David Brookes Chesterfield Royal Hospital case study - cycling to work during covid-19

1. ACTIVE TRAVEL CRH STAFF CASE STUDIES DAVID BROOKS CASE STUDY Ihave applied for an e-bike on the scheme and am awaiting delivery. I had cycled to work in the past but for various reasons this waned. At the beginning of lockdown two things happened. Firstly the roads became empty providing the perfect cycle track. Also as Boris was admitted to ICU my university year WhatsApp group became live with a flurry of ICU docs posting things such as “He’s not a good shape for venting”! As a man the same age as Boris with hypertension and a BMI of 29 who was daily attending patients on the COVID wards I realised something had to change. I couldn’t change my age and the hypertension is a family trait so there was only one thing. Almost every day during lockdown (excepting about 7 rainy days – I wear glasses and cannot see when it rains) I have cycled to work (the no parking fee has helped psychologically as I usually pay £40+ and would feel I was wasting that by not using it. Crow lane was a challenge - made worse by cars revving behind you. Then crow lane was car free – yippee. I have also cut the carbs. I have lost 2stone 4 lb and cut my time up “the evil section” of crow lane from 3.27 to 2.39. I have always been a weekend cyclist but while I was the “Fat lad at the back” now others struggle to hold my wheel. The reason for getting an e-bike is because I doubt I will ever get up crow lane without breaking into a sweat that lasts at least half an hour and delays the shower. I hope with the e-bike to be able to get to work in work clothes. But I will probably switch the e off on the way home to get a good workout. I tested antibody positive so clearly survived COVID not only without ICU but without symptoms – clearly the strategy worked. Best wishes David