To further our aim of helping riders fulfil their potential we have decided to assist Ed Wilson in his quest to compete at the Rio Paralympics next year. Who is Ed ? read on to find out . . .
Introducing Edward Wilson
Date of Birth: 15. 03. 92
From: Walton le Dale, Preston
Currently studying for a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering at The University of Manchester.
Ed was born in Preston in 1992, and was found to have a short left arm. Despite this, he has always been an avid sportsman, ranging from competing nationally at para-swimming events in his early teens, and playing rugby from age 11 to 21, culminating in captaining the rugby team at University. Edward decided to take up road cycling at 18, this is when he came into Wallis Cycles with his Dad Gary, and Martin made a cyclo-cross bike with all the controls on the right side for both brakes, and front and rear gears. Ed progressed very quickly, and was soon giving Martin a hard time on the bike! Martin then suggested a quicker road bike. He acquired a Pinarello, and converted this to the same spec. He did some informal training, this lead to him taking part in a paracycling circuit event at Salt Ayre, Lancaster put on by teamwallis/Wallis Cycles. Ed rode well, racing against athletes who went on to compete and win medals at London 2012. Due to studying commitments at university in Manchester at the time cycling had to take a backseat, with the plan being to take it seriously in 2013/14 with the aim to make the para-cycling setup, but he continued to ride and follow the sport just for fun.
In January 2014, Edward’s plans had to change, his tenacity and resolve were put to the test due to being diagnosed with Stage 3, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. This was a knock to the plans, he was forced to take time out from university, and sports and life in general. Undaunted Ed fought the disease with his usual courage and verve. Following 9 months of successful treatment, Edward was able to resume training once more. This break from sport made him realise how much he enjoyed competing and spurred him on to train to become fitter than before his illness. The idea was born to train to be able to compete at the national paracycling time trial championships in October 2015, with the view to hopefully breaking into the British paracycling set-up, and either being considered for Rio 2016, or the Para Worlds in 2017.
Following a winter of hard training to regain his fitness he has started competing at cycling time trials with his times dropping weekly. In the pursuit of faster times and to help with bike control he has started riding using a prosthetic arm (something he had always avoided for 18 years of cycling). To help with weight and comfort a new carbon fibre version of the arm is on its way!
Ed started competing for the first time trial at Southport, on the 11th of June, he rode a standard bike and posted a 27min 39secs for 10miles, finishing 26th out of 36 riders. The next event was similar the week after. Martin was now coaching Ed, and with two weeks of intervals, and training, we were hoping for a better time. The GB rider at London, Jon-Allan Butterworth did the equivalent of a 24min 40secs on a Special Carbon Time Trial bike, on a race track with closed roads. Martin knows from experience with the team, a ‘TT’ bike is worth between 1min and 1min 30secs, an Aero Helmet approx 20secs, and a Disc 20secs, plus at least 30secs for no braking and taking corners flat out. With this in mind we would need a 26min 30secs to be faster than Jon-Allan, Ed did a 25min 14secs on a slightly short course, a 25min 40secs for full distance. A massive result!
With this done Martin once again has built another bike, below is the first Time Trial race bike Ed has ridden, built with help from Shimano UK (Madison) the bike is equipped with state of the art electronic gears, and has a bike-fit and race prep by Martin.
We are pleased to help with Ed’s quest and are helping fund his second bike – essential in case there are any mechanicals in a race. Hopefully this will be a start of a Golden Dream.
Watch this space . . .
