Bikes are surely the future – sustainability and eco-awareness have never been more relevant or so spoken about. Yet road safety issues and viral videos of aggressive road users might put us off. Like the beach and sun, however, the lure of Vitamin C is strong, so now’s the time to get some cycling in your life – and British Cycling has a number of great programmes to get you started. With tips and inspiration from British Cycling policy manager Nick Chamberlin, you’ll be on the road in no time.
Mental health tonic
Before we look at how to get into cycling and why it’s such a fantastic way to get around, let’s hear about Nick’s love affair with two wheels and why he’s such an avid pedaller.
Nick learned to ride a bike aged six or seven and used to love hacking around the woods with his friends. Then when he was 14-years-old he had an epileptic fit and has lived with epilepsy ever since, meaning cars, and driving them, were out of the question.
Bikes and public transport have been his saviour. “This has made me passionate about enabling more people to cycle,” says Nick, who used to cycle to work two or three times a week before the pandemic struck in 2020.
Now, going on solo weekend rides or sharing invaluable time and having fun outings with his son have helped, or in his words, “been the best tonic for my mental health.”
For those new to cycling and not sure about where to start or what bike to get, Nick says most cycle shops are staffed with helpful people who will be eager to help.
“I would recommend a bike that is comfortable and suits the purpose you need it for. If you want to go to the shops, then get a bike that lets you do that – and a second-hand one might well do the job. “However, if you want to go out at the weekend mountain biking with friends, then you’ll need something a bit different.”
Cycling has been the best TONIC for my mental health
Join our Club
Ah, the people – well, it’s true, cycling brings together so many different races, religions and personalities, it’s little wonder it’s considered one of the most diverse and friendly sports to take up.
“Cycling is wonderfully social and companionship builds confidence,” says Nick, whose work with British Cycling has made it obvious just how many people want to start pedalling.
“Millions of people want to start cycling or cycle more but are too scared or face barriers. If you want to start cycling, then consider a guided ride like the ones you can join through letsride.co.uk and let a community ride leader support you to gain confidence.”
If you want to start cycling, then consider a GUIDED RIDE
Brothers on Bikes (BOBs) formed in 2015 with the aim of bringing together Asian men of different religions and beliefs and they now boast more than 1,000 members and have friendly contact points across the country.
They cater for all needs whether it’s ‘fitness, commuting, socialising, racing or just coffee and cake’, while women -only bike rides are a feature with a number of clubs nationwide, and HSBC UK Breeze rides offer easygoing and steady ride speeds where around four out of five cyclists come along to events and rides on their own – so bring your chatty self to meet new likeminded people.
Black Cyclists Network was founded back in 2018 to get people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME)backgrounds into cycling. You’ll find they are inclusive and offer a variety of mixed gender rides.
They host fast rides for experienced riders, while for beginners they’ll teach hand signals, group riding drills and etiquette with a no-drop policy – meaning you won’t get left behind! There are plenty of cycling clubs waiting to welcome you.
Making the world a better place
It wouldn’t be an article about cycling without a nod to France, which each year of course hosts the Tour de France, an event which in 2007 and 2014 inspired many Brits to get out on bikes by being staged on our shores.
The world has moved on at such a frightening pace since then – faster than a Mark Cavendish sprint – that e-bikes are now a huge part of the market. In France, owners of vehicles that spew out fumes into the environment could soon be offered the chance to scrap their vehicles in exchange for a 2.5k euro grant to buy an e-bike.
“E-bikes are great. If they give people the confidence to get cycling, then brilliant. A normal push bike is still perfect for most people though and for now much more affordable,” said Nick. “If you want to try an e-bike lots of manufacturers are now working with shops to offer try before you buy schemes – have a look locally.”
Every CYCLE ride makes
the world a BETTER place”
Chris Boardman, former British cyclist and 1992 Olympic gold medallist, was appointed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in May as the region’s first Transport Commissioner.
The aim is to create the UK’s largest cycling and walking network, Boardman’s project since being made Greater Manchester Cycling and Walking Commissioner in 2017.
“His work and drive to make our city a global player to rival great places such as Copenhagen and New York over the last three years has been inspirational,” said Burnham.
Whatever wheels you choose, simply remember this motto: “Every cycle ride makes the world a better place,” says Nick. “The more people who cycle a lot or a little, the better conditions will become for everyone.”
Surely that’s curtains for your car journey to work. Safe cycling!
