I recently did a metric century with a friend of mine. It was the longest ride (mileage wise) either of us had ever done and we were pretty burnt out. When we got home I dropped him off and immedia... read more

Jim Black Good friends always bring out the best in you.. and your ride!

Thomas Stokell That's classic! I once made the mistake of casually challenging a friend to 1000m race on a pair of rowing machines when we were at the gym together one day. We absolutely killed ourselves sprinting to win. We were breathing heavily for about a minute afterwards with no air to talk. The first thing my friend said was "Why did we do that?" Needless to say we got a good workout at the gym that day. 'Friendly competition' is quite the motivator.

Last summer after retiring, I made a coast-to-coast journey along the Northern Tier from Washington State to Maine. This was a self-contained ride that covered 4300 miles and took us just 52 days o... read more

- Jim Black

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

3

I took up cycling because it saved my life quite literally. On 1/4/2019, i was on day 3 of a ride down to Rome from London in 7 days to support a friend running the Maradona di Roma. It was magic... read more

- Rus Kesley

Topic: A happy riding memory

2

Rus Kesley Maybe that should read Maratona and not Maradona

Back in April 2018, I decided I was going to get back in to cycling, and seeing my work place has a cycle scheme, decided to make use of it, as I set my self a target event After spending 3-4 we... read more

I'm a physio in a stroke rehab unit and have the pleasure of cycling to work. Most of the other physios there do aswell and we've encouraged one of the speech therapists to get on her bike too! It... read more

- Catherine Daniel

Topic: My commute by bike

2

After 23 years, my bike finally gave up on me. This is the bike that I went for a burn on after I stuffed my GCSE science exam. The bike I rode to sixth form parties on, the bike I rode back to hal... read more

I have been riding to work every day weather permitting for 10 year now and in that time have only had to change /make redundant 3 x bikes hence the title Trojan horse. im unsure how much money i h... read more

My commute to work is very short but I like it as I take it as a hill training session to get me to love not loathe them. The last bit of my ride is through the lovely Stockwood Park and yesterday ... read more

the range of the boy's explorations vastly expanded when he acquired his first bicycle

Ride to Work started off well for me by *not* being knocked off my bike by a delivery truck today. Why don't professional drivers realise that if they are going to drive in the opposite lane, they ... read more

Spoiler alert... its an e-bike. We always thought this was the case, but we figured we should probably be sure. So our teammate Josh ran a test over a normal Auckland working week, comparing com... read more

After a week of registering In the Bike Auckland Challenge and sharing my passion with my fellow brethren in our church of how passionate I am in riding gave them the motivation to ride with me on ... read more

- Victor Corrales

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

5

Home-School-Work-School-Home by Bike Monday to Friday I love the ride from Symonds St, my home at 8:30 AM to Freemans Bay, my daughter's School through the pink cycleway. I back to work at the U... read more

- Shohin Aheleroff

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

7

I met my wife in the summer of 2001 in New Plymouth. Through mutual friends we met and the four of us went to a party together. I brought a spare bike along for her to ride, and when her eyes lit u... read more

- Matt Hancock

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

9

Daily I make the commute from Waiheke to Half moon bay and then on to East Tamaki. Come rain or shine my commute takes me past some of the most spectacular scenery in Auckland. On a daily basis my ... read more

- Christopher Campbell

Topic: My commute by bike

3

My partner and I starting biking at the start of 2018, and just this totally joyful and amazing adventure it's added to our lives . We've been on a bike packing trips , we take our bikes away wit... read more

I am an older lady, I suppose and couple of years ago I was diagnosed with the lung disease with a capacity of a 91 yr old!! consequently I have 55% lung capacity compared to the normal person. M... read more

I've been biking seriously for about three years now, but my wife has only hopped onto a bike a few times in this period, mainly to get to work when the weather has allowed A couple of Christmas... read more

- Matthew Emmott

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

6

My husband and I first tried a tandem bicycle around the Hawkes Bay Wineries in the early 1980's. We got married in 1984 and our first purchase as a married couple was a tandem bicycle. We have don... read more

I live at the top of a hill called Bluff Hill in Napier. 'The hill' has been a bit of a mental obstacle to me biking anywhere since we moved into our house almost 3 years ago. However the bike ch... read more

- Helen Howard

Topic: My commute by bike

6

Siân Hazell Great work, Helen!!! Good determination. I love stories like this. Well done!

Simon Cohen Helen, great to hear from a fellow hill commuter. I live at the top of a steep hill in the Highlands of Scotland and it stopped me commuting for years, until I didn't have any choice but using the bike to get to work. I now slog the 228m home two or three times a week. Never had to contend with 30+ degrees but I've done it in the snow. And you're absolutely right NEVER get off and walk it's too demoralizing!

