Melanie Johnson
We often have teams of colleagues taking part and Alitex have ridden with us 3 times, bringing colleagues along each time – making it both a team building exercise and a seriously fun shared challenge. Teams of colleagues also mean that they often include riders who have very little experience of cycling, but want to be part of the team challenge. Melanie is a perfect example:
Name: Melanie Johnson
Age: 46
Location: Hampshire
Experience
I had an original Raleigh Racer as a youngster (35 years ago!!) and would cycle around 12 miles through the Yorkshire countryside to the nearest sweet shop with my siblings & more recently used to potter around when my boys were little with one in the seat and the other on the tag along but that is it! And I hadn’t really been on a bike for 15 years choosing to run instead. A broken ankle and snapped Achilles 18 months ago put paid to this (and I was going a little stir crazy through lack of exercise) so when I joined Alitex in Jan ’18 and learned of the company’s participation in Le Loop my interest was piqued … I signed up to Le Loop in March, bought a bike and got cycling!
Le Loop was an amazing experience! The dedication of the organisers and staff was palpable and infectious and having visited one of the charities to benefit, I was proud to be involved in such an essential and worthwhile venture. As for the cycling, I honestly loved every minute – I'd had no doubt that I would make it round, but once on the bike and in the pack my “Northern Grit” kicked in and I was away – with maybe more enthusiasm than skill (still haven’t mastered the difference between High and Low gears!) but I had a ball and feel really proud of not only getting round but the way in which I did so and I recognised a determination and belief in myself that having decided to do something, I will do it!