This architect carries his love of cycling into the digital world, to track down bike parts, get technical information and watch the Tour de France. That doesn’t leave much time for Facebook or his phone

What’s your favourite site?

It’s sheldonbrown.com – the recently deceased, highly-regarded bike nutter Sheldon Brown’s amazing source of technical information on bicycles. Interested in your gain ratio? Use the online gear calculator! This man knew everything you need to know, and a lot more besides.

What are you watching online?

In addition to a range of specialist Japanese keirin track-racing bike parts (all conforming to strict weight regulations) I have resorted to eBay to track down a Helvetica letraset, to transfer lettering onto paper. You can’t get it in shops any more and it gives that slightly wonky, old-fashioned edge to text.

What’s in your digital holster?

An office-issued HTC Touch Phone, which I find completely infuriating to use, but then I threw away the instructions before I turned it on for the first time.

What was the last book you bought online?

Filthy English – Jonathan Meades’ depraved short stories. Meades is an acerbic commentator on the built environment, and his recent BBC series Magnetic North included a great dead-pan denunciation of architect Alvar Aalto (usually irreproachable) and the “artlessly arty architects and all-purpose beardies” who self-build houses inhis honour.

What’s your preferred meeting place – a social networking site or down the pub?

The only discernable benefit of Facebook is that it might prevent me forgetting my girlfriend’s birthday. I’m not a member. See you in the Slaughtered Lamb in Clerkenwell for a pint.

What’s your most recently downloaded TV programme or film?

Tour de France! I don’t have a TV, so ITV4 online player enabled me to tune in to the tour. It was great to see Carlos Sastre win, because he was first to the top of Alpe d’Huez, and Cadel Evans lose by failing to attack him.

What’s your preferred means of communication – email, blog or scented letter?

I phone people more and more. If an email is more than about 50 words long, nobody reads it, so I try to call people and tell them what’s going on instead.

What shall we play?

Naturally, I liked the hugely enjoyable track racing day at Herne Hill velodrome, organised by Building. I like to get out road cycling whenever I can – it’s supposed to be friendly, but then my friends are too competitive. I don’t do PlayStation.

What’s your most-played iTune?

Probably Girlfriend is Better by Talking Heads – end of the amazing live album Stop Making Sense.

Postscript

Philip Turner is associate director at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris