UK

Stories from the United Kingdom

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

Image for story 20,000 miles

20,000 miles

This is Robert. Robert cycles several times a week with us at simplycycling. Since he started his journey he has recorded every mile in a hand written journal. We had a little presentation to celeb... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story What a wonderful way to start the week!

What a wonderful way to start the week!

I took my beautiful daughter to the child minder for the first time today. We rode in the cargo bike and what a wonderful start to the week it was! The sun is shining. The sky is blue and people co... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story The bridge to nowhere

The bridge to nowhere

Visited the famous bridge to nowhere in Bristol on a sunny Sunday after just having snowed the day before :)

Topic: Other

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Image for story What to do with unused pavement chalks

What to do with unused pavement chalks

I saw my neighbours outside with their wee one on his little balance bike. I looked at my box of unused pavement chalk sitting around and knew what needed to happen. Some time and a combined effo... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Our 'Bike Bus'

Our 'Bike Bus'

I've started taking the kids to school by bike this year and love how excited they get! On bike days they are out of the door in record time, eager to get pedalling. We're enjoying it so much, we'v... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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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 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 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 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 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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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

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 Things you'd never see otherwise

Things you'd never see otherwise

Would never have come across this army of pomeranians if I hadn't been out on my bike the other day! A local safari

Topic: Other

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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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Brrrrr

That was a chilly little commute this morning! Took a slightly different route to stay within the the houses rather than out on the exposed coast and found out it's all uphill!! Glad I've ordered... read more

Topic: Other

3
Image for story 1000 miles before end of year completed.

1000 miles before end of year completed.

So happy to complete my goal before December. I'm not stopping though gotta keep them legs working right through winter hopefully. New year and a new goal to come.

Topic: Other

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Image for story Neigh bad

Neigh bad

My noble steed having a well-earned rest at the half-way point of a longish day ride in glorious autumn weather.

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Image for story How do like them apples?

How do like them apples?

Anyone else have a mental map of good places to forage on their routes? I loaded up with some cute little windfall apples today :-)

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Over 40 years!

My husband and I bought ourselves some e-bikes in August after spending some time in France on e-bikes with my brother and his wife. Absolutely loving it! I am 61 and hubby turns 60 in January. T... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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rain and bad traffic

Today was a perfect cycle commute. It looked like rain but it didn't happen. The traffic was appalling, with new added roadworks, and extra traffic lights on St. Denys rd. I like best, the days... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Cycle September

Cycle September

That's a wrap on Cycle September!! I've been tracking my cycling for a month now with Love to Ride and I am pretty flabbergasted at the results... I managed to smash my goal of 230 miles this mo... read more

Topic: Other

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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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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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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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Image for story Why I Love to Ride

Why I Love to Ride

I moved to Cambridge in 1999 as a young adult, and after commuting by bus for a while I switched to cycling, and have been a transport cyclist ever since. When I had a baby I stopped cycling for a ... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

Image for story Joining the Fold!!

Joining the Fold!!

I work in the Centre of Cambridge, 8am- 4pm Monday to Friday. I used to drive everyday from my home in Haverhill to my work. Leaving work at 4pm it used to take me 25 minutes to cover 2.8 miles thr... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story Not UK, sorry, now in Seville!

Not UK, sorry, now in Seville!

We hired bikes for 24 hours and discovered this great place in the best way. Only the very crowded tourist heart better on foot, otherwise there is a fantastic network of paths all over the city. A... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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The cycle of life

There are many moments in our own 'journey' with cycling. I remember learning to do without stabilisers in our back garden when I was young, riding no hands, doing a paper round, riding to school..... read more

Topic: Ride with kids

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Image for story In Madrid, not UK, sorry!

In Madrid, not UK, sorry!

We hired bikes and discovered the lovely Casa de Campo then the very impressive new infrastructure along the Rio Manzanares. And the weather was fantastic too!

Topic: A happy riding memory

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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

3

280 MPH BIKE RIDER? BELIEVE OR NOT?

MAN CAN RIDE BICYCLES AT 280MPH FACT I DONT KNOW WHY FROM STUART HAMER BMX MAD AT 50.

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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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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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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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Best wishes for 2024

Best wishes and happy cycling for 2024 everyone.

Topic: Other

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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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Image for story Ride to Portishead!

Ride to Portishead!

Lush ride to Portishead with a nice break in the weather :)

Topic: A happy riding memory

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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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Coldest day

A bit chilly this morning, hard frost on everything. Even though my face was crying with the cold, the rest of me was toasty. I have a waterproof helmet cover and that really keeps my head warm,... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Dunwich Dynamo (1st July 2023) by Tandem

Dunwich Dynamo (1st July 2023) by Tandem

I think that it was at Needham Lakes that I hit my nadir. We had pulled up abruptly on the beast (a Dawes Galaxy Twin Tandem that had been a successful drunken ebay bid a few years ago) and I’d lef... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Food Delivery Riders

I find them tedious, and don't class their e-bike/small moped riders as cyclists. They ride on the pavements, firing through red lights and generally just giving all cyclists a bad name and therefo... read more

Topic: Other

4

Free facial !

"Good cycling weather" the family said. "Best day of the week" they said "Go for it" they said So I did. Got to the bottom of my steep hill and it rained.....hmmmm! Cycled along the Avenue a... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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60 by 60

I do not consider myself to be particularly fit, I have arthritis in one knee and allergic asthma (tough to cycle when the pollen is blowing on my face ) So if you see wobbly cyclist, wheezing a... read more

Topic: Other

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Image for story Reporting the bike path being *stolen*...

Reporting the bike path being *stolen*...

Someone is stealing route 61, a brick at a time! (reported to CEC) Don’t fall into the hole as this will no doubt result in you being zapped to an alternate universe ;-)

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story ELC Bike User Group led ride number 1 - World Car Free Day

ELC Bike User Group led ride number 1 - World Car Free Day

As part of Cycle September, on World Car Free Day the newly formed ELC Bike Users Group logged its first group ride. Riders took the chance to use one of our county's best cycle routes - the Haddin... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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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 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 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 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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