Emil Lindgren about giving back to his sport - presented by our teampartner Hestra
Emil Lindgren has been biking for almost as long as he can remember. His dad and brother were into motorcross, and Emil also tried it out and competed to some extent. But it was mountainbike that really clicked.
"The bike was a toy and cycling was a natural thing to do, me and my buddies could always head out for a ride," he says, reminiscing about how it all began in the forests around Säter in Dalarna.
It is no exaggeration to say that Emil is one of Sweden's most accomplished MTB cyclists. He has been riding professionally for 20 years, competing both in the national team and for international top teams. Back home, he has earned over 40 Swedish Championship gold medals and has won the Cykelvasan race twice. Today, he is 38 years old and even though he has cycled "probably 500,000 kilometers" over the years, he claims that it is still just as much fun.
"I like the whole lifestyle of cycling, and to ride with others. To challenge myself - ride fast or to overcome obstacles that really shouldn't be possible - I still get a kick out of that!"
Emil Lindgren's goal is to win a Swedish championship in elite class after 40. At the same time, he wants to help young cyclists to enter the sport and to develop.
"I would say that cycling in fact is Swedens biggest sport. Almost everyone can relate to it and today we have many strong cyclists. It's exciting and I really want to do everything I can to help the sport of cycling grow, and for young talents to invest in it."
EMIL ON CYCLING GLOVES
When Emil is not riding his bike, he works at Allebike. It was Emil who first came in contact with Hestra prior to the collaboration. He believes that gloves are more important than many people might think to perform in the saddle.
"Cycling is in some ways extreme: you need to have 100% control to be able to overcome certain obstacles. Good grip means everything, and the glove should feel like a natural part of the hand with no extra material which could form creases", he says.
Emil never rides without gloves, just as he never rides without glasses. The fit should be close and snug. Before Allebike and Hestra started their collaboration, he tried out most of Hestras mountainbike models and he liked the feeling of the gloves.
"Among other, I have found a running glove that was perfect for my needs in the winter, when we do a lot of distance cycling on the road. A strenght of Hestra is the width of the range, and they make very nice gloves!"
