My Passion With Neil Oakes

I HAVE worked in residential conveyancing since 1985 and with a busy workload have always found exercise to be the best stress-buster – from playing rugby to completing an indoor rowing ‘marathon’.

However, five years ago I joined my sons on scout camp where the group journeyed around Millington in the Yorkshire Wolds to cycle up and down the hills and dales. We enjoyed it so much that as soon as I returned home I went out and bought a bicycle for myself.

Since then, I have been hooked. Cycling is such an intense sport. It requires all of my attention and concentration – there is no time to think about anything else. When cycling in a group you have to be alert and know at all times where the other riders are; and when you’re on your own you need to focus on your speed and how quickly the pedals are turning to ensure that you get a decent workout.

After a stressful week, there is no tonic or therapy quite like it. I average over 3,000 miles a year.

One amazing adventure was the ascent of Le Mont Ventoux in France. At 6ft 2 and weighing 16 stones, I’m not exactly built for riding a bike uphill. It took me nearly two and three quarter hours to climb the 14 miles to the 6,000ft summit in forty degree heat.

The last nine-and-a-half miles are at an average gradient of 9.4 per cent. I thought many times that I wouldn’t make it to the end, but I did. The descent was worth all the hard work – it only took me 26 minutes to get back down again – and was just incredibly exhilarating.

Cycling can be a dangerous sport and I am never complacent about safety. I always wear a helmet but I’ve had two accidents in the last 18 months. One in France where I fell off on a pan-flat road. My bike snapped into two pieces and my poor left knee resembled a raw beef burger. Another was in Thixendale when my brother-in-law, Garry, crashed in front of me. I had to take evasive action at 40mph and landed in a ditch and then the hospital. I haven’t let these mishaps put me off, though I have to admit that when I’m hurtling downhill towards a bend at 55mph (my record) on 23mm tyres, I do think to myself “Neil, what the hell are you doing?”.

I cycle with a few friends. We recently completed the coast-to-coast ride together – 137 miles from Whitehaven to Sunderland in two days. Last year some of us did the ‘Way of the Roses’ which is 170 miles from Morecambe to Bridlington.

I also like to follow professional cycling and love to visit France each year. You can get up close to the cycling mega-stars and see them in action at the peak of their physical fitness and skill. As well as the Tour de France I have been fortunate to witness their crazy ventures at the Paris-Roubaix race which includes 50 kilometres of racing over cobblestones.