Stories from the United Kingdom

So, I haven't ridden a bicycle in roughly 10 years. The love to ride guys helped me pick and choose the bike and my boyfriend is an experienced cyclist. I took the plunge, he has terrible sense of... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

2

#ExploreByBike
So over lockdown I start exploring so new route on my mountain bike and f oik and found myself riding around the foot paths around marwel zoo.
I never realised there were pat... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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I have 4 local rides
I do at least one a week
Two of the local rides have come from a leaflet I got from Garstang Tourist information office a long time ago .
Both these rides have exc... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

My husband sadley passed away 3weeks ago . I belong to breeze riding group on let's ride Bury .Cycling and the support of the group is helping me with my grief and wellbeing.
Bury clarion grou... read more

A colleague of mine wrote to me last week - she had ventured out on her bike and tried the home to work commute from Stretford to the city centre - using the pop up Chester Rd cycle lane. She'd be... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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I use my bike to commute daily so this stopped in March when we all began working from home due to COVID19. For the first few weeks I didn't use my bike but then found my hip was letting me down s... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

Following on from health issues whilst not technically 'shielding' I have been more than socially distancing. So really happy for a change of scene, if not a change of company, last week and a chan... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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I love it up on this old moorland track, the Salter Fell Roman Road. It runs from near Lancaster to Slaidburn. Even on busy days when tourist spots are teeming with people, there's hardly ever anyo... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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Stuart Mercer Looks great! This has been on my hit list for years and I'm still to get round to it. Would you recommend MTB or CX Cross b... read more

Looks great! This has been on my hit list for years and I'm still to get round to it. Would you recommend MTB or CX Cross bike?

Lisa Stout Hi Stuart. I'd say that a cyclocross bike is fine for the northern half of it, from Roeburndale to maybe Hard Hill Top. But... read more

Hi Stuart. I'd say that a cyclocross bike is fine for the northern half of it, from Roeburndale to maybe Hard Hill Top. But once you cross the parish boundary onto Croasdale Fell and the descent down towards Slaidburn it gets a lot rougher and personally I'd want my mtb for that part. A few people have filmed the track as they rode along and uploaded onto YouTube, like this chap: [address removed] ,if you wanted to see what I mean. Also good to know: there is a really handy (and rideable!) gravel track bridleway that runs from Caton Moor Wind Farm picnic site (the top of Quarry Road) to Roeburndale Road. It's not shown on the Ordnance Survey maps yet but it is signposted on the ground. I use that to get onto the Roman Road as there's not really anywhere proper to park a car at that northern end (unless you want to do a REALLY big ride :) ). Good luck and I hope you enjoy it!

Early one morning whilst out for an early morning pootle along Morecambe Prom (deservedly popular with all types of cyclists), I spotted that even our Eric Morecambe statue was sporting some PPE. W... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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I have moved house during the lockdown and now my commute is a bit more scenic than the canals of West London...

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Without much I thought I agreed to do a bike ride that would be different and a challenge. My birthday was just a few weeks away and it would be the beginning of a new decade for me 😟
The ride... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Adrian Lewis A brilliant thing to do, well done

A brilliant thing to do, well done

Chris Boulton Thanks Adrian 👍

Thanks Adrian 👍

Especially quiet during the Covid-19: Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

9

The Covid-19 situation has been the only reason I have ended up finding a new and picturesque route between Helmshore in Rossendale and Stubbins near Ramsbottom. I have since found out that it is ... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

9

Always have a biking buddy whether its your mum, your child or your cat

I used to ride with my mum and my my best mate when I was a kid (many moons ago and I still have my first bike - a 1... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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5

Lyndsey Henderson I am now wanting a biking buddy! Maybe my childhood teddy Pinky might be up for the job...

I am now wanting a biking buddy! Maybe my childhood teddy Pinky might be up for the job...

