Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer
With the morning's ride over, John Foreman takes a moment to relax at the office. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
FOR MORE than a week pictures of hundreds of riders toiling through the European countryside in the 2,300-mile Tour de France have been flashing across our television screens.
In Jamaica, recreational and competitive riders are less visible. Cycling in the darkness of morning - as early as 4:00 a.m. on weekdays - local cyclists have finished their workout at a time when most people are just getting out of bed.
This week's Flair features three such men.
JOHN P. FOREMAN - CYCLING DOWN
FOR JOHN P. Foreman, cycling is about keeping the pounds away.
Before he started riding, Foreman, Managing Director of General Tool and Supply on South Avenue in St. Andrew, weighed 300 pounds. He dropped 60 pounds and then three years ago his brother, Richard, introduced him to the world of early morning cycling.
Since then the 41-year-old has lost an additional 40 pounds. His steady weight is now 200 pounds, although he has dipped as low as 185.
"Cycling keeps me young," he explained. "Apart from the hair loss, I'm young. Plus, I ride with guys half my age and I'm able to keep up as cycling gives you that level of fitness."
Cycling is probably the best way to keep in shape, added Foreman who attends or participates in most local riding events.
At first, Foreman and his brother rode twice a week, starting at 5:00, from the Kingston airport roundabout to Port Royal and back - a journey of about eight miles. Then they joined an experienced cycling group - Cutters Cycling Club. The diverse group is made up of company directors to unemployed men. Their common interest - the love of cycling.
The group rides four times a week for two hours from the top of Mountain View Avenue to Harbour View, downtown, Port Royal and back to Mountain View Avenue. On Saturdays the riders cycle from Kingston to Bog Walk, St. Catherine, and back - about 40 miles. On Sundays he does a longer, slower ride of between 50 and 70 miles.
He admitted that some mornings he wants to call off the ride, but "At the end I feel like I have done something.
"Cycling has focused my ability on fitness and nutrition. I've cut out sugar and I eat very small amounts of good carbohydrates."
VAUGHN PHANG RIDES FOR THE LOVE OF IT
VAUGH PHANG'S love for cycling began after he passed his Common Entrance Exam in 1986 to attend St. Mary High School.
He got a bicycle as an award for his achievement and has become an avid rider. "Too much of a rider," he said.
He spent most of his time riding until one day he came home from school and his bicycle was missing. "It was not until I finished my CXCs and was helping a neighbour to move that I saw my bicycle in the garage. Nothing more than because I was riding so much my parents took it a away," laughed Phang, 29.
Years later, in 1998, he began cycling again.
A chemist at Paramount Trading on Waltham Park Road in Kingston, Phang is the manager of Cutters Cycling Club and president of the Jamaica Cycling Federation.
Phang said cycling has made him a determined and dedicated person.
"I have been exposed to the highest level of sports - sharing technology and training, seeing how athletes perform professionally and also being forced to be organised."
Phang also noted that it's important for young people to get involved in sports. "It builds character, develops a sense of discipline to be committed to achieve, to communicate more effective with people because cycling is a team, and also enhances one's ability to lead and fosters a healthy life."
Four of his siblings are involved in the sport. His brother, Damion rode for Gamis Cycling team in Florida and came down in 1998 to compete in a tour of Jamaica.
Phang himself has ridden in Jamaica's three national races - Time Trial, National Criterium Championship and the National Road Race and intends to compete in all three again this year.
"The physical challenge of different rides, the social aspects are all enjoyable. But the most fulfilling is the feeling you get from cycling," he added, noting that getting up at 3:00 to cycle is not hard to do.
"I just love the sport. Just last Thursday morning he rode from Liguanea, St. Andrew to Castleton, St. Mary."
ANDRE GORDON, MOUNTAIN BIKING LOVER
SEVEN YEARS ago Andre Gordon wanted to lose weight and decided to take up mountain biking.
However, the bicycle stayed in the house for five years without being ridden. Finding time to ride was difficult, explained Gordon.
Then two years ago he decided to make the time. Today the 40-year-old is a part of a group of friends that goes mountain biking at 5:30 a.m. For security reasons, he prefers not to say where they ride. However, sometimes twice or three weekday mornings the group rides through the hills and mountains for about an hour and a half. On weekends, the rides are four hour long family affairs when riders are often accompanied by their wives or girlfriends.
Gordon said he chose mountain biking because he didn't want to go to the same places every time. In addition, "With mountain biking you are more relaxed. There is more to see and there is little or no traffic, which makes a big difference. It's just off the beaten track."
Gordon also runs, swims and is conscious about what he eats. In the last year he has lost about 65 pounds. At five feet 10 inches he now weighs 185 and 190 pounds.
In mountain biking wearing the proper equipment is critical, he explained Gordon who has had several accidents. The most serious happened last year on a slippery road when his bike went underneath his body. His right side was bruised, he hurt his knees and tore a muscle in his right shoulder. Due to this injury he doesn't swim, as often as he used to.
"It's a part of the game," he reckoned.
He still looks forward to each morning's ride and pushes himself out of bed at 5:00 for the sake of his health.
"I have a nine-year-old and I want to be able to see him grow."
