London to Edinburgh and back on a Brompton fold up bike
Chris Lovitt is preparing for the cycle challenge of a lifetime – London to Edinburgh and back… on a Brompton!
The Deputy Director of Public Health at City of London and Hackney Council will cover around 300km each day during the six-day challenge; covering a total of 1,540km. He’ll cycle for 20 hours per day and rest for just four and will burn around 60,000 calories in total.
He said: “I’ve been a keen cyclist for the past 20 years and I’ve always had a passion for Bromptons. Choosing to cycle the event on a fold up Brompton simply adds to the uniqueness and challenge and I hope it’ll help me raise more funds! These bikes have little wheels and not many gears, so it’ll be interesting over the moors and hills of Scotland!”
He’ll be raising funds for the Lord Mayor of London's Appeal and the Hackney Speaker's chosen charities, which include Hackney Foodbank, Hackney Marsh Partnership and the Pedro Club. He’ll also be supporting Positive East.
Chris added: “Healthy eating and nutrition is what is going to get me through and so fundraising for the food bank feels very poignant.”
Every Friday night in the run up to the event, he’s been cycling 400km from London to Thetford and back.
The route will take Chris from the Guildhall in London up to the Humber bridge, over to the west coast and up through the borders into Edinburgh before turning round to complete the return. He’s got special headphones that will still allow him to hear the traffic, while he listens to music along the way.
Chris, 54, said: “I’m saving the music till later in the ride, till I’m really fed up! I’ll be able to chat a bit with other riders (until they overtake me!).”
Organised by Audax UK, the event features 21 control points where participants can stop to sleep, eat, shower and have their bikes checked over by mechanics.
As a veteran cyclist, Chris has previously taken part in challenges from London to Suffolk, Brighton, Berlin and Paris. On their honeymoon, he and his husband Leeroy cycled from Atlanta to New Orleans.
He said: “I just think cycling is the smartest way of getting around London and, on holiday, it’s a really nice way of slowly seeing places.
“My focus at work is on improving people’s health and wellbeing through healthy eating. Poverty reduction is so important so the work of the food bank in making sure people can feed themselves healthy food is essential in these difficult times, as are access to good housing and employment.”
The event takes place from August 3rd. To sponsor Chris, visit: London Edinburgh London Cycle Challenge: Lord Mayor's Appeal, Hackney Speaker's Charities & Positive East - GiveWheel