Stories from Expired

I had all but given up cycling , due to various issues , but then I purchased an electric bike in February , and picked it up in March. This has given me a new lease of life to my cycling enjoyment... read more

first_519957 last_519957 Great to hear from a fellow e-biker. It really does make a world of difference, doesn't it?

Great to hear from a fellow e-biker. It really does make a world of difference, doesn't it?

READY STEADY GO

When March Lockdown came, it seemed to me
A target should be set for all to see
How about 2020 miles for 2020
Not enough? Oh yes indeed plenty!

Instea... read more

Christian L Love your Poem. Well done for achieving your goal :) I also have a goal to ride 2020 miles this year but still need to get ... read more

Love your Poem. Well done for achieving your goal :) I also have a goal to ride 2020 miles this year but still need to get a couple of long rides in to achieve it

first_417846 last_417846 This is excellent, thanks for sharing Lindsay!!

This is excellent, thanks for sharing Lindsay!!

first_508159 last_508159 A great poem,sums up how a lot have got back into cycling! Look forward to seeing more of your cycling poems!

A great poem,sums up how a lot have got back into cycling! Look forward to seeing more of your cycling poems!

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I bit the bullet and bought a bike! Second hand from a lovely chap who didn't need it anymore. 5 miles from my house. Bus there. Bike back. I hadn't been on a bike in probably 12 years! Didn't real... read more

I've not been biking so much in recent years. But it is a useful tool in the arsenal now, in keep some social distance. Rather than weaving around on foot, you can quite easily keep plenty of dista... read more

I started commuting by bike this September- and because I have no parking space at my new job I knew I had no choice but to get on with it! I have fallen in love with it... Treating myself to a new... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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With the nights drawing in and the 🍁 rain debris on the road I have switched from a road bike to a Giant Revolt Gravel bike and I love it 😻 just need the mudguards fitting as I hate being dirty ...... read more

Through COVID I switched to cycling to work on at least two of four days a week, this has increased and I now cycle almost every day I am working.
This has reduced my car useage, improved my f... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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first_381207 last_381207 Ive been riding to work for 6 years now and rain just get some over trousers, a decent waterproof/windproof coat a hat to g... read more

Ive been riding to work for 6 years now and rain just get some over trousers, a decent waterproof/windproof coat a hat to go under your helmet, if your not weating glasses a set of goggles even though i do wear glasses and a mask.....when your riding you will luv the rain...

Wednesdays are now my day in the office, which means I also take my son to school - we have got into a great routine of going by bike.
Then I carry on to the office on my bike. Then the same jo... read more

A group of ICU/PCU nurses decided to meet up for a bike ride to help me get in 13 miles for the Bike Challenge!
Thanks Heart of Saxony!
Jill

3 years ago I was a 275 pound man at a dwindling 5’8 stature. I was unmotivated and unhealthy. Which was not ideal for a firefighter. I didn’t exercise and I was exhausted all the time.
But t... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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first_470226 last_470226 Heal up fast! And Keep looking up! Ken. Pedal, pedal, pedal. Giddy up go!

Heal up fast! And Keep looking up! Ken. Pedal, pedal, pedal. Giddy up go!

first_305660 last_305660 Thank you for sharing this story. "Just keep pedaling" is great advice for all of us.

Thank you for sharing this story. "Just keep pedaling" is great advice for all of us.

first_519036 last_519036 Keep it up! Hope you'll recover fully soon!

Keep it up! Hope you'll recover fully soon!

first_511895 last_511895 Inspirational! Keep going, never give up, I know you can't!! It's not in your DNA. I pray you get back what you once had ve... read more

Inspirational! Keep going, never give up, I know you can't!! It's not in your DNA. I pray you get back what you once had vey soon. I want to do a Triathalon, but the training time is my hold up. I will just have to do a sprint to say I did it.

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Hi Team.
Regarding the questions you have ask.

Firstly I must Thank, Graig Harrison for introducing me to the Love to Ride app. It all came about when I was on a Lancashire Adult Learn... read more

I have been gradually increasing my lunchtime cycle ride, started out doing a 2 mile circuit around Spondon about 2 months ago. I yesterday managed a 10 mile ride, using an old Cycle Derby Map (sad... read more

I live on the edge of Bury St Edmunds and I work in Cambridge, my cycle commute is around 30 miles each way. I don't do this everyday as it takes about 4 hours in total, and that's a big part of t... read more

Topic: My favourite place/route to ride

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My friend hasn’t cycled in 30 years. She was given a bike but it was in need of repair. I booked her in to a local Dr Bike session and she was able to ride it home. I’ve been taking her out on litt... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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Today I chose to ride on the bike trail. No cars, few people only squirrels running across my path. It is a beautiful fall day. 70’s and sunny with a breeze. A great day to get lost in my thoughts.... read more

