News: The Pedal Club Lunch (February)

The February Pedal Club lunch, the first under the chairmanship of the new President Graham Temple, saw guest speaker Phil Cavell, author of ‘The Midlife Cyclist’, attend

News: The Pedal Club Lunch (February)
by Chris Lovibond

The February Pedal Club lunch, the first under the chairmanship of the new President Graham Temple, saw guest speaker Phil Cavell, author of ‘The Midlife Cyclist’, attend as guest speaker. Phil Cavell is one of the founders of Cyclefit (of Covent Garden) and also the author of ‘The Midlife Cyclist’. His talk centred on this book which has evidently, and perhaps unexpectedly, turned out to be in tune with the spirit of the times. Originally offered to the public in the summer of 2021, the publisher was not optimistic – “not a good time…….we’ll just have to wait and see” – the book is now approaching its seventh reprint!

In the past, it was often assumed that cyclesport was the province of working class ‘lads’; but it is clear that this idea is now completely outdated. The new entrant in the twenty first century is middle-aged and affluent. Cyclefit, the business, caters for this new breed and clearly provides an effective and professional service: for example’ there are some clients in their seventh decade aiming at a sub twenty minute 10 mile time trial, and succeeding.

However, Phil Cavell says his book is not a ‘how to’ manual, it is intended to discuss the philosophy behind the concept of taking a sedentary middle aged person and showing them how to achieve athletic feats which would have astonished earlier generations, including many Pedal Club members. The book covers questions such as: Is exercise always good? What can be expected from a middle-aged rider? And, most fundamentally, should you do it?

There was a question and answer session after the talk which provided a useful exchange of ideas and it can be said that even the expert Phil was taken aback by the apparent youthfulness of one eighty-eight year old Pedal Club member.

There were fifty members and guests at the meeting. The March lunch will move to a new venue: The Civil Service Club in Whitehall.