I have been cycling to work for over 6 years. Taking a car was never an option, for cost, car availability, ecology reasons, and I’ve never regularly commuted by motorised individual traffic all my... read more
Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge
I've been cycling to work regularly for the last 3 years, and over that time have managed to get the 15 mile route down to what I thoug was a fairly respectable 40 minute ride.
As part of ... read more
Once upon a time, I swam 2 miles, twice per week at speed. I thought this chlorine in the pool is a bit much! I thought, I wonder if its feasible to cycle the 25 miles each way to work and back. So... read more
I started riding a bike regularly last year after our car was written off. I pulled the old beater mountain bike out the shed and gave it a go. I quickly upgraded to an inherited hybrid I found mys... read more
Topic: My first time on a bike in years
I started cycling as a way to save money on travel costs in London and to help burn some calories. I stopped when I took a job closer to home. Since being involved in the 7 week challenge ot has re... read more
Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge
Challenging cycle in especially with my panniers that act like sails of a boat! Still mild enough for t-shirt though. Wind is tough to cycle in but still enjoying being outside exercising in summer... read more
I recently got my first road bike on cycle to work and I am commuting 7 km across central Edinburgh to work. My commute starts with a lovely big hill out of the Dean Village. The first time I did i... read more
My first memory of cycling as a boy was when I was doing a sprint and braked too quickly when I managed to do a somersault holding on to the handlebars and still landed the bike square on the pavem... read more
Topic: My first time on a bike in years
After coming off my bike 4 weeks ago and having 3 weeks of treatment and an X-ray, I finally rode my bike again yesterday and managed 17 miles around the hill.
Such a good feeling to be back cy... read more
I started cycling (after a 25+ year break!) after retiring from rugby about 3 years ago. Now I commute 18 miles a day, 3 days a week and really love it.
The best part of this is teaching ... read more
Topic: Encouraging others to ride
I started with a small section of my commute by bike due to a foot injury. After being initially terrified of rising in a city, I quickly enjoyed the freedom. After treating myself to a second hand... read more
Topic: Other
Frustrated by public transport I started cycling to work in 1980 at the age of 33. At the time this amounted to a 25 mile daily round trip between the outskirts of London and the West End. Sadly fo... read more
Topic: Encouraging others to ride
I guess like a lot of folks, I rode a bike as a youngster mainly to get around and go further afield. Dabbled with a mountain bike when kids were younger (usually one on the back in his seat). 4 ye... read more
Topic: My first time on a bike in years
I was happy to change jobs in 2018 meaning I could cycle 20 miles a day to work and back. Helping me stay stress free, fit and help the environment. Even through winter I set myself a personal goal... read more
Topic: My commute by bike
I started riding just of 14 years ago - a short 1/2 day cycle hire with a mate in Sardinia. In 2006 I managed to ride a total of 1,000 miles & I was absolutely delighted with myself!
E... read more
Topic: A happy riding memory
My favourite hill is the one from Elslack to Lothersdale, there is some beautiful scenery and a few intense 12% climbs and sharp corners. You get a huge sense of achievement when you reach the top ... read more
Topic: My favourite place/route to ride
When the local Authority I work for relocated to an "environmental centre" outside town, the number of Folk cycling to work dropped off. This is due to the office being on a steep hill and having l... read more
Topic: My commute by bike
I used to ride loads as a kid but then drifted away from it after taking up rock climbing at Uni. A few years ago some work colleagues got me back in to it, and what a blessing in disguise that tur... read more
Topic: Other
I stopped cycling years ago when the dog gave me a pitiful look if I dared go for a ride rather than take him for a walk, and then children got in the way. As for commuting, a big hill and a relat... read more
It’s monday evening and I’m on call for emergency radiology. Usually a few scans at 6pm and I can get home. Today was different. Almost continuous stream of referrals from various doctors mainly in... read more
Topic: My commute by bike
I always remember going to a local bike shop to pick up my new bike a got for my 8th birthday. It was a Peugeot mountain bike that had a purple/red finish. I was so excited to get it home and when ... read more
Topic: A happy riding memory
In 2011 I was driving my son James to University in Sheffield. James had the idea that it would be fun to cycle a tandem from Lands End to John O'Groats. We bought a second hand tandem a Dawes Gala... read more
Topic: Other
After a serious illness a few years ago, I put on a bit of weight and my fitness suffered because of damage to my lungs. I've been walking to work occasionally, but I finally decided to get a new b... read more
We've cycled through the seasonal summer without the ice,
