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Published 03 November 2014
Alan Hewitt: 26/06/1960 - 03/11/2014
Alan Hewitt passed away on 03 November 2014.
Alan was very well known in the cycling community and will be remembered as a top Time Trialist, bike shop owner, mechanic, sales executive and most importantly all round great man who loved the sport of cycling.
President of Scottish Cycling, Alasdair MacLennan, recalls fond memories of Alan saying: “I have personally known Alan for almost 40 years. His mischievous sense of humour rubbed off on anyone who came into contact with him and his gregarious and affable personality belied his stature and appearance, which at times, could be classed as “different” to say the least!
Alan was an extremely distinguished Time Trialist in an era when that branch of the sport predominated in Scotland. A multi champion and record holder across a range of distances, he and his teammates in the Regent CC dominated this particular branch of the sport in the 80’s.
After giving up racing Alan opened a bike shop and became a trusted friend and mechanic with me on Scottish teams in the late 80’s, travelling round Europe in the blue Volvo which, true to his West of Scotland roots, he playfully despised as a symbol of middle class Edinburgh.
Whilst he was very diligent in his duties working as a mechanic on Scottish teams some of his after race antics are now firmly entrenched in cycling folklore and none more so than his and Frankie Campbells sumo wrestling display on the Ras in Dingle Co Kerry. In all my years traveling the world to bike races I have never seen so many bewildered American tourists in a bar in my life!
Often described as a gentle giant, Alan never lost sight of his roots and remained loyal to his many friends both within and outwith cycling. He latterly suffered from prolonged ill health but met it head on with a form of stoicism that his mentor the late Jimmy McGinty and the Regent CC would be justifiably proud.
On behalf of Scottish Cycling I would like to send our condolences to Alan’s family and friends.
May you rest in peace big man!”
Others have taken to social media to share their memories of Alan:
