By the middle of July two colleagues from Scottish Widows’ IT department will have covered around 265 miles on their bikes, after taking part in three closed-road endurance cycling challenges.
IT manager Colin Falconer and software developer Peter O’Shea have followed the 80-mile Tours of Flanders route on March 30th, one day ahead of the professionals, then will be entering the 85-mile Etape Caledonia in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care on May 12th and the 100-mile Etape du Tour in Haute-Savoie on July 7th in aid of Get Kids Going.
The pair, who are neighbours in Union Mills, are in intensive training ahead of their next two challenges. Mr Falconer, 42, explained: ‘I’ve been cycling for about three years now but these events are my first endurance-level experiences, whereas Peter, who’s 54, has been cycling for around 40 years.
‘The Etape du Tour is especially demanding as it’s almost all uphill in the Alps, including a 19-kilometre-long climb, so I’m using locations like the Sloc, Injebreck and Colby Glen Road for practice.
‘My wife, Sarah, has become a “cycling widow” as I’m out riding about 70 to 80 miles a week: two training sessions during the week and one at the weekend. But it’s all in support of some great causes.’
Throughout the trio of challenges the pair will be wearing fleeces sponsored by Scottish Widows, part of the Lloyds Banking Group. The company’s Isle of Man managing director Juan Clarke said: ‘Central to our “Great Place to Work” programme is to encourage colleagues, individually and collectively, to help do good in the local community for which clearly Colin and Peter are worthy ambassadors and we wish them well in all three events.’
Photo - Scottish Widows fundraising ‘spokesmen’ Peter O’Shea and Colin Falconer.