And at rare times the sunshine which was nice,
Getting up extra early to cycle by the deer,
Or the birds of prey swooping pa... read more
Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge
Part of my commute home used to be by Sarehole Mill (part of the inspiration for Lord of the Rings) in Moseley Birmingham. There is a short cut around the back that either goes through the ford, if... read more
Topic: My commute by bike
Mark is the reason I took up cycling after 30 years. When he calmly announced to the office he had a couple of months to live, we all asked what we could do. Laughing his head off he said “cycle fr... read more
Topic: My first time on a bike in years
As a commuter, I often have problems with punctures and with overall bike maintenance. My ambition is to be able to carry out simple maintenance tasks myself, without having to take the bike into ... read more
I vividly remember the dreaded day mum took the training wheels off my bike and took me and my brother down to a park in Brookfield to ride without the stability and reliance of those extra two whe... read more
Topic: My first time on a bike in years
My daughter started to cycle again at the end of last summer, which she hadn't done since she was at primary school (she's now post-University). This summer she's taken it a lot more seriously, and... read more
Topic: Encouraging others to ride
Myself and fellow Research Nurse Janine started riding with each other for light relief from our slave driving partners. However with a little help from our friend Strava we have become competitive... read more
Maybe like me, your work is desk-based. Sometimes my cycle commute is the only exercise I get during the working day.
It’s partly because of being office-bound that I like to spend time outdoo... read more
I stared riding my bike 7 years ago thanks to my husband, I have since then ridden the Northumberland coast to coast both ways over 4 days, I have ridden my first 200K audax ( up the downs) I have ... read more
Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge
For those with children and a '9-5' office job, it's difficult to make 'me' time, let alone motivate yourself to use the time to exercise. For me the balance came by ditching the car and commuting ... read more
I am not a cyclist, but I do want to be. I try to make sure I ride when I can around town. I just got a "beach cruiser" in addition to my now dusty hybrid. I am loving it so far. It's a great yello... read more
Topic: My Bicycle Romance
As I were younger I did a lot of riding, mostly mountain biking but also road or trials riding.. Life takes over and the kids grow, now its time to get back on the bike. It's been road bikes for th... read more
Topic: My Bicycle Romance
Today I rode just over 15 miles to Newcastle and back home again, my bum hurts like no tomorrow but I actually loved it the cycle route is right next to the river tyne its also so diverse I've ridd... read more
Topic: My first time on a bike in years
I started riding to work 2 years ago with the aim to get fit and now as a 50 year old with 4 bikes and my second Ride London under my belt and plans to do the Fred Whitton Challenge next year I don... read more
I turn 40 this year. To celebrate, I'm setting off tomorrow to ride from Brighton to Paris. I've always wanted to complete the Avenue Verte route - and I've done the London - Newhaven section, so i... read more
I put off commuting by bike as I thought it would be just a little too far to do both before and after work. Ive done it a few times now and even the first ride wasn't as bad as I thought it would ... read more
I have only just recently bought a bike after years of thinking I should be cycling to work. I had ruptured two ligaments in my ankle in a footballing injury at the beginning of last year and have ... read more
Topic: My first time on a bike in years
I am now back to my daily "Bike to Work" habit. Enjoying it in the summer weather and across new small 'bike-friendly' streets I am discovering day after day (also thks to some smart Apps).
Hap... read more
About five years ago, I moved to a new house to be only 3 miles away from work.
It made sense to buy a bicycle and begin commuting in a healthier way and so I purchased a cheap bike (£89) from... read more
Topic: Other
They say if you're tired of London then you're tired of life... I fully agree! The energy of the city, and the (some may surprising) beauty of the city - the plentiful parks, the river, the histori... read more
Topic: My favourite place/route to ride
Got my bike on Friday 9th August... Hadn't even put the pedals on when on Sunday 11th August some theiving git nicked it!!
Sunday was the day i was going to sort it all out and buy my insu... read more
Having been a keen cyclist for several years I applied for the Ride London last August, only to find out 4 day's later I had breast cancer. Active treatment finshed in November. February this year ... read more
I never imagined I would actually write about why I ride, but here it is.
At university in London, I commuted by bike using my dad's old Peugeot from the 70s. It was a proper retro machin... read more
My story is simple. I’m a people person. I like chatting, and my geographic knowledge and sense of direction is horrific.
To cycle more, and have more fun whilst doing it, I joined a fundraisi... read more
Topic: Other
