I'm A Rider- Ben Foster

The West Bromwich Albion and England goalkeeper reveals how football injuries have turned him into a cycling addict

- Rob Kemp

Injury got me back on a bike. As a kid I had a mountain bike. Me and a load of mates would go riding in the woods nearby, but it was only when I got injured as a footballer that I got into cycling again. I’ve had three cruciate ligament injuries – two in the right knee and one on the left – and for a big guy like me running for rehab isn’t an option.

Riding London-to-Paris took my cycling up a gear. About four years ago I did my left knee. I was about six weeks into the eight month rehabilitation, training on a Wattbike, when the charity CureLeukaemia. co.uk asked if I wanted to ride London to Paris. It was amazing. Riding 100-mile days for four days on the bounce opened my eyes to what cycling can bring; the camaraderie, the lovely scenery, especially in France. It just made me hungry to do more.