Meet The Riders - Laurance Davis

With his 50^th birthday approaching, Laurance decided Headride would be the perfect opportunity to get fit and turn 50 in good shape. “I had been a bit of a “lazy” rider for the last 4-5 years since my own fall on Beach rd.” Like Marg, Laurance ended up in The Alfred hospital so raising money for it is extremely worthwhile. 

Training for Headride has provided Laurance with a good focus, with his mother passing away a week before he signed up. His friends challenged him to get fit and ride the distance, “I pretty much agreed straight away” he said.

In order to get fit for Headride, Laurance enlisted the help of a specialist cycling personal trainer. Together they focused on bike work, diet, stretching, technique on hills and descending, breathing and the general set up of the bike.

Laurance has lost 7-8 kgs since beginning his Headride training regime. He has given up drinking for the months leading up to Headride.  His 50^th Birthday celebrations are “on hold” until after the ride when he can enjoy a few red wines.

Over time Laurance has increased the number of rides per week from riding twice to six times. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays he rides 42kms, Fridays he rides an easy 31kms and he rides longer distances on the weekends with other Headride cyclists. Laurance is riding an impressive 360-390 kms per week.

Laurance is looking forward to the camaraderie that Headride will provide. “I expect there’ll be lots of laughs and funny moments, quotable lines, terrific photos and the like” he says.

Laurance believes achieving the 1056km ride with the Headride group, completing each day’s ride and raising $50,000 for The Alfred will be something special. He is delighted how people have embraced the cause and been willing to donate and sponsor.

On a personal level Laurance is looking forward to proving to himself that he is fit, having turned 50 in “good nic” and enjoying the 8 days of riding from Adelaide to Melbourne. He is also looking forward to being joined by family and friends on the last leg of the ride. “From Mordialloc onwards will be pretty exhilarating” he says.

Laurance nominates Cadel Evans as his inspiration as well as other Aussie riders O’Grady and McEwan.

Laurance has participated in Around the Bay but never anything like Headride. He is a passionate St Kilda supporter, a family man with a wife, three children and a “wonder dog” called Lenny. He loves travelling to Europe, and of course his work as a Partner at Madgwicks Lawyers.

Anything else to add Laurance?

“On the bike, they call me LARRY!”