It's been fantastic to see so many children cycling to the school where I work each week. I love seeing my bike in the bike rack alongside a variety of almost adult sized racers, mid-sized mountain... read more

Before having children I was often out on the bike, but since having had children I have rarely been out.
Since lockdown - and when the girls were able to return to nursery.. we were asked to n... read more

I've started back at work delivering face to face rather than online for the new academic year. My place of work has changed too, and a little closer to home than before, so I have changing to cyc... read more

Topic: My commute by bike

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I have enjoyed the challenge of cycling to work, spurred on by the Love to Ride Cycle September and a bit of healthy inter-departmental competition. I regularly commuted by bike in London, but less... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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My petrol car was coming up for its' insurance renewal in August, this was set to cost me circa £60 with tax. In a bid to save money, I decided to declare the car as SORNed and attempt to live car-... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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first_478960 last_478960 Wonderful

Wonderful

first_501419 last_501419 You have shown that with a bit of thought and planning it is possible to ditch the car!

You have shown that with a bit of thought and planning it is possible to ditch the car!

I'm a "dyed in the wool" cyclist and have commuted to work by bike for over 5 years now.
However, since 18th March I have been working from home, which (you would think) reduces the amount of c... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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When coronavirus started affecting the UK, I decided to start cycling to work instead of using public transport, it’s 5 miles each way and I work Monday - Friday. 6 months later, I have upgraded my... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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Cycle September challenge gave me an extra incentive to ride, especially when doing my work's site visits.

I've noticed lots more people on bikes and I hope this continues into the darker... read more

first_372333 last_372333 Thank you for sharing your Cycle September story Patrick and for sharing your positivity too :)

Thank you for sharing your Cycle September story Patrick and for sharing your positivity too :)

There are lots of scenic routes around Baltimore. I chose one from Patterson Park to Towson that a former colleague recommended. A beautiful ride on a beautiful day!

Topic: My commute by bike

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first_479906 last_479906 Sheldon, Thank you for your comment! I hope that you are doing well. I bought my bottle cap bike mirror from a former work ... read more

Sheldon, Thank you for your comment! I hope that you are doing well. I bought my bottle cap bike mirror from a former work associate. His name is Patrick McMahon and he sells them on etsy. His company is called ReBcycle. I think that he can make them to order if you have a particular cap that you want. [address removed] Keep riding! Cheers, Jan

Theres a gang of 30 of from Sheffield and around taking part in #cycle4sepsis in memory and love for my partner Dan who died in 2018. We range from age 6 to seventy something and are cycling outsi... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Lockdown has been a strange time for all of us, some have really suffered with the restrictions however i cannot say i am one of those people, thanks to the amazing invention that is.. a bicycle! B... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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We are loving doing the school run on our bikes! We avoid the traffic, the parking nightmare and we arrive with a smile!

From the 15th of September, during #CycleSeptember, I decided I would cycle every day of the month.
But I wish I did start at the beginning of the month.
However, I decided I would still cy... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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I needed to pick a few things up from the local shopping centre about 5 miles from home. Usually I would jump in the car but yesterday decided to donn cycling gear! Felt really good except for the ... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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first_334331 last_334331 Well done on the shopping trip. I hate taking the car to the shops and try to use my bike all the time. Sometimes, I try to... read more

Well done on the shopping trip. I hate taking the car to the shops and try to use my bike all the time. Sometimes, I try to get too many things on the bike but generally it works out ok.

I started commuting to work when my daughters went to senior school, I thought they’d ride their bikes to school but it wasn’t ‘cool’. Fast forward 12 years and they are both working, they don’t al... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Having had mobility problems since I was 19 I always thought cycling was beyond me. I’m married to an avid cyclist and always felt I missed out when he went out in his bike. Four years ago I saved ... read more

Topic: My Bicycle Romance

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first_491697 last_491697 A wonderful story and I love the names of your bikes! :)

A wonderful story and I love the names of your bikes! :)

first_508159 last_508159 Don't worry what others think about electric bicycles. It ENABLES you! And that is the most important thing! I know that yo... read more

Don't worry what others think about electric bicycles. It ENABLES you! And that is the most important thing! I know that you will enjoy your rides more each time as your fitness and confidence improves. 🙂🚴

first_213759 last_213759 Brilliant so glad you are able to get out there. I love my electric bike too!

Brilliant so glad you are able to get out there. I love my electric bike too!

