Neil Dalgleish is the director of Hillside Outside, the Borders-based events company which runs the TweedLove Bike Festival and Tour O' The Borders closed road sportive.

His first job was in a bike shop aged 14 and cycling is in his blood. Neil started his career as editor of Cut and TLN magazines and still runs a design company, Hillside, based in Leith. Here he talks about how cycling has become his life.

How old were you when you learned to ride a bike?

I was probably four or five. My earliest memories of cycling are of my dad running along behind, holding onto the saddle, while I wobbled towards learning to balance.

What was your first bike?

A Raleigh, I think. It was very second hand and I badly repainted it metallic blue with Airfix paint. It had white tyres.

What kind of bike do you own now?

Happily I have a few although most are incomplete, due to swapping bits between them. My main mountain bike is a Santa Cruz Bronson for the trails and an Isaac Kaon for the road. They're both beautiful to ride and look at.

How would you describe your cycling style?

Far too sporadic and subject to all those real life time commitments.

Who is your favourite cyclist?

For incredible talent and inspiration it has to be Danny MacAskill.

What is your motto on the bike?

On the mountain bike, I'm always telling myself: "Head up, look further ahead." If you stare at the problem - a scary rock, for instance - and not beyond it, you're usually in trouble. Recently I've been trying to get better on some of the steep and deep muddy ruts that winter dishes up in the Tweed Valley, and I get Let It Go from Disney's Frozen in my head. It's a top tip as the bike will help carry you through some technical difficulties if you commit and let it. Tense up and you'll mess up.

Name your all-time ultimate cycling moment?

I have a few. The elation of the first time I successfully did a particular drop-off at Innerleithen (I'd crashed on it and it became a huge scary mental drop of doom in my head). Also discovering an amazing natural trail way up in the hills. Hosting the Enduro World Series in 2014 and seeing the world's best cyclists riding - and loving - our local trails probably tops the list though.

What is your favourite route?

There's too many to choose from here in Bike Valley (what we call the Tweed Valley). I also rode some absolute belters in Finale Ligure and Aosta in Italy.

What is top of your cycling bucket list?

I don't even know if it's possible, but a multi-day, lift assisted ride through the amazing Italian Dolomites would be amazing, staying in Rifugios with great food at night and awesome technical descents all day amongst the incredible mountains. I have to go to Whistler in Canada too. In Scotland I haven't had a chance to ride the Torridon hill tracks yet.

How has owning a bike changed your life?

It's given me a hugely enjoyable sense of freedom, flow and maybe even expression as well as a constant friendly battle with myself to try and get better or fitter. Even a quick trip out on the bike makes you feel good and puts a smile on your face. And it's helped give me a career.

What is your top cycling tip?

Get off the couch and do it.

TweedLove takes place from May 17-31 and Tesco Bank Tour O' The Borders on August 9. For more information, visit tweedlove.com and tourotheborders.com