Lewis Cole

Ride Group: F4

Forge London CC | Member photo - Lewis Cole

What kind of rider are you?

I began taking cycling a little more seriously around three years ago after commuting by bike for a couple of months. Since then my competitiveness has got the better of me and I started training in a more structured way and then racing in local criterium races in 2021 – so I guess you could call me a “keen amateur racer”!

How often do you ride?

I try to average 10-12 hours per week, which probably means riding five days a week and that will often be split between indoor interval sessions, commuting to work, and group rides with Forge on a Thursday and/or at the weekend.

Why do you ride?

In terms of training and racing, I enjoy the process of trying to improve, hitting my power targets, and then testing myself against others. More generally though, I love how far you are able to travel by bike under your own power, and the places you can visit and adventures you can have along the way.

Do you have any cycling targets this year?

At the season’s last race in September I managed to secure enough British Cycling points to graduate from Cat. 4 up to Cat. 3, so I’m really looking forward to trying to step up and compete in 2022. I’m also hoping to travel a little more than has been possible in the last 12-18 months so will perhaps tick off one or two bucket list locations such as the Dolomites in Italy or Girona in Spain.

When you’re not cycling, what do you get up to?

I have a young daughter so cycling and tinkering with my bikes is often squeezed in around looking after her, fun family outings, and working in the urban utopia that is Canary Wharf!