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 Fabulous views, free commute and free exercise

Fabulous views, free commute and free exercise

Every day I cycle along Newcastle / Gateshead Quayside to and from work. The views are great, including:
Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge (1849) - the world's first double decker bridge (... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

1

Finding my love of cycling and maintenance

Having tipped past 47 years old this time I was keen to make more of an effort to get back into cycling. I joined cycling September challenge, which not entirely successful due to illness did see m... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Image for story Cargo Artwork

Cargo Artwork

“The Bicycle is Man’s Most Perfect Invention. The bicycle offers an unsurpassed combination of benefits including recreation, mental and physical health, stress relief, reduced traffic congestion, ... read more

Topic: Other

2
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 ... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story #Light the night

#Light the night

All my cycling has been in the dark recently so I was highly delighted to receive a pair of Proviz Reflect 360 cycling gloves in the post this lunchtime, courtesy of Cycle September! Perfect for si... read more

Topic: Other

3

#LightTheNight

#LightTheNight If you go down in the woods tonight ... you might find me! For me the best thing about having a great set of lights means I can still commute on the exact same route of back lanes, b... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

I stopped cycling. Then, I found a reason to do it again.

I never meant to stop cycling, it just happened. After cycling to and from work during my gap year, then around university during my undergraduate and postgraduate years, I stopped when I got a job... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

2

Keeping going

So, here we are locked down, again....
In our urban environment, there are many busy roads, some do contain traffic shared cycle lanes.
However, going for it, we can via these and judicious... 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 Hilly Blasters

Hilly Blasters

I’m a Breeze Champion and for the last 2 or 3 years I’ve led a Thursday night, hilly ride which has proved popular with a core group of die hard riders. We motivate each other and our fitness has g... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Sharing my passion

Sharing my passion

I started commuting by bike to work about 5 years ago when I first moved to the UK. I got given a very old purple mountain bike by one of our regulars in the pub where I worked. It was a very espec... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story It maybe raining where you are but somewhere it is sunny!

It maybe raining where you are but somewhere it is sunny!

After a miserable day on Saturday where it rained all day we decided to brave the rain on Sunday morning and go for a bike ride from Woodbury to Topsham, a 4+ mile journey mostly on cycle paths. <... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

1
Image for story Rediscovered joy

Rediscovered joy

I used to cycle a lot, during my industrial training during my degree course I cycle from Porchester to Gosport each day there and back, daily total of 15 miles. I loved riding then then life chang... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

After my accident

Back in 2018 , through no fault of my own I was hit by a large vehicle and suffered a dislocated collar bone, among other injuries. I was off my bike for over 6 months and it was a long painful roa... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

3

#LighttheNight

A cheap but effective way to be seen at night, especially from the sides, which often gets overlooked, is to aim a clip/strap light on to your water bottles on your frame. It really lights up the b... read more

Topic: Other

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

5
Image for story Mother and daughter

Mother and daughter

Encouraged by my daughter to get back cycling. This photo shows us both out today on the Carrington Moss Estate. This is a beautiful place to get outdoors and take in the Natural beauty that surr... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Motivation for the Nation

Motivation for the Nation

Cycling UK Stevenage have loved using Love to Ride, its really motivated us to keep cycling and to do a few more miles in these last few months (including Cycle September). We are now doing a Novem... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

1

Starting a Trend

Ive been cycling for a while.
When my boyfriends' housmate was furloughed, his housemate brought a bike, and started cycling around Manchester. This was great news, and after borrowing the bike... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

6

My favourite way to move

Before lockdown and Cycle September I did most of my travelling around the city by bus or Uber.
Now I cycle everywhere! I really enjoy it, it minimises unnecessary contact on public transport a... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

4
Image for story Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall

Just got this cheeky little cycling 🚴‍♀️ 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

2
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Cuckoo Trail at dusk!

We live in Brighton and my daughter goes to the orthodontist in Hailsham. In the past we drove as there isn’t a train station in Hailsham. Since making the family decision to ditch the car during l... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story 14 lessons I learnt from 50 days of riding my bicycle (part 2):

14 lessons I learnt from 50 days of riding my bicycle (part 2):

8 WEAR A HELMET, ALWAYS
Please, please wear a helmet! There is no excuse to not be wearing one. One doesn’t wear them for fashion. They’re there to protect your head. (There are some horrific i... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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3

Delivering Leaflets

Great way to get round our town to deliver newsletters. Quicker than walking and better than driving. Efficient and good for me.

Topic: Other

6
Image for story Feeling Pumped After Puncture Paralysis

Feeling Pumped After Puncture Paralysis

My cycling adventures have been stalled by a classic issue; a puncture.

Last weekend’s cricket practice was an ideal time for me to cycle the couple of miles to the nets, but the slow pun... read more

Topic: Other

1

Winter riding

As we enter the back end of the year the winter riding challenge comes at just the right moment. I have set myself a challenge of getting 2,500 miles in in 2020 and have give or take 422 to go whi... read more

Topic: Other

Getting soaked

I almost miss a suprise downpour on the way to work. Almost.