Zizzie Moore Do it. I have one on the front of my touring bike. Its a little Teddy called Bushy because we found it in a bush and one ca... read more

Do it. I have one on the front of my touring bike. Its a little Teddy called Bushy because we found it in a bush and one called Cooper on my mountain bike (my mountain bike is called Alice). I do talk to them a lot, especially going up hills.

love cycling in London, my favourite route is from Kew bridge to Walton on Thames on the Towpath. Perfect escape from London busy roads :)

Coming back from an appointment at The Paintworks on Bath Rd to Bedminster I discovered I could get straight onto St Philips Greenway and ride alongside the River Avon for half the journey. A very... read more

Topic: Other

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Martin Fodor I did the same recently and enjoyed using this path as well. Took us to the ‘bridges to nowhere’ at the Arena Island site.

I did the same recently and enjoyed using this path as well. Took us to the ‘bridges to nowhere’ at the Arena Island site.

Meeting midway is about visiting more distant friends safely. We get social again, planning to meet-up & picnic in unfamiliar territory. Our two brothers travel by bike to meet for the first ti... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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David Overton Hmm, it loses a certain "je ne sais quoi" when the you tube reference is removed! Search SplashMaps on YouTube and look for... read more

Hmm, it loses a certain "je ne sais quoi" when the you tube reference is removed! Search SplashMaps on YouTube and look for "From your Doorstep". There you'll find us :-)

I live in Hove and there's nothing better than cycling up to Devils Dyke and across to Truleigh Hill. The view off the downs is stunning anyway, but from Truliegh you also get to see the river Adur... read more

I've been doing early doors rides on Saturdays for a few years (only in the summer, when the weather is ok and family commitments allow) but in the last couple of summers I've switched to heading s... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

1

rode to park

#ExploreByBike

Working from home for 3 months now, the temptation is for my work and home to merge, the edges of when one starts and the other ends have become blurred. So I have started cycling "to work". I go... read more

I'd like to focus and share some of the many positive aspects of 'Lockdown' that I have enjoyed and experienced.
Noticing and listening intently to the dawn and evening chorus of the many diffe... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Louise Buckley-Simms I definitely share these thoughts during lock down! I normally cycle purely to get from A-B and not really for leisure, so ... read more

I definitely share these thoughts during lock down! I normally cycle purely to get from A-B and not really for leisure, so its been great exploring the local bike routes I've never tried!

Throughout my working career I have never had the opportunity to ride to work until now.. Working at the University Of Southampton Science Park, I have always felt the want to travel by bike to inc... read more

It was warm last night even at 8pm. Fab ride out to Wythall and Alvechurch via Weatheroak Hill.

Originally the plans were to cycling from home in South Birmingham to Llanberis in Snowdonia... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

2

My first outing on a bike for years! I thought that it would feel like being in my wheelchair but our Van Raam Wheelchair Transporter really does feel as if I am on a bike...enjoying the wind in m... read more

Really enjoyable ride along the canal. We started out from just west of Bristol and took the cycle path to Bath and joined the canal tow path and just kept going... The path is poor in places (espe... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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So over lockdown I start exploring so new route on my mountain bike and f oik and found myself riding around the foot paths around marwel zoo.
I never realised there were paths that could get t... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

During lockdown I decided I wanted to get fitter on my bike. So initially I got out my bike, set myself a challenge then I set off at full pelt everywhere......until I remembered why I love cycling... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

As a Registered Nurse and mother of extremely vulnerable daughter. Cycling has kept us fit and healthy during the Coronavirus Era. Cycling on the beautiful country side of Carrington Moss.

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Sustrans Manchester That's great to hear you are able to get out, enjoy the sunsine!

That's great to hear you are able to get out, enjoy the sunsine!

#ExploreByBike
I had to drop something off at my work so I cycled to check out the new cycle lanes that have recently been installed on The Avenue in Southampton. Instead of using the pavement,... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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I loved riding around my village and woods as a teenager and recently made a decision to become healthier and improve my mood after my Dad passed away last year, combined with relocating to the Lak... read more

I'm a member of a group that organises walks, bike rides etc. and they advertised a Liverpool to Leeds canal bike ride. As I live not too far from the canal and use it often I thought it would be ... read more

Gradually working my way through the various "100 Cycling Climbs " challenges on Strava/Veloviewer. I'm not that fast but I am quite stubborn (!) and often end up wheeling my bike up the steeper gr... read more

Topic: A happy riding memory

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Great weather to #ExploreByBike, first ride down the southern coast, and #ExploreByBike beautiful towns and villages.

