‘Nutter’ Buxton pensioner takes on 500km mountain bike charity challenge

Alan Thompson, 75, will be tackling 19 hair-raising descents in all - negotiating jumps off rocks and shifting shingle and riding an average of between 25-35 km a day.

Dad-of-two Alan, who has been mountain-biking for three years, is hoping to fund organisations such as Buxton Street by Street and Connex Community Support.

Alan’s ‘Riding out of Lockdown’ challenge aims to fund the Buxton Kickstart group - whose mission is to help Buxton and surrounding villages transition back to good health and prosperity following Covid-19.

Grandfather-of-two Alan - who will be using an electric-powered mountain bike to get him up the most severe hills - says the most challenging leg of the rides will be the final one.

The infamous 26km ‘South Buxton Circuit’ - whose midway-point comprises ‘frequent and large steps’ or jumps - will be Alan’s ‘nemesis’.

Former businessman and Connex Community Support trustee Alan said however he was up to the test because ‘I’m a bit of a nutter’.

He said: “People say I’m more like a 35-year-old than a 75-year-old but I’m quite good at this because I’m a black run skier as well - I’m not fearless but I don’t have a lot of fear.

“The difficulty you have is it’s harder if you try and go down slow and you have two-three seconds to decide which way to go and hope you land in the right spot.”

Alan’s Riding out of Lockdown challenge begins on September 26 - with Bill Weston MBE and High Sheriff of Derbyshire Tony Walker joining in for a circuit of Buxton town centre.

The energetic grandad is encouraging members of the public to film themselves doing ‘funny things’ - with a biking and fundraising theme.

Alan has also created an on-line event featuring entertainment from the Billerettes – which will be shared on YouTube.

To make a donation to Riding out of Lockdown click HERE.

Keep up with latest news and all the events via Alan’s website, YouTube channel, Instagram or Facebook.

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