Jim Langley, a brother of Temple Lodge No 1094 in the Liverpool Group, having completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks, took on another challenge, that being the Liverpool to Chester bike ride. Some of his brothers in the lodge think he is now becoming the new Anika Rice.
The bike ride is a historic event, a thrilling, non-competitive bike ride experience that caters for all ages and abilities and covers a range of distances from 5 miles for families with children and beginners, to 100 miles for the serious cyclists. Starting with the unique opportunity to cross the famous Mersey, through Liverpool’s Birkenhead, Queensway Tunnel traffic free. The annual event is an anticipated highlight in many cycling enthusiasts’ calendar.
Jim has been cycling for approximately four years and started after advice from his doctors to assist in recovery of a prolapsed disk. After explaining to his wife that he was taking up the sport, and the reason behind it, he started to investigate the suitable equipment and biking equipment. Jim chooses a suitable bib, helmet, bib set and cleated shoes, and of course a bike.
Jim had assistance from his father-in-law who was an avid road racing cyclist, and they were soon completing 20 to 25-mile routes as an introduction to his new sport, with Jim then joining a Saturday morning cycling club, which he says was the best decision he could have made. Having met many other cyclists, he was soon riding at different speeds, routes and distances. As he progressed, he also met new cyclists and even ended up becoming their initial tutor on rides of 30 miles, with good pacing.
It was the meeting of the new cyclists where he discovered the 52-mile Liverpool to Chester and return event. Jim signed himself up and selected his charity, that being that of Cancer Research, the same charity he nominated for his Yorkshire Three Peaks, and a charity close to his heart.
It was on the Sunday morning that Jim found himself at the Liverpool tunnel entrance, at 7:30am with another 3,000 cyclists, who were also ready to brave the wind and the rain. Jim powered by wine gums and Soreen completed his 52 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Jim then decided having completed the challenge he would also cycle home, this allowed him to reflect on the amount of cyclist that had taken part to try to assist in combatting a disease that had affected and affects every family.
On his arrival home, he was again treated like a hero, with his newly acclaimed medal being swiftly taken from him by his children and paraded around the neighbours. Jims’s donation page is still open, and any donations would be greatly received. Please click here to donate.
