Lewis Gibson Supports the Silverstone 24hr Cycling Grand Prix Networks First is entering 3 teams into the Silverstone 24hr Cycling Grand Prix (14th – 15th September 2013) aiming to raise £5,400 for Prostate Cancer UK. Please support us and give generously to this worthy cause by donating today. As part of the preparation and build up to the event we are aiming to introduce you to each of our cyclists and provide details of their training. You have already been introduced to Mark Holmes, Sallie-Ann Allen, Keith Grubb, Heidi Miles, Sam Witton, Nick Creed and Clive Hodgetts. Our eighth cyclist to introduce is Lewis Gibson… I’ve cycled since childhood, though more as a means of getting around than as a leisure activity e.g. delivering on my paper round, getting to work or to friends’ houses. All I can remember of my first bike was that it was orange and had a long seat in chopper style, probably a Raleigh as that was what you bought in the 80s from Halfords! I progressed to a BMX and then onto mountain bikes which I have been using since. My current is a Claude Butler Trail Ridge which was an insurance replacement for a Halfords own-brand sale bike which was stolen. I’ve had it about 6 years and it’s been kindly refurbished by Nick and Mark so the brakes actually work and back wheel is no longer wonky! I keep this one in our house though we should be getting a bike shed soon, might hurry it along if I have 2 bikes in our dining room! I have just ordered a new road bike – a Specialized Allez Compact 2013 – bought in part for the bike challenge as well as to have something lighter and faster and more suitable for road riding – it should be about 8kg less than my current bike and with the road tyres and better design should hopefully add a couple of MPH to my average speed. Since the start of the year I have been working more seriously on fitness – making an effort to go to the gym each day as well as running and cycling outside and my hockey umpiring. For our hockey AGM in March I decided to see if I could cycle the 21 mile round trip and survived that so when the company needed a couple of subs for Silverstone, I volunteered as the challenge was something specific I could aim towards as well as supporting a cause very close to our company’s heart. Since I volunteered I have been increasing my training outside and am looking forward to getting the new bike in July and putting in the miles for training, getting up to an hour a trip would be the first goal and then see about riding the 9 miles each way to work a couple of times a week so I can get used to the hours needed for the 6 hours of cycling needed for the challenge. Then it’s lycra shopping time… Please support Lewis and his colleagues at Networks First by giving generously to this worthy cause. Don’t delay, donate today.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 09:10:49 +0000