At Activ we want you to feel part of our world and we want you to get to know us a little better, so we’ve got our next instalment of our Activ Heroes Series.
Next in line is Fred!
Fred started life in the Big Smoke, but now lives in Dover. He’s a Cytec qualified mechanic based in our Ashford shop and has been a valued team member at Activ since March 2022. He used to play rugby but came over to the dark side when he started riding road bikes and training hard in 2019.
We’ll let him do the talking.
Fred’s Bikes
My biking stable is a good one; I currently have 4 bikes including a Gravel Bike, Winter Road Bike, a project build and my latest addition the Trek Émonda SL 5. I ride road bikes and get out in the summer, but all my winter riding is indoors on the trainer – my bikes are all road bikes.
My latest and favourite is the Trek Émonda SL 5, one of Trek’s fastest climbing bikes. It’s fast because it’s lightweight, with a carbon frame and it’s designed with all new aero tube shaping to create the aerodynamics you need to smash it in your road race. My Émonda comes with the Shimano 105 group set and hidden cable routing. Everything about this road bike is designed for speed.
As anyone into bikes knows, a bit of customisation goes a long way. So far, I’ve upgraded the bars to aero bars and stem following a bike fit to improve aerodynamics during outdoor rides. I’m also adding a carbon seat post and Bontrager 51” Carbon wheels to make the bike even lighter, and I’m planning a group set upgrade to Praxis 1x – 52 tooth chainring and Shimano Ultegra HG-800 11-34T Cassette.
Fred On Indoor Cycling
When Covid hit, I discovered Zwift. “What is that?” I hear you ask. Well I’ll tell you:
Zwift is an app which gamifies indoor cycling, simply put. Remember when you get on that bike at the gym and stare at a wall? Or worse, daytime telly with delayed subtitles? Remember how excruciatingly boring that is? Zwift eliminates that agonising apathy by allowing you to train in a virtual world, something that kept me sane during lockdown times. My favourite course in the Zwift universe to train and race is Watopia; its digital design is based on two real islands in the Pacific Ocean, and it hosts a range of routes with a variety of terrain.
What’s so great about using Zwift is that you can see the world from the comfort of your own home, which makes it especially beneficial in winter with short days and bad weather. In fact, summer is the off-season when you’re more likely to go outdoors. You can even do group rides to find connections through the internet and see the world through a virtual lens. It’s accessible to amateurs who want to train or workout, and professional racers alike. I’m part of a team of 8 people who race in leagues. There is community level racing but what most people don’t realise is that you can go pro with it. Community is key, I joined my team by simply making friends through the platform and being invited to join once I started winning races.
Fred’s Best Biking Memory
My best biking memory was when I scored two stage wins while going for General Classification while turbo racing with the team. I’m usually the sprinter of the group, and so my main role is to win the sprints, which typically last between 10-20 seconds, and on a six-lap race I do six sprints. But in the General Classification I had my work cut out for me! There’s no feeling like smashing your PB when you’ve pushed yourself to the absolute limit of your ability.
Fred’s Top Tip
Industrial size fans! If you are going to take up indoor training, you are going to get seriously hot. Make sure you have great fans to keep you cool or you are going to struggle.
Dream Bikes
Working in a bike shop I see some awesome bikes especially with the Project One custom options from Trek and having Cervelo in the shop. I think if I had to choose it would be either the Trek Madone SLR 9 eTap or the Cervelo S5.
Final Word
Whether you love hitting the roads and getting outdoors, or you’re sporty-yet-indoorsy and want to give indoor training a go, speak to Fred and he can share his experiences to help you get set up with the right gear. Visit our Ashford or Folkestone showrooms and we’ll be able to get you set up with your next big cycling adventure! PREVNEXT
