Durham

Stories from Durham

Read stories and get inspired! Share a cycling story and inspire others to get out and ride!

Image for story A 100-miler, twice!

A 100-miler, twice!

Having trained and covered C2C this summer with some wonderful ladies from the amazing group called Breeze Durham whom I joined quite accidentally, I've been wondering what would be my next challen... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Bike ride with mother

Bike ride with mother

Went on a bike ride with the old dear great to be back in the saddle been out every day since

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Keeping up with my daughter!

Keeping up with my daughter!

My oldest daughter learnt to ride her bike this Easter. I’ve not ridden for 20 years, but I finally had to get back on the saddle to keep up with her! Luckily you never forget do you! I’m super ... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Great day out

Great day out

Lovely day riding today. I wanted to find a route that I had found last year , so went out and found it. Great sunshine easy riding.

Topic: Other

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Image for story Route 68

Route 68

My favourite place to ride is on route 68 from the Sill on the military road across to Kielder. The route is offroad after a couple of miles then it's just you on the logging roads across to Kielde... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Can cycling stop the coronavirus?

Can cycling stop the coronavirus?

During the pandemic it has been really humbling to hear of the hard work of so many in the NHS and other important services. It left me wondering how I could help. One obvious way was to use my ... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story Crossing the Tyne

Crossing the Tyne

One of my favourite types of ride is to combine urban and rural areas, and that's very easy around Durham and Newcastle as cities and countryside are very close to each other. The Tyne foot tunnel ... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Durhams Rails to Trails

Durhams Rails to Trails

Getting out on my bike more during the pandemic last years I discovered County Durhams Rails to Trails. These include the C2C, Deerness Valley, Bishop Auckland to Brandon and the Derwent Valley tra... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Be safe be seen!

Be safe be seen!

I have over 30 years cycling experience and a keen member of a local club. Unfortunately cycling in the dark commuting and similar carries additional risks. Purchase as powerful a rear light... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Riding in the dark

Riding in the dark

Commuting to work all year round for 20 years meant that good lights were essential. A couple of powerful rechargeable cateye lights on the front and several rear lights attached to my back were a ... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall

Just got this cheeky little cycling šŸš“ā€ā™€ļø route in before lockdown. We stayed at Twice Brewed and cycled along the Hadrian’s wall route into Chollerford one day then into Greenhead, To Haltwhistle s... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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First time in nearly 40years

At the start of the year I decided to get more active improve my fitness and lose some weight I started with eating healthier then cleared the garage and put in some exercise machines I had but had... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Extea bike time

Extea bike time

Normally, I drive to work as I got to university every night after work to study. With the current pandemic I have to do computer at home and physical in the laboratory (I'm not a mad scientist, I... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Getting back to it

Let's get fit again!

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story First ride on new bike.

First ride on new bike.

14 miles today on my new bikes maiden voyage to run it in. A nice quiet route including a ride from Shildon to newton aycliffe past the locomotion museum, which is a lovely smooth wide path. If y... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Back in the saddle

Back in the saddle

I’ve been biking for about 2 years now, but have been off the bike for 7 months following a fall whilst out riding. Back in August last year I was out riding with a colleague, we’d set ourself the ... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story First Dec 2021

First Dec 2021

My day out today, with the mad weather we are having. Very cold to start, then the rain came down( but I had the right gear on so it didn’t matter) then the snow, that was a little harsh on the fa... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Bikeability

Bikeability

Last week I started a new job as a Bikeability Instructor! I’ve always loved cycling and travel by bicycle as much as I can (a friend once said to me that I was into cycling when it wasn’t fashion... read more

Topic: Other

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Everyday life of a Commuter

I commute to work Mon-Fri every week and have seen a big change in people's lifestyles since COVID; there are more pedestrians and cyclists about which leads to less traffic. During the pandemic c... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Woodland Moor

Woodland Moor

Lush morning ride over the tops and down in to Barney

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Back on the bike

My son, Luke has got right into cycling following back surgery and loves it, I ventured out with him yesterday for 8 miles which was a hard slog for me as it's been nearly 12 months since I was las... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story Quick Tip

Quick Tip

Carry a small headtorch in your jersey pocket, just in case you need to fix a puncture or have a mechanical in the dark.

Topic: Other

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Image for story Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall

Just got this cheeky little cycling šŸš“ā€ā™€ļø route in before lockdown. We stayed at Twice Brewed and cycled along the Hadrian’s wall route into Chollerford one day then into Greenhead, To Haltwhistle s... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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First time in nearly 40years

I eventually made my first bike ride in nearly 40 years. After getting over my nervousness and a few rides round the garden to see if I stayed on the bike I went early last Sunday morning so as to ... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Reivers Route & return on C2C

Reivers Route & return on C2C

I started cycling during the lockdown in March 2020. One day for some reason I decided to go on a short early morning ride. After the ride I felt great, so motivated and energised. So I thought the... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Stories from around the world

Image for story Crashed

Crashed

I was ridding to work on my usual route, all of a sudden after I cleared the first hill I saw a table stand in the way, cleared it, it was on the beginning of the bridge, I then saw a dog the was o... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

Image for story JobRad

JobRad

It's such a great feeling when your new bike is finally delivered, you have it minted and you can enjoy your first ride. The process from ordering to delivery as JobRad via Ford worked great

