Dean started racing as a junior aged sixteen and 'retired' to focus on other things in life aged twenty-six. During that time he became the first person to win Queensland's biggest race, the Cunningham Classic, on two occasions, spent a season on the kermesse circuit in Belgium and represented Australia at the Oceania Championships.
Some twelve years later Dean started racing again. He quickly progressed through the Queensland grading system and a short eighteen months after getting back on the bike, he achieved the dubious honour of being one of the oldest Elite A grade racers in Queensland, at the age of forty. He focuses mainly on Masters events now.
Dean is a 5x Australian Masters Champion on the velodrome and in 2017 secured Silver and Bronze medals at the World Masters Games, also on the velodrome.
Dean is a 5x Australian Masters Champion on the velodrome and in 2017 secured Silver and Bronze medals at the World Masters Games, also on the velodrome.
Dean is regarded as a respected 'old head' of Queensland cycling. His coaching is based on the principle of replicating event conditions as often and as closely as possible.