The third rider in our Cøllective for 2024 is one Bad Mother Fucker - Jesse Yates. He’s raced on various teams like Wiggins over the years, but is now flying solo with his own PROJXT BUTTERFLY. Last year he raced a full season of long distance/pro gravel races and came away with a heap of top results, including the win at Badlands. This season he plans for even more...
I first met Jesse through my workshop when I started up on my own - I’ve always been really stoaked to work on his bikes and from the beginning it was clear we share the same feeling about stuff being done right - Jesse says, “ I like knowing that the AEIGHT BIKE CO support takes care of things. We discuss what equipment/setup/tyres/pressures I should run, and I like his calm approach and way of looking at potential race tactics. We are on the same page, we have a similar mentality, it just works”.
Glen - “When we started working together it was all road racing and then he realised that ultimately he wanted to go in the gravel direction and it’s been ace to see the way he’s developed as a rider”.
He doesn’t need much of an introduction but here it is for anyone who’s late to the party; Jesse’s been racing for about 8 years now, starting with 5am drives to a Dual Carriageway for Time Trials and quickly progressing to teams like Wiggins, racing in the UK and Europe. In 2022 he made the switch to off-road with the 600km Dales Divide Ultra Race! A few more races followed and then in 2023 he did his first full season finishing 5th at Dirty Reiver, 8th at the Traka, 12th at the Gralloch, 3rd at Capitals, and then 1st in the Pairs at Badlands.
For all of these races Jesse’s been coached by his Dad, Sean. Jesse says, “Well my Dad, he’s my coach/consultant you could say, I only race for fun, and there’s nothing better than when he’s there with me”.
This year Jesse is putting together a pretty packed calendar of racing which includes a confirmed entry to UNBOUND - we’ll share his full calendar once everything’s confirmed along with all his individual sponsors for 2024.
You can keep up to date with everything he does through his Instagram and also his YouTube channel which will be something we try and add lots of interesting content too, including some nice behind the scenes things we have planned, especially once the season has started!
2024.RIDERS – JESSEYATES
Jesse started cycling in 2013, initially with TT’s and then with some local road races, while being supported by his Dad. In 2015 he got a taste for racing in Britany and this led to two seasons on a French team living abroad while on The Dave Rayner Fund. Then he joined Team Wiggins in 2018, racing across Europe. After a years break he continued road racing before making the switch to competing in off road events and Ultra races in 2022/2023 where the most notable result has been a Badlands Pairs win and a host of top ten places. Follow him on Instagram and YouTube.
GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO RACE WITH US?
We’re always looking for riders to be part of our ÆIGHT CØLLECTIVE. The #aeightbikeco is about doing things a little differently - Rather than a jersey being the common theme, we kit our riders out with bespoke steel bikes and handbuilt wheels made in our Sussex workshops, the ÆIGHT WHEELWØRKS and the ÆIGHT MANUFACTØRY. We then support each other at events and races regionally, nationally and internationally - whether that’s for mountain bike, ‘cross, gravel, crit, road or TT - it’s what we call, the #aeightbikeco
The best part is that we’re not asking you to leave your team or club - that includes racing in your club/team kit. We’ve got certain brands that we work with, mostly so we can standardise shared equipment, but your own sponsors and clubs are almost always welcome. We have some strict qualifying criteria but don’t be put off by this – if you’re interested in being part of the #aeightbikeco then please get in touch by emailing your racing CV to eightbikeco@gmail.com