I write this with a heavy heart; our beloved friend Ed Hood passed away peacefully today.
Ed suffered a devastating stroke in February 2023 and spent an extended period in hospital then latterly in a care home in Glenrothes, Scotland.
A successful businessman (CR Smith Windows and Conservatories, Mozolowski & Murray Conservatories) and a lifelong cycling enthusiast, racer (particularly time trials, Ed hated climbing), team owner and sponsor (of the Fife-based club GS Modena) and coach, Ed began writing race results for Cycling Weekly in the early 2000’s then provided articles to Canadian website PezCyclingNews in 2006, at the same time launching our website (initially named VeloResults, which we soon thereafter renamed VeloVeritas).
His tales of chasing the Giro, the Tour, the Vuelta, Classics and World Championships, and his much-loved winter Six Days are legendary, never the same twice, and they gave the websites an edge other cycling media could never duplicate or challenge.
As we discussed “the angle/story of the day” when we were about to set off to cover a race, I was in awe of his uncanny ability to think up unique, creative story ideas.
His rider interviews, previews, rants, and general musings about cycle sport were exceptional, truly matchless.
Ed was a dream to work with, even if I never knew what his next story would be about, I always knew it would be entertaining, thoughtful, and filled with nuggets of wisdom only someone with his pedigree and immense knowledge and love of the sport could bring.
His polite and respectful manner earned him a contacts list of pro cycling’s illuminati that would be the envy of any journalist. I only saw snippets of the extent of his contacts as we travelled and covered races together because Ed’s modesty meant he never bragged or name-dropped about any of it.
Ed was a real polymath, his deep knowledge spanned so many different subjects – except computers, which he never failed to remind me as I tried to explain to him the latest tech problem.
He was the perfect travelling companion, always a calm, reassuring presence (for example, when I was trying to execute a three-point turn in the hire car at the Giro on a gravel single track road at the top of the Colle delle Finestre with hundreds of spectators cheering me on), and he was always fun to be around. He was able to conjure up an interesting tale about pretty much any subject, there really was never a dull moment in his company.
Ed is irreplaceable, there is literally no other writer in cycling who did – or could do – what he did.
But most of all Ed was a great friend, terrific fun, unshakable in his loyalty and his honesty. He will be greatly missed.
He used to always say to me, “I’m never happier than when I’m writing.” Well, I hope you’ve found your lost pencil – again – and you’re scribbling away now, and forever, my friend.
RIP neebz.
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Ed’s funeral took place on Thursday 6th February 2025 at Kirkcaldy Crematorium, Rosemount Avenue, Kirkcaldy, Scotland, and was followed by tea, coffee and a lovely buffet at the nearby Dean Park Hotel, where Ed’s family and friends shared their favourite stories and anecdotes about Ed.
