Cyclist overcomes challenges to win again

Rynfield cyclist Paul Lewis Enright has taken the demands of the sport in his stride.

Being born in a family of cycling legends never gave him an edge. In fact, it was his struggles and sheer determination that turned the tide for him.

Enright told the City Times that he faced many hurdles as a young cyclist but every time he fell off his bike, he would dust himself up and hit the track again.

“I have finished last. I’ve been lapped twice. I’ve been that child who arrived at the finish when all the officials had packed and gone home,” he said.

“My father would ask if I wanted to get into the car but I would tell him that I wanted to finish the race.

“I knew that the time would come when I would eventually win.”

Despite making a few podiums as an elite cyclist in the 1980s and 1990s, the national championship he wanted so much proved elusive.

Enright is now a national champion, albeit as a Masters Cyclist.

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On February 13 at the South African National Road Championships in Graskop, the 50-year-old launched an attack with 38km still to go.

He won the 127km race in 04:04:45, two minutes ahead of the runner-up.

“My trainer told me to go into time trial mode. I looked at the bunch and they were bleeding.

“That was my moment. At the top of God’s Window, I attacked and at the climb I had another lap on my own. I won by two minutes.”

“I’m an aggressive endurance rider. I don’t like sitting in the bunch. I like to stir things up and that strategy can either get me to the podium or see me finish behind the bunch.”

Health struggles

Reaching the pinnacle of the sport didn’t come easy for Enright. A horrible quad bike accident that broke his leg halted his career.

“My doctor told me I will never ride a bicycle again. I then sold all my bikes.”

Five years ago, Enright’s health deteriorated. He had picked up weight and was asthmatic and hyperglycemic. He realised that he needed a lifestyle change.

“I was depressed and always ill. I weighed 110kg and I had asthma and hyperglycemia. My pulmonologist advised me to take action,” he said.

Getting back to full fitness was difficult. He was motivated by the mantra ‘something is better than nothing’.

“The first step was getting my mind right and believing it’s what I wanted. We bought an indoor trainer and a Tour de France Xbox manager game. At first, I could only manage five minutes on the trainer.”

From there, he said he took his training outdoors. When his form peaked, he decided to join a team but his second coming was not easy. He was greeted with fat phobic comments, but what could have broken him was rather a motivation.

“It was difficult. I would get comments like ‘did you pack lunch and an extra water bag for everyone?’ and ‘did you pack a tent?’ “Freddie Fourie would push me and now I weigh next to nothing.”

Five years later, those comments seem a distant memory as Enright has achieved his goal.

“I have always wanted to win the nationals but they are done and so I am looking forward to the Maluti Double 90 in Clarens and the 947 cycle challenge,” he concluded.

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