Two epic Royals coming together!
In 2022, Lee Spencer, the Rowing Marine, will be taking on a challenge never attempted before. The Triathlon of Great Britain. The challenge will see Lee swim the English channel, then cycle from Land’s End to John o’ Groats and then complete a marathon up Ben Nevis.
Lee is a 4-time world record holder after rowing the Atlantic solo in 2019, breaking the able-bodied record by 36 days and raising a staggering £100,000 for the Endeavour Fund and RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. He has been an ongoing supporter of the Charity since before losing his leg, running a double marathon in 2013 to help raise £20,000 for former Royal Marine Dom Lovett and then £12,000 in the year that Lee lost his leg. Most recently, Lee took on the 3 peaks challenge, raising over £21,000.
He is an invaluable force that we are proud to support in his journey through breaking down barriers surrounding disability.
To help him meet his next challenge, the Royal Marines family has joined together.
Fellow Royal Marine Veteran and founder of LIOS Bikes, Steve McCulley is helping Lee by supporting him with a custom bike for the cycle phase of his epic challenge, supported by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. Steve is a multi-award-winning innovator, business owner, racing driver/coach and inspirational speaker.
Steve founded LIOS Bikes because he wanted to provide a bespoke bike fitting service coupled with a personalised client relationship. He built his first bike with his Dad when he was eight years old and started racing mountain bikes in Devon when he was twelve.
On leaving school he joined the Royal Marines. Over an eighteen-year career, he served all over the world, including operational deployments to Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. During the second half of his career, he got into triathlons and also started competitive cycling again, representing both the Royal Navy & Royal Marines.
Unfortunately, both his military career and his cycling aspirations came to an end in the summer of 2011, as he was very severely injured by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) whilst on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan; he spent nearly three weeks in a coma and three years in medical rehabilitation.
Having had significant surgery on his chest, right arm and leg, he knew that he would not be able to compete again, nonetheless, he remained passionate about cycling and wanted to continue in the industry. With support from organisations like Help for Heroes, Heropreneurs and RMA – The Royal Marines Charity, in between surgery and medical rehabilitation he founded LIOS Bikes in 2012. LIOS is abbreviated from the names of Steve’s children – Lily & Oscar.
The bike that Lee will ride from Land’s End to John o’Groats is completely custom made. Using 3D motion-capture technology, Steve has been able to create a set of highly accurate data to design Lee’s bike. This custom-fit will ensure Lee can maximise performance, preventing pain that is most common in the knee, hip and lower back.
The Triathlon of Great Britain
Swim the English Channel
On the 27th of July 2022, Lee Spencer will begin the Triathlon of Great Britain by swimming the Channel. The clock will start as he enters the water to begin the swim in Dover which will be under the rules of and adjudicated by the Channel Swimming Association.
Cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats
Lee will then get to Land’s End as quickly as possible to start the Cycling phase. Lee will Cycle the length of Great Britain from Land’s End to John O’Groats stopping to climb Snowden the highest mountain in Wales and Scafell Pike the highest mountain in England.
Marathon over Ben Nevis
Lee will then begin by far the most challenging phase of the Triathlon of Great Britain, the running phase. Although Lee cannot run due to a severely damaged left knee, he will undertake a marathon on foot starting at Fort William in the Highlands and going over Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain and finishing at the Commando Memorial in Spean Bridge, where the clock will stop.
Following The Triathlon of Great Britain, the bike that will take Lee on this momentous journey will be auctioned to raise funds for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
Both Lee and Steve are beneficiaries of the Charity. We are enormously proud of the boundaries they continue to push and achieve on behalf of the Royal Marines family.
Learn more about the Triathlon of Great Britain by visiting: https://leespencer.co.uk/triathlon-of-great-britain/