At Pillar, we are building the next generation of cycling training. A key part of what we do as a brand, is talk to members of our community, and understand what motivates you all to get on the bike and complete your training week after week. 

We were lucky enough to get an insight into one of our newest members, Chris Glover. We wanted to know how he got into to cycling and what motivates him. For Chris, it started as a way to manage his weight. 

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I started cycling just over 4 years ago, when I was 39. When I was younger, I played a lot of football and trained at the gym regularly, but having given that up, I had started started to put on weight. The tipping point was when I went on holiday and had some professional photos taken. I didn’t like the way my weight was heading, so I bought a bike so that I could just go out when I wanted to without paying for a gym membership.

My first ride was 5 miles to a local country park. I had no idea about the gears and was nervous riding out on the road. I found it really hard, especially as there are some ‘false flats’ that I hadn’t realised were, in fact, far from flat when I had driven the route in a car. I got home that day absolutely exhausted, but I kept on riding the same route, and the more I did it, the better I got at it. I soon built up to 18 miles going to another country park and back, which was my goal when I started. 

My cousin was a road cyclist, so after I had conquered my initial goal, I started riding with him and his other cycling friends. This was great as it also became a social thing, and I was enjoying making new friends and connections. Having these new connections and sense of community helped me to achieve bigger rides, although I would still get dropped on hills as they had been riding for years. You’ve got to start somewhere, right?

Just as Covid hit, I had managed to get some free coaching and hired a Wattbike during lockdown. The consistent structured riding improved my fitness so much, and I became a lot faster as well as feeling the fittest I had felt in a while. I also started to do sportives, as I really enjoy the longer rides. 

I stayed with my coach after the trial session because I loved having the rides set out for me. I find that having structure makes me get on the bike and get them done, especially when you can see the results on my outdoor rides. I was then training for my cycling stag do in Mallorca and riding 223 miles in the Rapha Manchester to London charity ride. 

This year, I have started Zwift racing and I’m racing a Crit series in May and doing Ride London raising money for Parkinson’s UK as I lost my dad to Parkinson’s last year.

I’m using Pillar to log my rides and track my progress towards my goal, which is currently set to Ride London. I’m enjoying how it helps me manage my training load, and adapts every time I have to make last minute changes to my rides or routine. 

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Follow Chris’ cycling journey on his Instagram page here

You can find more information about Chris’ mission to raise money for Parkinson’s UK here

We would love to share your personal cycling story. Please send yours to imogen@pillar-app.com