Topic: My commute by bike

3
Image for story Cycling at night

Cycling at night

It’s been rare to cycle after dark recently, especially under lockdown. When things were open I was able to swim each evening; a perfect way to complement my cycling exercise. That’s not possible j... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Image for story All systems glow...

All systems glow...

I commute to work by bike, so in autumn and winter I ride in darkness almost daily. Over the years I have gradually made my bike more visible – it now sports reflective strips, dynamo lights and a ... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

9

My weekly commute.

Dear all, I have tried to cycle the round trip to school 3 times a week for the past 8 years. ( 20 miles round trip) I started out on an electric bike in 2012- but quickly upgraded to Dawson toure... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

Biking to work in the dark

Starting my shift at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston at 6am means I am cycling to work in the dark since the clocks went back. Coming the other way down a narrow unlit street I have been dismayed to see a... read more

Topic: Other

6
Image for story Lessons by hard knocks.

Lessons by hard knocks.

The New Year started well with a lovely wedding of our son and his passing out as an Officer in the Royal Marines. Then came a choice one morning, wear the part reflective part blue cycling jacket ... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

4

Virtual Triathlon completed finally

I have been struggling to complete a virtual triathlon due to various issues. My friend persuaded me to finish it on Sunday and I rode out with her on her 30 year old Raleigh bike! We had a lot o... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

Lighting the night

I have a dynamo hub with front and rear lights as my basic lighting package and supplement this with a high powered Exposure light and rear lezyne light for cycling on those dark country lanes. read more

Topic: Other

Cycling preseved my mental wellbeing

Following my partner being admitted to hospital earlier this year, I found myself valuing cycling even more than before. I began to almost look at my bike as an old friend who transported me across... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

2
Image for story Hill? What hill?

Hill? What hill?

I have a new love. My husband knows and approves. It means I am at home less, gives him a little 'me' time as we are both working from home in these strange times. I tried a similar relationship ma... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Cycle lights

I got away 3/4 hour before sunset but cloud meant it was already very dull. Although I wasn't prepared for night time riding at least I'd remembered a couple of lights for emergencies so I set my l... read more

Topic: Other

Image for story The cycling bug

The cycling bug

I am 71 years old, a type 1 diabetic on 4 insulin injections a day, asthmatic, waiting for a knee replacement and had a double heart bypass So why am I cycling? Simply because I love it! I haven... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Image for story Swapping the School Run for a School Ride

Swapping the School Run for a School Ride

Since putting the bike away a few years ago with growing family responsibilities, I've now begun taking my daughter by bike to School. We both have a great time and have had to make the route longe... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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#Light the Night

As a rider for both leisure and occasional commuting all year round, I know it is vital to be lit up like a Christmas tree in both the poor weather and the dark.
Lets face it, if the four whee... read more

Topic: Other

After getting a new e-bike.

Well to day managed to complete another ride this time I did 40 miles so it goes to show the right equipment you can go further. Now going to push for 60 mile ride before the weather breaks.

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

2

Save the Planet!

I started cycle commuting in 1984, at the age of 22. I was fed up of waiting in the cold for a bus, and a friend offered to lend me her bike whilst she wasn't using it. I had the luxury of five gea... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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Image for story lightthenight

lightthenight

I commute 3hrs each way to work most days.

And whats the best bit the 5 mile cycle to the station at 5am and home by 7pm

Even better is when it's dark.. then you can add all th... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

4

Turning to the dark side

Well actually, just riding in the dark...

Before the pandemic, I cycled to and from the train station every day, all year, in all weather.

So what lighting do I recommend?
read more

Topic: Other

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#LightTheNight #StaySafe

My commute almost seems like a distant memory, mostly working from my back room rather than cycling the Milton Keynes redways into the office.

It's that time of year, light going out in th... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

1
Image for story Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall

Just got this cheeky little cycling 🚴‍♀️ 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

4

LightTheNight

I'll never forget how I felt when I was racing along an unlit country lane and my front light went out. I think the batteries died suddenly, and so did my confidence... it was terrifying. I freewhe... read more

Topic: Other

1
Image for story 14 lessons I learnt from 50 days of riding my bicycle (part 1)

14 lessons I learnt from 50 days of riding my bicycle (part 1)

I did it! Woohoo!

50 days of riding!
This is how this challenge came about. I decided to take part in the [address removed] #CycleSeptember challenge. I only really awoke to the idea o... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Image for story Shopping by recumbent bike

Shopping by recumbent bike

As i had been very much enjoying the cleaner lockdown air, i thought i'd do my bit to help keep it that way. I adapted a regular bike trailer to fit the back of my Kingcycle recumbent bike, and did... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

3

Going back to move forward!

24 years ago I left MK. Cycling was difficult and unpleasant in my new area. In the last 5 years, none at all.

Soon to be moving back to MK - with a bit of luck and a following wind! ... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

2