What better way to start your day? Than to get your bike out of its place Hop on and get warmed up Racing down St Heliers Bay Road Heart racing, smile upon my face Oh glorious day, the sun is ... read more

- Simone Rinke

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

4

My passion for cycling lives deep within, but what do you do when one challenge was a step too far? Answer = Change your spec! A challenge too far? Coast to Coast in a day, (not the normal spo... read more

- Vicky Loftus

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

7

Before you were mine, you carried my mother while she tried to keep up with my youthful energy. Upon graduating to intermediate school at the age of 11 I adopted you; seat low and feet barely able ... read more

- Alena Milne

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

15

It’s the moment I look forward to the most on my commute. I've done some time on that rude main road. Toughed it out with those metal beasts and now I check behind me, move into primary, holdi... read more

- Chris Angell

Topic: My commute by bike

7

No, I really do not love my bike. If it were human, people would say we had a ‘dysfunctional relationship’. We’d need a lot of counselling. Although we share a home it has its own space, its own cu... read more

- Joanna Farmer

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

12

In 2015 I had a heart after a 6km swim, fortunately I survive the attack, they don't know how. A year later I had a defibrillator put in, in February 2017 I won a gold medal in an open water swim ... read more

- Wayne Annan

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

23

Got my dad out on my E-bike this weekend. He loved it. He couldn’t remember the last time he rode any kind of bicycle, so it was awesome that he was so eager to give it a try. Later in the afte... read more

- Pete Lewis

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

12

As a child I rode my bike everywhere and this continued into my twenties when I decided to sell my car and cycle instead to save money, improve fitness and be environmentally friendly. However, I ... read more

- Jodi Thompson

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

9

My son and I made the bike riding special by riding 430 miles in Scotland during the Challenge. With camping gear, we cycled the full length of the Outer Hebrides, as well as touring on the mainlan... read more

- James Wheat

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

10

Jim Black My wife and I just returned from a trip to Scotland last October. It would have been wonderful to ride part of trip.

I have biked to work every day since 1978, when I started my first full-time job. In 2019 I am still biking to work every day, and wouldn't change it for anything. Five years ago someone challenged... read more

The fabulous E bike that Ian Lancaster (Wellington) won in 2018'sAotearoa Bike Challenge has been put to great use. Ian very kindly gifted the bike to me (his wife) and very patiently encouraged a... read more

- Nicola Lancaster

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

6

Barry Gregson is 72 years old. He took up cycling after he retired and since then has been cycling regularly. Since the start of the year 2018, however, Barry’s cycling has moved up a few gears! A... read more

- Barry Gregson

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

5

I have always loved to ride my bike but it's always been for transportation or occasionally to explore the countryside. But in 2018 I set myself a challenge to complete my first ever triathlon! ... read more

- Christian Lampe

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

4

I've spent years cycle commuting. Anything from 2 to 32 miles each way. I have never driven a car didn't interest me for lots of reasons. I used to work promoting cycling, now i plan custom-buil... read more

I was struggling at home and felt rather negative although i needed to be positive and took myself for a random bike ride alone music in my ear and a pack lunch in back pack. Went to the beach to w... read more

- Michelle Broadway

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

6

Over the past few years I have set myself challenges to stretch my personal boundaries. These have been an opportunity to raise both funds and awareness of charities that mean something to me. In ... read more

- Abigael Polley

Topic: Other

4

As a kid I always had a bike and loved the great outdoors and wherever I was there was a bike at my side. You grow up and life changes and my bike got put to one side. I then had the opportunity ... read more

I will be 60 in August but I won't let that stop me cycling to work, three days a week. It's only a short (about 2 and a half miles) ride but there is one very steep hill on my route. I log my ride... read more

Tracy Westphal I just turned 60, too! We girls are hard to slow down :). See you out there!!!

https://cyclingunknown.wordpress.com/ The commute to work in this beautiful part of the world helps in my training for larger scale challenges in Europe. If it is something you have thought about ... read more

Every morning it’s a crispy chilly ride along this beautiful canal. You could ride this a thousand times and you’d still think it was your first! I can’t wait to get saddled up and off. Then carr... read more

Wave at every car that gives you any room. When you get angry about poor driving just remove your approval wave. See? You got angry but didn't enter into a negative dialogue : ) Happy commuting ... read more

Tarun Shome Great advice, and something I have been doing for the last year. My theory is that when you're commuting, it's pretty much the same people overtaking you every day. When they see you giving recognition to a safe pass, they learn from that. I have genuinely noticed a reduction in close passes in the time I have been thanking safe passes on my commute.

