41 years old, British Army Veteran David represented the United Kingdom at the Invictus Games in Cycling, Swimming, Indoor Rowing and Power-Lifting. Road cycling is his primary sport.
There’s been no one thing that has inspired me to take up sports, I’ve always been an active person, I used to run everywhere as a child. When I joined the Army I was afforded the opportunity to get into various different sports competitions both individual and team sports. I seemed to have a knack for anything that involved running, I wasn’t the fastest but I could just keep going. Unfortunately knee injuries forced me to change my life style and I took up road cycling. Rather than an array of sports I focused on the bike and it showed, I started winning races and it grew from there.
Royal Corps of Signals road cycling team and now I am currently in the process of establishing a new cycling club in Banffshire, Develo CC.
I was selected to represent the UK at the Invictus Games in September 2023; however, I became seriously ill 3 months before the games and was subsequently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Doctors advised me to drop out but I chose to remain in the team and use the opportunity to learn how to manage my new condition. Rather than just taking part as I’d originally intended, I to re-focused my efforts on winning in my primary event.
I have applied to the Paralympics with the aim of continuing my cycling ambitions. I am also keen to engage with schools and groups around the region with the aim of inspiring others to overcome adversity and achieve their own goals.
I start my day around 4.30am and I get the important work done first thing. Mostly winter mileage indoors and conditioning at the moment but I will be ramping up intensity as we progress towards competition. I can often be seen doing repetitions on the local roads from spring time onwards, particularly where there is a good hill for me to turn my legs inside out on. Occasionally I turn into a big kid and go strava KOM hunting. In short though, I’ve always been an active person so sport and training will always be a part of my life.
Dedication, self-discipline and adapting to challenges.
At this time, my sights are on the Paralympics and Invictus Games. I may take part in the Elgin CC time trial series as part of my training as well.
My diagnosis last year is not the first time I’ve had to adapt to an unexpected life changing event. But I treated it as just another challenge to overcome and I find a way to adapt. I focus on what I can control rather than what I can’t and move onto the next task, however small it might be, even if it is just putting one foot in front of the other.
Ever since I was little it’s been Arnold Schwarzenneger, just look at everything he has achieved in his lifetime.
I won a gold medal in the cycling time trial whilst representing the UK at the Invictus Games 2023. I set the fastest lap across all categories.
Well, for the Invictus games it was a near death experience but I’d rather NOT use that reason again! Going forward, my aim is to inspire others and use that as my motivation.
Provides me access to facilities that I wouldn’t normally have as majority of my training and preparation for competition is done at my own expense and cycling can fast become a money pit!
I can be found on Strava, Instagram and Facebook with the following handle: Scaley Back Cyclist