Brian Lewis was two days off ending his Land’s Finish to John o’ Groats problem when he ended up in a heap on the ground. It was a Thursday night, rush hour in Inverness, and the 87-year-old’s resort for the night time was simply two miles away. The run-in was principally downhill.
“Then I hit a large pothole,” he says. “The bike went a method, I went the opposite. I misplaced the entrance wheel and consequently ended up that night time in Inverness A&E division.”
By that time, Lewis had ridden for 12 days straight. He had set out from England’s southernmost tip, handed via his dwelling in Gloucestershire, and climbed up and over the Scottish border. Nonetheless wearing his biking equipment, he waited patiently within the hospital.
“I used to be lucky that the registrar walked in together with his physician’s accreditation round his neck, and it was hanging on a UCI tabard factor, so I used to be in right away. Each the medical doctors I noticed have been cyclists,” he tells Biking Weekly.
The analysis was clear: “I’d damaged two ribs, and had six stitches within the knee, which was very tough to bend,” he says. However whereas many would have referred to as it a day on the bike experience, Lewis discovered a deeper will to proceed. “They checked out me and mentioned, ‘You’re not going to cease are you?’” he recollects, “and I mentioned, ‘No!’”
Two days later, Lewis arrived in John o’ Groats on the head of his 18-rider group. The ultimate stretch was a battle, he says, however he was in a position to pose for pictures beside the well-known signpost, bandaged up, as one of many oldest riders to ever full the problem. The close to 900-mile journey took him simply 14 days.
“Initially, I used to be going after the title of being the oldest, however sadly a 90-year-old vicar beat me – he had the Lord on his facet,” Lewis laughs. “He did it in a month… Based on Pedal Britain, who ran the experience, I’m the quickest over 80.”
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(Picture credit score: Brian Lewis)
Born within the late Thirties, Lewis took up biking on the age of 14, when he joined his native Royal Forest of Dean Biking Membership. He continued to experience via his teenage years, however later fell out of the behavior as an grownup.
It wasn’t till his mid-seventies, following the loss of life of his spouse, Christine, that Lewis rediscovered his love for the bicycle. “It was a large life change as a result of we have been married for 50 years,” he says. “I hadn’t ridden a motorcycle for 15 years.”
By the use of coping with the bereavement, he dusted off his previous bike from the storage, changed the perished inside tubes, and commenced by driving simply 5 miles. Quickly after, he rode 10 miles, after which 20. Quick ahead to 2023, and Lewis was a world champion, successful the grasp’s time trial in his 85-89 age bracket in Glasgow.
“That was my dream day,” he says, his “cider accent” coming to the fore. “I believe there have been 450 riders, and I used to be the oldest. They really gave me a motorcycle escort. It was just like the Tour de France.”
Actually, Lewis was the one competitor in his area that day, that means he solely needed to end to safe a rainbow jersey. “It proved to me that, if I maintain going, the competitors will die,” he laughs.
“Within the UK, they publish an inventory every year of riders who’ve raced over age 80. I’m quantity six on the listing, and I’m creeping up.”
Lewis together with his coaching companion, Sue, who rode alongside him.
(Picture credit score: Brian Lewis)
For his LEJOG problem, Lewis started coaching final winter, driving long-distance audax occasions together with his pal, Sue. He knew what it could take to finish the 900-odd miles – he had ridden them earlier than, aged 81 in 2019, when it took him two weeks, the identical time he managed earlier this month.
His newest effort, he says, felt “relentless – this time it was more durable. I’m six years older and the hills have gotten steeper.”
Will he be again in three years to beat the vicar’s document? “I don’t find out about that. I’ll must take up the religion,” he provides with amusing.
Nearly every week has now handed since Lewis rode into John o’ Groats. His physique continues to be black and blue with bruising from his crash, and his stitched-up knee continues to trigger him hassle. “As a trial, I went out on an electrical bike yesterday and I managed to get about 18 miles in, to flex the physique once more,” he says.
It’s all a part of a mantra that the 87-year-old likes to dwell by: “Journey not dementia.”
“I actually consider that your bodily situation is expounded very a lot to your psychological state – they go hand in glove. There are such a lot of folks that retire and find yourself doing nothing and vegetate,” Lewis says. “I don’t wish to be one among them.”
Brian Lewis is elevating cash for Macmillan Most cancers Assist in reminiscence of his spouse, Christine. Donations will be made through his JustGiving web page.