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

Image for story A Cyclist

A Cyclist

A Cyclist Many ask, why a cyclist, We are the canniest, A non polluting escapist, Searching freedom, being an adventurist, With time on our side, life is at its finest, Our min... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Image for story Fietsvragen aan Arjen Droog, CEO Regio Foodvalley

Fietsvragen aan Arjen Droog, CEO Regio Foodvalley

Tijdens de Fiets naar je werk week stond ons promo team in Ede, samen met mobiele fietsenmaker Marco. Arjen Droog kwam langs en we mochten hem een paar vragen stellen! Lees je mee? - Hoe vaak fi... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

Atlanta Streets Alive

First ride with my Grandson on my father's day gift "The Rocket" is the Blast Peachtree street closed to car but open to bike and walking. Daughter and youngest grandson walked along. Perfect Sund... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Image for story Squirrel attack

Squirrel attack

A couple of weeks back I had cycled somewhere for open water swim training and left my post-workout food in my pannier ready to grab. Mistake! Upon exiting the water I found the internal mesh pock... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Erocia California - Piedras Blancas Route

Erocia California - Piedras Blancas Route

From Cambria, CA, headed north along beautiful (a little fog, and cool temperature) coastline. Past San Simeon, Hearst Castle and mountains to the east. Also, the elephant seals on the way to the ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

Relearning But Gaining Confidence!

I bought my first bike as an adult in October 2021! My last childhood bike was 20 some years ago but I barely used it. I had bad biking experiences in the past so I was obviously very nervous relea... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Gin and Tonic in the Yorkshire Wolds

Gin and Tonic in the Yorkshire Wolds

The purpose of the ride was to check out a new cafe and take advantage of a sunny day. The ride had already been postponed due to a day of relentless rain. The highlight of the day had to be th... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Le bonheur!

Le bonheur!

1822 km entre le 5 mai 2023 et le 15 septembre 2023, merci Ơ mon ortho qui m'a remplacƩ la hanche droite il y a presqu'un an et qui m'a redonnƩ le bonheur de reprendre mon vƩlo.

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

Image for story Bamburgh 100 sportive

Bamburgh 100 sportive

My first big ride, new to road cycling. Well I could have done another 100k, hence why I am doing the 100miler next april 2024. I ride with Team Manvers we worked together as a team in the be... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Completing a wheelie spe-shell 100km ride in a day!

Completing a wheelie spe-shell 100km ride in a day!

Took on a challenge recently to tick off all the Durrell big tortoises around the island in one ride. It was about 105km with around 1100m of climbing. There was 50 of them to mark off - as well ... read more

Topic: Other

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I was so scared!

I hadn't ridden a bike since the 80s, when I was a teenager! I was so scared - it wasn't "like riding a bike" at all! But I found a local Adult First Ride class and dove in. After that class, and a... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Riding all the Rail Trails in Victoria

Riding all the Rail Trails in Victoria

This year I set my self a challenge that I felt would stretch my riding at the same time as getting me out and about around the state. My challenge was to ride all the Rail Trails in Victoria in 12... read more

Topic: Other

Image for story The big smoke cycle

The big smoke cycle

for an amazing day out my wife and i took our train 10yr old boys to see a show in the west end. but this wouldn't just be any old trip. we took the train from rugby then travelled across Londo... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Be the Change & Inspiration

Today was a highlight of my rides though an instructor(ride to university)said that they were also planning on purchasing an ebike because of my riding everyday & cause I say it's so much fun! ... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Fight Kids Cancer - Great Cycle Challenge

Fight Kids Cancer - Great Cycle Challenge

This will be my tenth year riding the Great Cycle Challenge to raise money to fight kids cancer. Having seen my lifelong friends daughter die from cancer at 10 years old I like to keep her legacy ... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Winning a cycle safety award

Winning a cycle safety award

I was 12 when I won a local cycling award for safety. I went on to attend a regional competition in Fleetwood. I have enjoyed cycling since my tricycle, small wheeled bike, tracker bit like a Chop... read more

Topic: Other

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Supporting other riders

On my morning commute today I came across a cyclist who had come off his bike on a corner in the wet. There was already another cyclist with him, however as I work remotely and can make up the time... read more

Topic: Other

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Sunny weather

It's so good to finally have some fine weather and it's going to get even better when day light saving starts. Happy pedaling everyone šŸš“ā€ā™€ļøšŸ˜‰

Topic: Other

Image for story Stopping is as important as keep going!

Stopping is as important as keep going!

I had such a lovely day of biking around the district yesterday. I covered around 30 miles on three separate outings and visited Brimbscombe, Nailsworth, Randwick & Ebley, bumping into friends ... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story The best lights ever

The best lights ever

The S33N lights are so great! Bristol business and super unique. They can’t be stolen, can’t fall off and the AA battery keeps them simple and helps us be more efficient consumers. When my last lig... read more

Topic: Other

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From little things, big things grow

I've always loved the freedom I feel on a bike, ever since I was young and realised I could simply just ride wherever I needed to go. As an adult, I was particularly inspired after seeing how norma... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Trailer

I love putting little ones in the trailer cart, they love it and its an extra workout with the extra weight

Topic: Ride with kids

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Health issues got me serious about bike riding

I have been riding a bicycle off and on for over 60 years. I didn't really get serious about it until I had several heart attacks and heart surgery. I realized then I had to make some changes. W... read more

Topic: Other

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