At only 19 years of age, Squirt Cycling Ambassador Lochlan Brown (@lochhiebrown) is the reigning New Zealand XCE champion! With his sights set on the World Cup circuit this year, we sat him down to answer a few of questions before the season kicks off.
Let’s get to know the rider!
Who is Lochlan Brown?
Simply put I am just a kid from New Zealand with a dream of racing bikes against the very best in the world.
Where is home?
Home for me is in Cambridge, New Zealand.
When did you fall in love with bikes?
I have been riding bikes for as long as I can remember and racing since I was 6 or 7 starting with BMX racing. From pretty much day one I have loved it, and it has only grown as I have got older.
What is it that attracts you to the sport?
I love MTB because it offers so much variety and because of this no two days on the bike are ever the same.
Goals for 2024?
2024 will be my first year racing on the Eliminator World Cup circuit so I am looking forward to the challenge of going up against the very best.
Career highlights?
Hard to go past winning Eliminator National Championships in 2023 or representing New Zealand at BMX World Championships.
Favourite Food?
Big Mac n Cheese fan.
Strangest food you were thinking of while riding?
A conversation recently had while out riding involved ways to eat cucumber. The strangest idea that I thought was said was cucumber dipped in apple cider vinegar.
Lucky charm?
I don’t really have a lucky charm.
What do you always take on a trip?
My bike. I love riding in new places so there’s very few trips where I don’t bring a bike along.
What would you be if you were not a racer?
I think if I wasn’t a racer I would love to be a back country snowboarder I think what they do is so cool.
You’re favorite Squirt Cycling Product?
Would have to be chain lube it’s one of my most used items and it keeps my bike running smoothly while I’m out riding, training or racing.
Best tip for MTB beginners?
Flat pedals. Everyone should learn to ride on flats in my opinion if you can’t do it on flats you can’t do it. But most importantly have fun with whatever type of MTB your doing and don’t specialise to one discipline to soon.
I like my coffee… No coffee for me I am more of a hot chocolate type of person.
I would love to go on a ride with… Very hard to go past the goat of MTB Nino Schurter.
The secret to happiness… For me is my family, friends, the outdoors and of course riding bikes.
My greatest exhilaration… Landing backflips for the first time would be very high up there on this list.
I fear…the thought of not doing everything I can to become the best possible bike racer I can be.
Passion.. For right now my passion is for racing bikes and I believe it will be this for some time but in the future I am looking forward to spending more time building a career in a job outside of bikes that makes a difference to others.
When I wake up… I think todays another chance to get better.
I wish… I could ride my bike all day everyday.
Rider Profile
1. Name: Lochlan Brown
2. Nickname: Lochie
3. Age: 19
4. Birthdate 14/04/2004
5. Birthplace: Rotorua, New Zealand
6. Height: 184cm
7. Shoe size: 10
