Specialized

Stories from Specialized

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

Stories from around the world

Image for story 💖 Riding’s better done together 💖

💖 Riding’s better done together 💖

My boss Wendy and I took the Active Southland E-Bikes for a spin on Valentine’s Day! Our first 1:1 catch up on wheels.

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Bikepacking in Patagonia Chile

Bikepacking in Patagonia Chile

First time bikepacking and it was the Carretera Austral in Patagonia Chile.. wet and steep as. Fuelled by empanadas, I biked 600km through towns sadly impacted by a volcanic eruption, a flash fl... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Moerangi MTB track. A steep but rewarding challenge.

Moerangi MTB track. A steep but rewarding challenge.

I love riding deep into the native forest. I recently rode the Moerangi MTB track in the Whirinaki Forest. We rode from Okahu Road to the summit and back again the same way. No e-bikes to be seen... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Tiny Trailer

Tiny Trailer

Just over 2 years ago I had my first child. My son loves going for a ride on the bike with me. I had been eyeing up one of those bike trailers for some time. We stopped by torpedo7 and they happe... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Image for story Why I cycle

Why I cycle

Mainly I commute to work daily. I have been known to cycle a few miles to go for a swim and back again. Or to visit family up in the forest. So I would say I’m an experienced rider, but every ride ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Coincidence or not

Coincidence or not

I had never ridden a pedal bike before, my hubby buys me one for my 52nd birthday. It is an e-mountain bike, I thought I would never love it as much as my motorbike and it would sit in garage like ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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New lease of life!!

After 30 odd years of not having owned or even got on a bike... bought my first bike and joined the challenge, it is quite a challenge with all the gears and getting used to what works when LOL. Th... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story The Great Divide off road trail

The Great Divide off road trail

I have cycled for years but only bikepacked serious the last three years. The routes l do are all in the UK and are usually around 200-400 miles long. Its something I love to do and wanted to take ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Bike Breakfast 2024

Bike Breakfast 2024

Spokes will once again be hosting the great Dunedin Bike Breakfast. Now in it’s 10th year, Spokes are happy to welcome all those bike bound travellers to the Dunedin Railway Station on Wednesday ... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Coffee and Kai on Wednesdays - does a little rain matter?

Coffee and Kai on Wednesdays - does a little rain matter?

More than 50 cyclists gathered in Queenstown and Wanaka for barista coffees and pain au chocolate, croissants and muffins to fuel their ride to work. Braving the light drizzle, but celebrating the ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Enjoyed a bike ride either family

Over the weekend, hubby and I met in with his brother in Hamilton. We all have e-bikes, although he has not ridden far from home (he is worried his battery won't last long enough for a lengthy ride... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Not taking a break

I have been cycling for the past couple of days now. I usually ride my bike around my neighborhood, but I get so tired that I have to take a break halfway, for about 5 minutes, then continue with t... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Utility Cyclist

I rarely cycle for fun. It is generally just to get around. It's quite enjoyable just travelling from place to place via bicycle. It turns what would generally be a stressful activity to an enjoyab... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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covid sucks

In lockdown in stage 4 it was so boring but in stage 2 we were back riding

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story GO BY BIKE DAY WAS SO FUN

GO BY BIKE DAY WAS SO FUN

WOOHOO Priya and I loved wearing QR codes and spreading the ABC love <3

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Falling in love with cycling during the winter

I started cycling about 18 months ago as a means of getting to work. At first I was afraid, I was petrified .... but the more I started cycling, the more confidence I grew, the more you start to re... read more

Topic: Other

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Coming back from Injury

As a new ebike owner(!), I couldn't wait to start cycling to work. However, just after 2 weeks of riding, in November 2023 I managed to get myself into an accident involving my bike and a parked ca... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story My new handle bars,  following my hip revision surgery

My new handle bars, following my hip revision surgery

Well guys that's me out of the game for a while, hopefully I will be back at it for the summer as my recovery starts at minus 6 weeks before I can load bare at all then the recovery really starts. ... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Family cycle tour from Hamilton to Christchurch

Family cycle tour from Hamilton to Christchurch

Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for. These kids, aged 8 to 13, just biked from Hamilton to Christchurch! 26 days of cycling, usually around 50-60km per day, the biggest day was ov... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Image for story Winter Wheeler winner £100!

Winter Wheeler winner £100!

I was delighted to hear that I was picked as one of the winners for the winter wheelers! Thank you so much, @lovetoride. This came at a time when I needed a pick-me-up due to a back injury. With th... read more

Topic: Other

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Check that your rides get logged.

You’ve got the Love to Ride app connected - you rock! Now’s a great time to go for a test ride, check your app, and make sure your rides are pulling across onto your profile. If you ever spot a rid... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Best wishes for 2024

Best wishes and happy cycling for 2024 everyone.

