I'll be biking in a blazer at Lycra-free cycle race (From Worcester News)

I'll be biking in a blazer at Lycra-free cycle race

2:30pm Tuesday 29th September 2009

A FORMAL shirt, tie and blazer will be worn by a Worcester man taking part in a unusual bicycle race next month.

Steve Southwick, a science technician at the University of Worcester, will compete in the fourth annual Brompton World Championship.

The race, which is held at Blenheim Palace on Sunday, October 4, is open to all riders of Brompton folding bicycles and is considerably different from traditional cycle races.

There is a strict ‘no Lycra’ rule, with competitors instead required to race in a formal shirt, tie and blazer outfit.

Mr Southwick said: “It’s definitely a race for eccentrics. There will be 600 cyclists altogether although anything up to 20,000 people could attend the event.

“People come from all over the world to race their Bromptons. There will be competitors from the USA, France and Spain, where the bikes are especially popular.”

Famous Brompton owners include the singer Katie Melua and Top Gear presenter James May.

Competitors will complete two laps of a four-mile course around the grounds of the Oxfordshire stately home.

Mr Southwick cycles to work on his Brompton from Callow End which is roughly the same distance as the course.

He is also on a special training diet to prepare for the race. “I start each day with a full English breakfast with lashings of Worcester Sauce and every evening I drink either Chilean red wine or real ale,” he said.

Mr Southwick will be competing in the over 50s category and although he doesn’t expect to win outright, he plans to finish as highly as possible.

“I’ve always lived life on the edge so I think I can give them a good run for their money,” he said.