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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The dark and stormy skies of Dunwich.

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Lisa Stout That's a great photo!

That's a great photo!

I went around Blaise Castle Estate after cycling there via the Henbury Lodge entrance. This takes you past the Timber Lodge and Wood,an’s cottage. You can then visit the House, and cycle all the wa... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Being a Nurse needed to spend this Era looking after my physical and mental health. Have lived in the area for many years and never have taken the time out to cycle this beautiful green space. It... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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Jane Leicester Snap! Important to protect this green space

Snap! Important to protect this green space

100 for Guide Dogs is a challenge where the participant can choose to Run100, Cycle100 or Swim100 between 1 July and 30 November. For the cycling event the individual can choose how they want to co... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

4

I think many of us have that dream of the perfect adventure cycle: a ride into the sunset to a wild camping spot miles away from anyone else. Well, I have to say most of my Land's End to John o'Gro... read more

After a bad day or a stressful week,
An escape on my bike, I must seek!
Off I head, before it gets dark,
To the Royal Victoria Country Park.
On the way, there are hills so steep -read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

2

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Pete Dargie Love that Jayne, you must do a similar route to us (Woolson stench) ;-)

Love that Jayne, you must do a similar route to us (Woolson stench) ;-)

Lizzie Eyres This is what I do on alternate days after work (which will maybe be in my lunchbreak now that winter darkness is arriving!)

This is what I do on alternate days after work (which will maybe be in my lunchbreak now that winter darkness is arriving!)

One of my favourite rides starts not far from Exeter city centre at 'The Quays'. Want to ride with a friend who doesn't own a bike? There's even a cycle hire shop at the start of the route, plus pl... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

1

I ride fairly regularly-3 or 4 times a week. I thought l knew my local area.l used to set out on a known route looking to improve my time. Coronovirus lockdown meant events were cancelled. I start... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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After being in lockdown & isolation for 3 months my friend & I both in our sixties decided to plan an epic cycle to celebrate our release. We chose to complete a full loop of the Avon cycle... read more

Deborah Hanks What an accomplishment well done.

What an accomplishment well done.

Mad Gibbo kudos...lovely route!

kudos...lovely route!

While being confined to the area around my home on the edge of Bristol has been a great excuse to explore. From the cycle path taking a slightly different exit i have discovered the common at mango... read more

Hi all it's me fohat just ordered my bike have not been on a bike for wow 12 years am 62 can't wait to get it I got 1 e bike I'm in to drones and have caravan up in Callander so many cycle tracks ... read more

Kathy Tier Hey James. Good for you. I'm a mere whippersnapper at 58, but I got an e-bike at 50 & we've done about 5,000 miles toge... read more

Hey James. Good for you. I'm a mere whippersnapper at 58, but I got an e-bike at 50 & we've done about 5,000 miles together. I hope you love your new bike & have a great time exploring :)

Rode out to St. Michael's Church and along the public footpath. Good to be out in the fresh air and no one else around.

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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I've always enjoyed cycling, but never got into a regular routine of taking the bike out. It's always been a little spontaneous "Shall we go for a bike ride?" when the fancy took me or my husband.... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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I bought my bike about five years ago but rarely used it. For very nearly two years it stood in a corner of my hall literally gathering dust. But since September 2019 I have gradually increased my... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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Just over 700 miles rode since the Coronavirus out brake lockdown and I can crashing off my bike. Thankfully no broken bones just a slight buckled wheel and cuts & burses. All part of the fun o... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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As a member of the fundraising team for St. Andrew's, I am always inspired to learn of the amazing challenges people take on to support their local hospice. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak we reall... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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