HOW CYCLING CHANGED MY LIFE…
A former club cyclist returned to cycling weighing almost 20st
WHAT’S YOUR CYCLING HIS T ORY?
“I did road racing and TTs and became Saracens RC Junior Best All Rounder 1975 and 1976 riding with record breaker Paul Carbutt. After a serious crash on the track I lost my way and stopped cycling.”
WHY DID YOU GE T BACK ON T HE BIK E ?
“I was 59 and nearly 20 stone suffering with high blood pressure and borderline diabetic. I had 41 per cent body fat. I joined a gym and trained cardio three times a week on an exercise bike. When I’d lost nearly 10 stone in weight, I decided to buy a Ribble 883.”
HOW DID YOU PEDA L OF F T HE POUNDS?
“Early morning fasting, cardio on the exercise bike followed by a protein-based breakfast, I did this three times a week along with a Saturday bike ride of minimum 40 miles – though I always tried to do at least 60 miles. After I started getting fitter, I would do a sportive on a Sunday too.”
WHAT DID YOU E AT ?
“I cut out all heavy carbs - bread, potato, pasta – and stopped eating processed food. I have fresh fruit, salads, nuts, fish, turkey breast, beans and pulses. I now regularly ride in sportives and last year I completed my first 10-mile TT in 23:20.”
HOW HAS CYCLING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
“I suffered from depression whilst going through this transformation and sometimes I would go and have a look around bike shops, look at the clothing, bikes etc – I’d say to myself ‘I can do this’. This encouraged me to continue.”
TOP TIPS
Set manageable goals. My first was to use an exercise bike for more than two minutes. Once achieved I reset and I continue to do this. My next goal is LEJOG.