HOW CYCLING CHANGED MY LIFE...
Mark Fairhead lost 10 stone in becoming a time trial fanatic
WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE BEFORE THE BIKE?
It was a minefield of health problems - living off takeaways and junk food with the net result that I was over 23 stone and suffering back, breathing and sleep problems.
HOW DID CYCLING HELP?
My wife joined a slimming group and unknown to me I was ‘accidently’ following the same diet plan. After several months my weight was coming down. At 19 stone I felt confident enough to ride my old bike, a 1990s Peugeot. I added a few new components and went for a few rides, just 5 miles or so to start with, gradually increasing the distance as I got fitter and soon noticed further weight loss.
WHAT ELSE DID YOU DO TO SHIFT THE WEIGHT?
I got my wife a bike and she joined in, soon we were doing 40-mile rides. Then I joined Cycling Club Breckland and started to compete in club time trials. As time progressed my weight tumbled down to 13 stone 10lb at one point. While my cycling performance improved so did my bikes, including a Pinnacle, a Giant Trinity A1 time trial bike and a Kona Jake (for audaxing), plus a singlespeed for going to the shops.
WHAT ARE YOUR CYCLING ACHIEVEMENTS?
Over a 10-year period I have lost 10 stone and clocked up over 50,000 miles, including two 400km audaxes and countless time trials. I finished four 12-hour time trials with a personal best of 231 miles. I organise time trial events and club runs. This year I aim to break the hour at a 25-mile time trial and beat my 100 miles PB of four hours, 21mins, plus 300km and 400km audaxes.
TOP TIPS
Going vegan has helped. On average at least two-thirds of my plate is vegetables; greens, carrots and at least 400g of spinach. Has cycling changed your life? Email us at cyclingplus@immediate.co.uk