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Richard loses spare tyres with bike swap

Adam Derbyshire
29/10/2003

TIPPING the scales at 18-stone, burly biker Richard Bradbury decided it was time to lose some weight.

Out went the chips, chocolate, and Chinese takeaways and in came the pasta, press-ups, and push-bike. In addition, the 32 year old began playing squash, pumping weights, and cycling to work every day.

Now just a year later, he has shed a third of his body weight and is down to a lean, mean 12-stone.

To mark his achievement, Richard, of Denton Road, Audenshaw, will take part in a sponsored bicycle ride to the Isle of Man in aid of Children In Need.

He will set off from his home next Friday and pedal to Liverpool before taking the ferry to Manx. Once there, he will do a lap of the famous TT track and then cycle home again.

Richard said: "I'm really looking forward to it. The total distance is 120 miles, so I'm prepared for a few aching muscles by the end. Twelve months ago, I'd have struggled to cycle to the end of my street, never mind the Isle of Man. But I just woke up one day and thought: it's time to go on a diet.

"I've always been quite big, but never bothered to do anything about it. I began working in Hyde, so started cycling to work instead of riding there on my motorbike. I cut out the fatty foods and late suppers and the weight just fell off.

"Every time I stepped on the scales, it just spurred me on. Some of my pals didn't even recognise me when they saw me. I feel absolutely fantastic."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Richard can contact him on 07765 107 597.