Follow Director Simon Erridge on his cycling adventure to MIPIM 2018, in support of Coram

13.02.2018

From Simon Erridge, Director at Bennetts Associates

I’ve always enjoyed Regent’s Park; which is just as well, because since January it’s become my regular training ground.

Late last year a couple of consultant colleagues suggested I should enter the ballot for this year’s Club Peloton Cycle to MIPIM.

1500km over 6 days, fully supported. 160 riders from across our industry, supporting Coram, the children’s charity.

Persuaded by their enthusiasm and without much thought of the consequences, I signed up literally minutes before the midnight deadline for entries, and found out a week later I had a place. Momentary elation, then reality dawned, what have I done? I’ve never ridden more than 100 miles before in my life.

I do cycle a bit at weekends, but usually only a couple of hours on a Sunday morning, and I’d lapsed a bit in the latter half of last year, so I was going to need a good training plan.

Flu in December meant that training proper didn’t start until January. There was much ground to make up, both in readiness for the daily routine of the ride which starts at 6am, and the endurance of riding 150 to 200km a day. I’m now riding at least every other day, long rides at weekends of 4-5 hours, shorter bursts of an hour on weekdays.

With four weeks to go I’m getting into the routine of things. The morning are getting marginally lighter, I think I might be feeling a bit stronger and I’m working hard to keep injuries at bay.

That’s where Regents Park comes in: 7am at the zoo gates, the meeting place for weekly training rides, 20 or so riders, most training for MIPIM; architects, engineers, developers, agents. A good cross-section of our industry, individuals barely recognisable amongst the anonymity of cycling kit. Despite the hour and the weather, it is pretty sociable, chatting, comparing notes riding side-by-side whilst bombing round the Outer Circle at 30km/h in the dark, rain, sleet and wind that the winter has thrown at us.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sponsor Simon Erridge's cycle to MIPIM 2018, in support of Coram