having never competed in a mass start race to 2nd category in only weeks. Ellis Pullinger was signed up shortly thereafter after proving an equally impressive rise through the racing category ranks in 2017. With our 2017 arrival, Ryan Ellis and founder member Jon Farmer, we have our 4 man strong sponsored team. However, we are also extremely lucky to have a number of privateer affiliated riders whom we want to help by giving them a platform to race under and for them to in turn help our 4 man squad achieve their 2018 objectives. We thank the support from Bryan Cherry, Nick Moore and Joel Candy and also wish them the best in their endeavours under the umbrella of THRE Datawolves RT and Joel & Nicks own TT specific team UK - FEATHER FLAGS TRi RACE TEAM.
GRAHAME LAYHE