I didn't think I would write here as what I do is so little, but I want to thank Love to Ride for getting me back on my bike. It is very different to when I was a teenager in England road racing. C... read more

For the past year, some friends and I have been taking part in and growing the women's BMX scene in the North of England. We meet indoors or outdoors when the weather lets us and all levels of abil... read more

- Cat Luker

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

5

I have refused to own a car, and gotten around by bicycle since 1989. There were many reasons for this: Climate change and other environmental reason; exercise; too cheap and stingy to blow that ki... read more

- Valerie Tomlinson

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

21

The last time i rode a bike before this challenge was in Germany, i (stupidly) wasn't wearing a helmet, fell off, hit my head on the concrete and got concussion. So this month was really about prov... read more

I rode to work. In the morning, it was wonderful. Cool and refreshing. I really enjoyed the freedom of wind in my chest hair, and bugs in my teeth. However, the afternoon was horrible. It was hot, ... read more

Coming 20kms out from Half Moon Bay to Grafton i am able to ride along the Rotary walk and along riverside road and the mostly completed track on the other side. Making use of these routes (albeit ... read more

- Jono Baker

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

2

Getting back on the bike again for the commute to work is such a great experience, I'll tell you why. In the car there is so much that takes over the senses and it is a battle, on the bike and th... read more

- Brodie Johnstone

Topic: My commute by bike

6

I am not a cyclist. But I got on my bike. It was one of those stupid fitness challenges for which I did not prepare, and in this particular case, one joins a group of coworkers to see how many days... read more

- Joshua Forester

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

4

My husband is so romantic and came for 3 evening bike ride dates in a row. It was so special and I appreciate my husband biking with me. When I have been out biking and he sees me through the win... read more

- Heather Woods

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

6

Bike riding was never my thing.I rode bikes when i was younger but was serous about it..since doing this challenge for the first time has made me realise that bike riding is a kewl exercise as well.

- Agnes Poi

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

3

The new walking and cycling bridge joining the Albany Centre to Spencer Road and East Coast Bays opened this morning. A great addition to the local cycling network.

I've been riding an ebike to work for a few years, and decided to train for a race and so ride my road bike more. It was hard at first, adapting to doing all the work myself. Having gotten over tha... read more

- Barry Page

Topic: My commute by bike

7

A month had passed since my move to NZ and then another. I'd walked through a bike store and stared longingly as we spotted the pink path and bikers on the streets. I picked up a few Auckland Trans... read more

Nick Kendall I Cycled around quite a bit of the South Island. Stunning landscapes and brilliant Summer weather.

The days was wet, , we both had to go places , the mother in law had been sick needed checking out So off on the bike I went, drop in to see the grand kids, drop a book off , round to the mother ... read more

Back in 2017 I had trained quite hard for the World Masters Games for rowing. Unfortunately I had also injured myself during this time and carried that injury through to the Games. During the 'off'... read more

- Veronique Gibbons

Topic: Other

5

My husband and I met on a Friday night at after-work drinks - which we’d both quite naturally biked to. Many of our subsequent dates, leisure and general life together involved biking. I wasn’t z... read more

- Megan Gregory

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

33

Nick Kendall NZ again...Great country for cycling

In this story I will give you 3 facts alongside my own reasons for you to get on your bike! 1) Enjoy Nature What better way to experience the great outdoors than to eat some dust and get intimate... read more

I have an amazing time with by bike Liv. She is a Giant Liv Invite Co Max who hangs around with her best mate Dora, another cyclecross. We journeyed last Monday from Leeds on the train into Manc... read more

- Claire H

Topic: A happy riding memory

5

It’s not even 7 yet. Not even light. But I’m alert with nerves because today I’m starting bike commuting again, for the first time since October, when I had heart surgery. It’s never a great journe... read more

- Joanna Farmer

Topic: My commute by bike

8

Hi The bike challenge came at just the right time for me. I had knee replacement surgery just two months earlier, and my physio agreed that cycling would be a great way to get my new knee up and ... read more

After having an Heart attack a few years ago in the Gym, My recovery is mainly down to getting on my bike .Starting a week after being de fibbed back to life, biking to the hospital and slow extend... read more

- Steve Waring

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

5

It was a blustery spring day in April 2016 when I found myself preparing for a second date. I had met Alex the Easter bank holiday in our home town. We both grew up in the town and both ended up in... read more

My now husband proposed to me on a bike ride from Marazion to Lands End whilst we were holidaying in Cornwall. He had planned to do it over a Cornish cream tea but by the time we got there they had... read more

- Emma Young

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

7