What motivated you to start riding?
I was 42 years old and 139kg. Morbidly obese with high blood pressure and suffering depression. I needed to change my life. Running was not much of an option for my knees and I'd always loved cycling.
What positive impact has riding had on your life?
On my first ride I literally fainted due to a lack of fitness and exhaustion. It was a ride of 30km. It took me two weeks to get back on the bike. The more I rode, the more the weight began to drop off, and the more weight I lost, the more I began to ride! I've now lost 30kg and ride upward of 140km per week. I used to get off and walk up the slighted incline. Now I get out of the saddle and power up them. I love using my bike to commute so much that I detest having to drive in traffic and I'm all about beating my PR's on my Strava segments now. As for the high blood pressure...well it has decreased along with my medication. I'm happier and bounce around the office all day when I ride.
Why would you recommend riding to others?
I recommend it every day and have convinced at least three (so far) of my friends to dust off or buy their bikes and join me on the bike paths. I even have my wife out every weekend for a loop around the Brisbane River and she loves it!
