Northampton teen becomes cycling legend as he clocks up average of 400 miles a week during lockdown

A teenager from Northampton has become known as somewhat of a local legend after spending the majority of lockdown out on his road bike.

Alec Perry, who has been keen on cycling since he was young, has cycled more than 6,500 miles since schools shut in March.

The 13-year-old who attends Northampton School for Boys regularly cycles between 80 and 100 miles a day and averages 400 miles a week, which helps his juvenile arthritis and uveitis, as cycling is low impact and better for him than running.

Leah Perry, Alec’s mum, said: “He was four or five when he started loving going out on his bike and he’d done a 50-mile ride by the time he was eight or nine.

“Since school finished he has been getting up and doing all his work so he can be done by 12.30pm to go out on his bike.

“During the holidays when he has no school work he has been getting up at seven to go out and today as it’s raining he has been on the turbo and done 100 miles in the garage.”

On his travels, which take him from his home in East Hunsbury as far as the Cotswolds, Alec stops at coffee shops for refuelling and is now well-known in areas surrounding Northamptonshire.

Leah added: “Alec plans his routes to include certain coffee shops and they all know him in there.

“One woman in there said to him ‘you’re the boy who cycles everywhere’ and cyclists see him about all the time and say hello.”

With the return to school looming, Alec is planning to get most of his homework done in school at lunchtime so he can still continue his long rides.

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