HOW CYCLING CHANGED MY LIFE...
When a friend lent Joey Clements, 36, a bike to ‘shift a bit of weight’, he had no idea how it would change his life...
Heaviest: 15st (95kg) 24 per cent body fat Now: 12st 5lb (78kg) 9 per cent body fat
HOW HAS CYCLING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
“Two years ago I was in bad shape and although I was trying to lose weight via the gym it wasn’t really working. Then I made friends with a group of triathletes who did a local Parkrun. One of them lent me a bike to “have a go on” and I first rode out on Boxing Day with a group. I just loved it.”
WHAT PARTICULAR CHANGES DID YOU MAKE?
“It starts with your diet and lifestyle – crack this and you find a new thirst for life and want to do more. I changed my breakfast, making it balanced with protein, fat and carbohydrates. I make better choices when it comes to food too; eating to fuel my days with high-energy carbs for my training early on in the day and simple lowenergy carbohydrates in the evening.”
WHAT IS YOUR CYCLING ROUTINE?
“I ride three times a week, more if I can, with a Sunday ride out in a group for between 30 and 70 miles depending on the weather and commitments. I also ride a local triathlon route (30 miles) before a swim on a Tuesday. Over the winter I do interval sessions to music on the turbo, starting at one hour but increasing every three weeks.
ARE YOU STILL USING YOUR MATE’S BIKE?
“No, now I have a full-carbon Felt F4. I’ve added a set of tri bars to it, and as I’m entering the time trial season I’ve also invested in a time trial helmet and a carbon wheelset to make me more aerodynamic so I can turn a bigger gear and travel faster. From being a sofa surfer two years ago I’ve gone on to cycle up Mount Teide in Tenerife, regularly take part in road time trails and have done four triathlons to date, one of which was a half-Ironman.”