Some of you will remember our Friday Featured Riders posts?
Well they’re back! First up for 2022 is Greg Davis who rode in 2018 and 2019 (raising huge amounts for WWMT – chapeau!) and will be returning this summer as a Grand Looper once more.
Q. The last 2 years have been tough for everyone and we’ve all tried to cope in different ways. In terms of your cycling, were you more ON the bike or OFF it?
Like for everyone the world changed in March 2020 when covid came about. I was unfortunate enough to catch it in London early on and had a 40 degree temperature for 4 days. Post that and into lockdown life was very different. Suddenly my hectic travelling went from flying everywhere and commuting regularly to sat at my desk in my office. I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands. I managed to do a lot of cycling but nothing long and a lot of alcohol, probably like many of you!!
Q. How have you managed to turn that around?
My riding was all too short and followed by wine. I needed the Loop to rescue me!! I always knew deep down that 2021 was going to get cancelled so I had 2 years without a target. The 2022 Loop is much more likely so has given me the target to stop drinking and get back to 6 days a week intensive training. When I did the 2018 Loop I was living in Togo and did most of my training on my kickr. I am back to that using Trainer Road during the week with the short days and outside at weekends. I find structured training great for losing weight and getting that FTP up (Ed. Functional Threshold Power: FTP is the average number of watts that a rider can sustain in an hour, and acts as a current measure of fitness). Its back up to 280 now and I hope to get it to 300 before we ride and the weight back down to 70kg.
Q. How has cycling helped you over the past 2 years?
I have enjoyed cycling without a goal but just to get out. I found it great to get fresh air when home and office became the same place. Being able to cycle past my parents house was great when I wasn’t in that group partying!!
Q. Have your cycling goals changed over the last 2 years?
My goals were not focused as the Loop had been cancelled. I now have a real goal and look forward to following Rob’s wheel up the mountains again (Ed. Rob’s a fellow Le Loop Alumni … his is a good wheel to try and follow!)
Q. What are you most looking forward to/hoping to gain from riding Le Loop this summer?
Catching up with Loopers from past tours and meeting new people. Its a perfect route for me. Tootling around the flat week and then rushing up the mountains. I can’t wait!
Greg’s photo is a montage from left to right: 1 year ago, today, where he will be by end June (photo taken in July 2018).
Big thanks to Greg for agreeing to be our Friday Featured Rider. And if his photo montage doesn’t inspire and motivate you, I’ll eat my cycling cap! Bravo!