Chris’s story started during COVID as it did with many people. The daily exercise allowance and surprisingly good weather led to a huge upsurge in bike sales. Chris bought a road bike and was out most mornings through spring and summer. Towards the end of that summer, he did approach a local club but was told to come back when he was fitter / better average speed. In Chris’s words “it would have been better if they just told me I was too slow and overweight” Which still would have been wrong but honest. Then winter came the weather turned wet and dark, so the bike was assigned to the shed, where it stayed for a few years.
One morning in March 2023 Chris decided to stand on the scales and saw the needle start to go above 20 stone and not stop. He was also struggling with the bereavement of his son 14 months previous. Something clicked that day, and he realised that he needed to do something, so he dusted off ‘the COVID bike’ and bought a Wattbike so he couldn’t use the weather as an excuse and started spinning again. He also started to watch the calories. Being very overweight it was easy for Chris to see results in his weight and improvements to his fitness, this help spur him on to continue. Getting out on a bike was great for both his physical and mental health. Chris was losing weight, getting fitter, and it gave him a release for his frustrations, allowing him the time to go through things in his head.
After COVID Chris stopped biking due the cold and dark nights so this time he bought a mountain bike to keep going through the winter months. Off roading cycling was not something he was confident with and wasn’t very keen on going out, but he was determined. This prompted Chris to look again at clubs. He started looking at social media and another local club Trilogy CC were doing some different activities mainly off road. In November 2023 he thought he would contact them to see what they thought and was welcome instantly. Chris’s first ride was to help bed in the Camperdown CX track. Little did he know this introduction would become one of his passions in his life.
Winter went well as did Chris’s journey. In February 2024 he had lost over 8 stone and, in his words, “it was a nightmare” to get to where he was now with the diets and getting back into cycling. However, it was also the first time he had been able to stick to a diet and not have the yoyo diet effect. This was down to a will to get fitter and faster.
As mentioned earlier Chris could see his waistline getting narrower and his ability to cycle up hills didn’t fill him with as much dread, the positives were outweighing the negatives. The other thing was his club, Trilogy CC who were there to support him and get him out along with others during those dark winter months on club rides. Without the support from everyone in Trilogy, cycling would have most likely fizzled out over that winter.
Club members mentioned in early 2024 that Chris should have a go at racing Cyclocross, but at this point, he was “not interested”. However, in the summer of that year there was some taster Cyclocross events in Dundee ran by Trilogy CC, Chris decided to have a go and loved it.
It wasn’t just the race it was everything about the event. Chris was used to club life where everyone rides, chats and is very friendly. The races were the same and bucked the social norms where people are in their own little bubbles floating around in life oblivious of the people around them. Fair to say he was hooked.
Chris embraced the whole CX racing scene after that. He set personal goals like ‘don’t come last’ but over a very short period of time, he started to see results. Chris is currently place second in the overall standings in the Super Quiach (race B)
That day in March 2023 Chris made a promise to himself to do better. He now has his own routines including morning yoga then he spends 5 minutes in an ice bath every day in his back garden. How does he do it every day even in the winter?
“If you can break a promise to yourself then your word means nothing. Keep it and you can do anything. “
In a recent race, Battle of the Bings near Broxburn, Chris had an advantage. He was over 20 stone for a number of years and his legs were used to the stresses that entailed. Losing all the weight and getting fitter at the same time seems to have allowed Chris to tap into some strength. Short sprits up hills and bursts of power on the track come naturally and more easily to him resulting in a third-place finish. This was then replicated at Tross Cross at Gartmore House a few weeks later. Chris said he “almost brought up his breakfast” up in the Brechin CX race on the last lap heading up the terraces.
In 2 years, Chris has gone from 20 Stone to Podium in not just the cycling world but also in his family life. His young daughters come along to cheer him on at Turbo Cross. They initially thought they were going to stand in a park watching Dad going round a track for ages but quickly realised he was doing rather well and now have cow bells and look forward to the events.
So where next? Well, two CX races left and then the SXC series is round the corner and in his sights, but Chris has also entered an Olympic distance triathlon. The T100 in London in August this year, which he is doing both as a personal challenge but also for charity.
Chris can now run up the hills faster than when he first started his journey on a bike. It’s the small realisations about his progress that keep him going. The charity was set up after Chris’s sons passing, it is to help provide families the opportunity to spend time together, on the little things in life that help make the best memories.
The Charity is Little Things, Big Memories SC052985