If you’re one of the brave individuals gearing up for the iconic London to Brighton Cycle Ride – then you’ll know exactly how InterMedia’s Commercial and Marketing Director, Jamie Wren, is feeling in the lead up to this formidable event. 

 

Starting in London’s Clapham Common and finishing along Brighton’s breezy seafront, this 55-mile bike ride whisks partakers through the picturesque English countryside, enduring a thigh-busting climb up Ditchling Beacon before gliding down towards the finish line. 

 

With performance-boosting lycra packed and training in full swing, we caught up with Jamie to chat about all things preparation – from his training regime and go-to recovery fuel, to the personal reasons behind choosing Mind UK as his (and InterMedia’s) fundraising charity of choice.

 

Q&A with Jamie Wren

 

Q: What inspired you to sign up for the London to Brighton cycle ride?

 

I have completed the bike ride three times before – the first being in 2009 and the last being 2019. I had wanted to renter for a few years but have decided to try and complete my fourth attempt before turning 45 which is later this year – I was running out of time!

 

Q: Do you cycle regularly, or is this a new adventure for you?

 

I have cycled regularly – every weekend – for a number of years as a form of relaxation and an opportunity to keep fit.

 

Q: Have you been training for the event, if so what’s your routine?

 

YES! I am ensuring I build up the mileage on the bike each week leading to the event and am setting time aside every week to cycle a minimum of 18 miles, ranging from hill climbs to shorter sprints to build up stamina.

 

Taking on the London to Brighton charity cycle is just one of the many meaningful ways InterMedia is proudly supporting their chosen charity, Mind, in raising awareness and vital funds for mental health.

 

Q: What’s been the toughest part of your training so far?

 

The weather this winter! I have been out on the bike no matter what the conditions. At my height I act as an exceedingly good wind break and have realised that when faced with a headwind gale, it is quite possible to travel backwards despite peddling forwards! It has made more recent weeks of training seem far more pleasurable as the spring weather has started to come round.

 

Q: How are you balancing training with work/life commitments?

 

Arguably this is the biggest challenge. The time required to build up towards a 50 mile ride is not insignificant, so early starts on a Sunday morning are very much the order of the day to help fit this in with the rest of a busy week.

 

Q: What’s your go-to cycling fuel?

 

Always a banana – and a bottle of water. There are plenty of opportunities to stop and sample the BBQ’s and beer gardens on the way to Brighton – and I may not be able to say “no” on the day to those. But for the purposes of this question, i’ll stick to a banana!

 

Q: What are you most looking forward to on the big day?

 

The sheer volume of other cyclists that you meet as you wind your way from Clapham to Brighton is quite incredible. Everyone views the ride as an enjoyable and relaxed adventure and the route is quite iconic as well as challenging. The atmosphere as you come through the final miles over the South Downs and see the seafront in the distance makes any uphill on the way entirely worthwhile.

 

Q: Are there any parts of the route you’re nervous about?

 

Ditchling Beacon – and the chance to get to the summit without stopping is a big reason I was keen to get back on the bike and make the journey. I have managed it three times and wanted to try and get out there before I reach an age where I can’t do it again! The problem with knowing that Ditchling is coming up is that it plays on your mind for the 10 miles leading to the bottom of the climb – but the views are fantastic once you reach the summit!

 

Q: Why did you choose Mind UK as the charity to support?

 

There are so many worthwhile causes to cycle for, but Mind is a charity that my local cricket team has supported heavily in recent years. The number of illnesses that they tackle – which are invisible to anyone outside of those suffering – is a huge part of my decision. In recent years, the number of people pushed to the limits and suffering from mental illness has skyrocketed. 

 

Q: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about doing this challenge for charity?

 

Simply “do it!”. The rush of exhilaration you get from completing a challenge like this is worth every moment of training in every weather possible. The process of building stamina and distance over a long training period provides an enormous sense of achievement. The event is sponsored by British Heart Foundation so even if you don’t specifically ride on behalf of a charity you are able to spread awareness of a great cause. I believe, personally, that you should choose a charity that means something to you – the process of raising money and gathering donations can be an emotional one.

 

Q: Once you cross the finish line in Brighton, what’s the first thing you’ll do?

 

The first thing I intend to do is get the medal round my neck! The immediate feeling when you are handed something that can act as a symbol that you have completed a long-awaited goal is incredibly satisfying. Putting the medal round your neck alongside other finishers and getting some pictures in the (hopefully) sunshine at the seafront is what will get me through the final few miles, for sure.

 

Q: Do you think this will be the start of more cycling adventures?

 

Definitely. My plan will be to get out on the bike every week and aim for a potentially new project – there are plenty of options in the UK and beyond to get a different medal!

 

Well, you heard it here first – watch this space! If you wish to support Jamie ahead of the London to Brighton Cycle, you can make a donation to his chosen charity on the official JustGiving page. And if you squint carefully, you’ll notice Jamie hurtling towards the finish line on a previously successful ride, in a rather demure luminous yellow…