Riding can sometimes be a solo experience...no one there to see you flying over the handle, bars, walking home with a flat tyre, spiking your shin on the peddles, p*** wet through! cryin to yoursel... read more
Topic: Encouraging others to ride
Prior to cycling I would have gone out running with only an illuminace jacket on. However on the bike it is so important people see you and you can see them. This week I got my girls out on their b... read more
It was my first day of 2 annual leave days where I opted for a random ride rather than just keep painting the fence 'Autumn Gold'. My usual riding mate could not join in due to work, so I planned r... read more
Topic: Other
A few years ago, I set out on a mission to do 120 km in one day, for the Strava Gran Fondo challenge. It was a grey day, a bit rainy, but at least it was warm. I stopped for lunch in Chester, and l... read more
Topic: A happy riding memory
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
I almost miss a suprise downpour on the way to work. Almost.
Topic: My commute by bike
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Topic: Other
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
Topic: Other
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
These two, feeling grown up riding in the dark. The rear bike light is a bit low so clip running lights on their jackets hoods
Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge
Zeeland, well what an adventure. It all began with a 'thinking aloud' post on Facebook. Wouldn't it be good if….
Now lots of people said it would be and there it sat. We all did nothing. C... read more
Topic: A happy riding memory
Grantham Hospital has fenced off its staff bike shed today so I had no choice but to chain my bike to the fence. Note to managers we still bike in the winter!!
Topic: My commute by bike
Yes! It is getting darker so to carry on cycling through the winter I replaced my old lights with new light weight rechargeable LED ones. I loved them
~#lightthenight
Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge
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
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
“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
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
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
#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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