Topic: Other

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Happy Christmas all you cyclists

Had a 5 mile ride in the dark Christmas eve. Really really windy I feel sorry for santa and his reindeer fighting through that wind tonight. I will make sure refreshments are left out for th... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story Christmas ride

Christmas ride

Headed over to the Forest of Dean today for a ride with a friend on my retro Marin Shoreline Mountain Bike. We made the route up as we went along and was surprised to see the strava route map whic... read more

Topic: Other

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Biking around town

Hey everyone, My best friend showed me this awesome bike path around Frankley in New Plymouth. We biked up the road and into the bushes and it so beautiful! There is even a swing halfway through ... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Kotahi Rau Kiromita

Kotahi Rau Kiromita

Kia ora! Kua takoto te mānuka o te Aotearoa Bike Challenge, nō reira i whakatau au ki te eke kotahi rau kiromita i kotahi te rā, e mau ana tōku tīhate "Toitū Te Tiriti", kia kitea ai ia e te mare... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Riding in Snow

Riding in Snow

It was a Sunday the local Cycling UK (CTC) ride day. The weather was cold, but I decided to go to the ride start point. At the start point there were only three riders out of an average of 12-16 ri... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story I'm 50k from home and now I have to get home

I'm 50k from home and now I have to get home

I'm definitely going to get that 100 badge today as I have no other options. Set off just before 7am this morning to try and beat the heat and wind, but it's already 25 degrees. Beautiful day for t... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story An E-bike has enabled me to cycle to work

An E-bike has enabled me to cycle to work

I used to cycle to work in my previous job just before the pandemic but with a change of workplace and a further and longer commute of around 5 miles which would have involved 2 buses and up to an ... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Ages

About a month or so ago i suddenly realised how unfit I was due to not doing a lot with the kids and always being out of breath when I did. So I decided to buy a bike and start biking to work. Well... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Birthday jaunt at the beach

Birthday jaunt at the beach

Enjoying the bizarrely warm February in Bournemouth, and my Mum finally trying out her new bike!

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story Teacher Cycling Community Ambassador 2024

Teacher Cycling Community Ambassador 2024

I am thrilled to have had my application to become a Teacher Cycling Community Ambassador approved! Dan Grindrod has worked incredibly hard to build this grass-roots post-Covid cycling community fo... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Man who's never owned a car has cycled everywhere for 50 years

I am a freelance photographer in Hamilton and have never owned a car and for the last 50 years have been cycling everywhere. I have never had an interest in getting a licence. “Everything I needed ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Best gift ever

Best gift ever

I always complained that I wasn’t getting any exercise and I said to my husband, I wish I could ride a bike again like when I was a teenager 😂 I actually had not ridden a bike since then. Anyway to... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Getting my son out riding

I have upgraded my bike and I had a spare bike for our our youngest son 15yo to ride across town on Sunday. We travelled from Birkenhead to see Family in three kings. Along the way we stopped at ... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Must try... come challenge yourselves!

I finally had the guts to start my biking challenge yesterday with my hubby and son. So fun.. today I rode to work. Small accomplishments, makes me happy 😊. See you around bikers!

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story NZ Tour — In Memory of Mike

NZ Tour — In Memory of Mike

We’re using the Bike Challenge month to train for a special Tour. We’re riding the length of NZ in memory of the marvellous Mike Doig, who sadly passed away a year ago. Mike was one of our famou... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Biking Bonus

One bonus of biking to school rather than driving is that you can stop at a few places along the road to pick blackberries. Yum!

Topic: Ride with kids

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Image for story Putting the Mountain in MTB

Putting the Mountain in MTB

Effort-rewarding views from Mt Moerangi in the Whakarewarewa Forest this morning

Topic: Other

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Cycling the world over

I cycle for everything and in 2021 I discovered a virtual cycling app which I began with riding along the Berlin Wall. I was given information, history and updates along the journey and photos of t... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Running Errands

I cycled up to the local shops to return a faulty product. No parking problems plus the mall I visit offers safe bike parking which is very helpful. When I was completing my transaction a gentlem... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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Image for story Road warrior

Road warrior

During COVID we were allowed to exercise. I took the bicycle and cycle from home. Not long there after found myself on the State Highway. Didn't see any cars. Dead quite. Was very funny to see th... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story Biking - one bite at a time

Biking - one bite at a time

The last few years we've been bike touring over Christmas. Bike touring with kids always brings to mind Desmond Tutu's famous statement, "there's one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time". Wit... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Image for story The Up-Cycles Charitable Trust Story - so far...

The Up-Cycles Charitable Trust Story - so far...

🚴🏻‍♀️ A place for fixing, refurbishing, adapting & donating bikes, and a learning space for those in need. ’It’s a hand-up, not a hand-out’. 🚴🏼 My name is Chris Foggin and I am the foun... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Washington DC Bike Ride

Washington DC Bike Ride

I got to go to a national conference in Washington DC. Where I had one day to see the sites. I rented bikes through Capital Bikeshare's day pass. Mapped my ride out on Google maps to exchange m... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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IM HYBRID

FASTER FASTER I GO WITH FAST DOWN ROAD NOW A MEAN MAN SAYS GET A HYBRID WELL FLY AROUND ON THAT THEN FASTER FASTER.

Topic: Other

Image for story 2023

2023

De challenge nodigt we uit om meer te fietsen . De kou is niet erg maar altijd maar die regen . Ik ben nog nooit zo vaak nat geregend Joke

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

Image for story Timber trail fun

Timber trail fun

One of the great rides in New Zealand, and one of the best days I've had on my bike. A little bit of planning, and you can see some of NZ's rail history, and our great wild environment.

Topic: A happy riding memory

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69 nearly 70

Hi So here is my story. I have riden a bike before as a 14 year old I used to ride the 3 miles across Cheltenham to school at least twice a day. But then as a teen riding a bike wasn't cool.. Fas... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Free ride on Sat 9/12/2023 Wanstead Park - Walthamstow Wetlands

Free ride on Sat 9/12/2023 Wanstead Park - Walthamstow Wetlands

Redbridge Cycling Campaign are leading a winter ride on Saturday 9th December, 10.30 from Wanstead Tea Hut to the Walthamstow Wetlands. It will be an easy ride, on quiet streets and off-road paths,... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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