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After having my first child and a few rainy mornings I told myself that my car commute wasn't so bad and that others were doing far more damage to th environment. I was inspired by the cycle Septem... read more

Having not been on a bike of any kind for over 25 years over the Covid period I noticed a lot more people cycling, I started to think about my old Giant MTB from the late 80s and decided to look on... read more

Topic: My first time on a bike in years

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Although I'd been cycling too and from work (8 miles) for several years, I had never attempted to 'go on holiday' by bike. Well, I decided this was the year - especially as travel restrictions mean... read more

first_492268 last_492268 We hope to cycle to at Austell too. Where did you get your route from please? We don't want to be anywhere near main roads!... read more

We hope to cycle to at Austell too. Where did you get your route from please? We don't want to be anywhere near main roads! Thanks 😊

first_492268 last_492268 St Austell not at! Spell check grrr

St Austell not at! Spell check grrr

first_101077 l Hi Christine! It was a really amazing journey. If you look at the Sustrans maps online i basically created a route using th... read more

Hi Christine! It was a really amazing journey. If you look at the Sustrans maps online i basically created a route using the National Cycle Routes so quite a bit was on quieter roads/cycle paths. From Exeter I took the old A30 to Okehampton, then joined the Granite Way (27) to Lydford, then across onto the 327 through Launceston until it joined the number 3 which takes you up over Bodmin and onto the Camel Trail and then continued to follow the route 3 through Bodmin to St. Austell. There is a good interactive map on the sustrans website. There are route markers (the small blue ones) on all of the major routes so i only got a little lost at a couple of points, but generally easy to follow! Hope you have a great time if you do it or even over a couple of days :)

first_492268 last_492268 Thanks Karen. This is really helpful. We've e-bikes so it should be an easier ride for us!

Thanks Karen. This is really helpful. We've e-bikes so it should be an easier ride for us!

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I had to deliver a copy of my sons cd (The Roke), local leaflets and a wet suit around Linlithgow.
Usually I wouldn't think twice about jumping into the car and whizzing round to drop them off.... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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Today, for Clean Air Day, we (my 4 year old daughter and I) rode our bikes to school instead of driving. She came off her stabilisers in the summer and is growing in confidence every ride. Her li... read more

It's surprising how many parents place their comfort and convenience over that of their children's future. Yes, it may seem more convenient to rush out of the house in PJs and slippers at 5 minutes... read more

Our company was unable to join Cycle September in any formal manner, but that didn’t stop us.
We created Strava groups all round the world and then joined them up to a Global group too.
read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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We plan the route two days before it is an easy ride with a stop at the end for lunch. we start our ride blissfully unaware we have downloaded two different rides so we use Nics garmin to follow t... read more

I’ve been encouraged to do my bit to reduce our family’s carbon emissions. One easy change for us is cycling the nursery/work commute instead of using our family car. My toddler is seated quite hap... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

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We've had bikes since 1976. We don't have a car and haven't had since 1998 - that one was inherited from Polly's mother and we've never bought one. I don't even have a driving license. We use our b... read more

Decided that rather than go somewhere to enjoy a bit of downtime we could use our bikes to make the journey a bit of a memorable family experience instead. Cycled up some very large hills (!), stop... read more

I loved cycle September, it gave me my cycling mojo back and now I’m hooked! I’m fitter, happier and I’m learning new skills. I fitted a new set up mudguards on my bike today (something I’d have pr... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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Having not seen my daughter since lockdown started I thought I would enjoy the relaxation of the rules, or what sense I could make out them, and cycle to see her. She lives in Liverpool, I live in ... read more

Topic: Biking in the Coronavirus Era

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first_174835 last_174835 oh dear, that did make me laugh

oh dear, that did make me laugh

A journey that was originally planned for May 2020 was delayed until September, but it was worth the wait. Some autumn sunshine most days of the week long journey starting in Inverness, just myself... read more

When our son transitioned from the local primary school to a secondary school 7 miles away, he agreed to try and cycle there and back a few days a week. He is now 4 weeks in, has cycled well over 4... read more

Growing up I always stayed active. I was either playing baseball or football with friends. Then as I got older I began playing organized sports. After high school I joined the Army and was still... read more

Topic: Encouraging others to ride

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first_518328 last_518328 Wonderful article! Great journey!

Wonderful article! Great journey!

September is by far my favourite month of the year to cycle, you really get to experience the seasons change and I'm often treated to the best sunrises and sunsets when commuting during this month ... read more

first_372333 last_372333 Thank you for sharing your Cycle September story Joss. That's amazing that you saw an otter!

Thank you for sharing your Cycle September story Joss. That's amazing that you saw an otter!

I decided it was time to change vague dreaming to reality and set off on a Lands End to John o Groats bike ride.
Fourteen days and 983 miles later I arrived at JoG after a spectacular trip thr... read more

Topic: A story from the Bike Challenge

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first_262790 last_262790 Needs some pics Kevin!!!

Needs some pics Kevin!!!

first_480541 last_480541 I’ve put some on the site somewhere.

I’ve put some on the site somewhere.

Wiltshire: Wylye Valley (Nat Cycling Network - NCN 24). Limited-stop training ride: Warminster and Wilton only. Start and finish: Wylye village, off A303.
The Wylye valley in Wiltshire is one ... read more