London Dynamo is more than just rides and races. Every member has a story. This year, we are going to help you get to know the faces under the helmets and the people behind the jerseys.
From personal journeys to burning passions, here is a quick Q&A to get to know Nick Kituno – the club’s communications and engagement manager.
Nick joined London Dynamo in December 2020, during the covid-19 pandemic, intending to lose weight and get faster. Nearly five years on, the target is to one day qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
How did you get into cycling?
I played six-a-side football after work with some colleagues before I got a knee injury.
That frustrated me because I was starting to regain my fitness, after a long period of little exercise and poor eating habits, before covid came along.
I was over 100kg back then, but managed to lose 15kg in a relatively short time through consistent riding.
Once I reached some milestones – first long ride, first sportive, first race – I set my goals higher and higher because I wanted to see how far I could push myself.
What made you join London Dynamo?
First, the kit has always drawn me in. I love the black and blue colour scheme and have seen groups of cyclists in the London Dynamo uniform in the past.
Second, my core ambition was self-improvement. London Dynamo is a racing-oriented club, but if nothing else, the people who join are often pushing themselves to get faster, go further and get out of their comfort zone.
That struck a chord with me because, while I was not where I wanted to be when I joined nearly five years ago, I could see that being in an environment with like-minded individuals would get me there far sooner.
What are some of your proudest moments since joining London Dynamo?
For one, I overcame my fear of flying by going on the club sportive to Megeve Mont-Blanc in France back in 2022. It was – and still is – the hardest thing I have ever done, but I have been on nearly every club sportive since.
I have accomplished far more personally with London Dynamo than I could have foreseen back in December 2020.
I went from seeing an hour on the bike as a good achievement to completing 100km rides each week. Now I am aiming to one day qualify for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships.
I have made long-lasting connections and friendships inside the club, and even when I look back on what I have done so far, I still feel there is still (much) more to accomplish.
How can the club, and cycling more generally, attract more people from underrepresented backgrounds?
I joined the committee because I wanted cyclists who look like me to find their way to a club like ours.
A common concern raised by people from underrepresented backgrounds is that they do not see anyone who looks like them in cycling, let alone in the club.
This visibility is important because it breaks perceptions and shows what is possible.
A powerful way is to lead by example and highlight stories – why people ride, how they got into the sport, and what it means to them.
I hope to go some way in achieving this during my time on the committee and in the club.
