Interview with Harry Molloy
Harry Molloy has been on the Downhill circuit a while now whether it be UK nationals or World Cups. At the end of last year the team he was riding for decided to go a different direction and disbanded the outfit. He quickly established his own team under the Clothing Company he runs Flow Style Co. We sat down for a chat with harry to find out his plans for the coming season and to hear more about the man behind Flow Style Racing.
Photo by Dom Boulding
Hi, Harry thanks for coming out today and letting us shoot and interview you. Did you enjoy it?
Yeah, it was a mega ride. I’ve been here (Surrey Hills) a few times but we came across some good new tracks so that was great.
For the readers that don’t follow the downhill world cup would you like to introduce yourself?
I’m Harry Molloy, I am 29 from the south-east of England and I have been riding downhill professionally for 11 years now.
Who are your sponsors?
Well my team is Flow Style Racing and we have many awesome partners;
Bluegrass Protection / EXT Shox / Flow Style Clothing / Funn Components / Maxxis Tyres / Shimano / Cushcore / FiveTen / Smith Optics
What got you into riding?
Well, its the typical story I guess. My parents were just trying to get me off the PlayStation, I really liked sport and kind of got into everything at school to see what I liked. I ended up breaking a few bones. I then fell back into cycling when I was 11, started competing and loved it.
What form of cycling was it you started on?
Well, my local was PORC (Penshurst Off Road Cycling) which was an awesome place. You couldn’t really come up with the discipline that defined what I did then, they had everything from dirt jumps, downhill tracks, national 4X track and even a trials area and I gave it all ago and it was awesome.
Is that where you started your racing?
Yeah, I think PORC was were racing begun too. Like I say it was so local to me, it had a good atmosphere and everyone was welcome to join in and that was it, hooked. The Athertons came down to PORC one day when they were sponsored by Animal clothing then. Animal was holding a weekend festival and loads of people came down and I got lucky with a competition from a magazine and got to join them on a training day. They had their manager with them on that day and he said it would be good to see what I was like on a national level and from then on it was all fun and games.
Photo by Dom Boulding
How did you find the Nationals?
Everyone is rapid in the UK and that sets the bar high. It was really good, I was so young at the time and I didn’t think too much about it even from a competitive point of view. I just went for the fun and that was all that really mattered to me at that time.
When did you get onto the World Cup circuit?
I think it was my second year as a junior I did a few of the world cups which was even harder back then as it was top 80 qualify and juniors didn’t have a separate category, I pulled through and managed to qualify in a couple of them. I then got onto the Maddison Saracen team for 3 years after that and from then it was full on into the world cup series.
What’s Your Favourite track?
I can’t really put it down to one track as every place has its own awesome sections. I just get to a track and get stoked on riding.
What do you get up to in your free time?
I like to keep it fresh and do other sports particularly a game of squash. Being a part of Flow Style clothing and also managing the team is pretty full on as well so free time doesn’t come around so often but I love all that I do so no complaints
What do you get up to in your free time?
I like to keep it fresh and do other sports particularly a game of squash. Being a part of Flow Style clothing and also managing the team is pretty full on as well so free time doesn’t come around so often but I love all that I do so no complaints.
What do you think you would be doing if you hadn’t become a professional?
I actually have no idea. I liked designing at school and carried that on a bit further, I also like to coach mountain biking in my spare time which is really fun.
Would you like to Elaborate on the coaching?
So I coach anyone and everyone who wants to get more out of there riding. I cover everything so can cater to the individual’s needs for that specific session.
Do you find coaching rewarding?
Yeah very. Even in one session when you find a breakthrough for that individual and see them smiling and happier on the bike that makes me feel awesome too.
Where do you cover your coaching?
I do my coaching all over. I have been invited to Malta a few times to coach a couple of camps and that was super fun. Revolution Bike Park is a favourite for the hardcore downhill guys and the Bull Track in Crowborough is pretty good for anyone as it has a bit of everything.
What are your plans for the future?
It’s not like I don’t look into the future but I just like to live in the moment and enjoy it. It is proper cheesy but that’s what I’ve been told life is all about. I will keep racing for as long as I can that’s for sure.
How has the Pandemic affected your preparation for this year?
With the story on Insync stopping the team and having to get something new set up was a bit of a rush, it’s been a hectic start to 2020 that’s for sure. I can’t be too negative about it really because we have so many great sponsors that are loyal so I don’t think it would have affected us too badly but the Pandemic has definitely stopped things in its tracks, especially at the start from a training perspective because we didn’t know whether to carry on as intense as we were. Its a disappointment we cant race but at the same time everyone else in the world is in the same boat too, the main thing is to stay healthy.
What’s your view on the doubleheader races that are being proposed?
I’ve been talking to Alan Milway my trainer about this actually. So coming into racing on Friday you want to be at your peak for the weekend but being able to do that twice is going to be hard. Especially if its the same track as they (UCI) haven’t let on if they will make any changes to the tracks yet, which I’m sure it will be the same for the logistics of it. The level of riding is going to be seriously pushed which potentially could be scary for everyone having to attack and go faster again in the second race, It will definitely throw a few surprises.
How is it to be racing against some of the competitors that you watched growing up?
Yeah, it’s awesome. The first few times your up the top of the track warming up and you see the big names on the turbo trainers next to you it really hits home.
Some other riders have been saying that their sponsors have been pushing them to do other means of representing them during the lockdown. Have you found that at all from any of your sponsors?
We’ve had requests from sponsors to things but definitely not in a pushy way which I guess we are quite lucky with that if that has been a thing for other people. It’s just been a few media post requests here and there but nothing too out of the ordinary but I guess they’re partners of us and like what we do anyway.
Any tips for people who want to get into downhill racing?
Just have fun that’s the main thing. I know a lot of people say it but it is true if you are not enjoying it you won’t go far.
Thanks for Joining us Harry.
You can check out Harry Molloy’s coaching sessions here
Photo by Dom Boulding
What do you think of Harry’s story? Did you like this interview with Harry Molloy? Let us know in the comments below
Check out our other interviews in our influential people series such as World Cup downhill racer Veronika Widmann or even Rowan Childs story of overcoming illness to be able to still ride.
You can follow Harry Molloy in Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/harrymolloydh