You’re reading our series Summer’s Not Cancelled, where we celebrate summer in this new normal. From rediscovering nature and cherishing time with friends and family, to virtual festivals and unforgettable staycations – summer’s still here, it’s just different.
It had been years before I, aged 27, plucked up the courage to get back on the saddle (spin classes don’t count, apparently). I blame a terrifying cycling incident in a foreign country hurtling towards oncoming traffic, which – I thought – had put me off for life.
Lockdown changed that; it changed me. Inspired by others getting back on their bikes, I found myself hunkering after a taste of life on two wheels. And after few practices wobbling around on a clunky Santander rental bike on quiet back roads, I was ready to take my figurative stabilisers off and venture farther afield. Now, I’m hooked.
I’m not the only one. Lockdown has resulted in a cycling boom with retailers and bike repair shops seeing a surge in business, as people seek alternative modes of transport, ways to stay active and explore their local areas. We spoke to riders who have joined the growing number of new and returning cyclists on the UK’s roads.
“A blissful moment of escape from the constant buzz of notifications.”
Alex Bigham, 38, a freelance communications consultant who lives in south London got back into cycling two years ago. Now, he cycles to work and takes his kids on bike rides on the weekends.
“We don’t go far, but it’s nice to see their enthusiasm for it as we pop over to Ruskin Park and admire the views over the capital,” he told HuffPost UK. “While my enthusiasm predates lockdown, I think the emptier roads and the fear of taking public transport have definitely renewed my recent love of cycling.”
Bigham added: “My favourite route is speeding down Herne HIll and into Brockwell Park. They really should find a way so you’re always going downhill. Not even on the worst day’s cycling when it’s lashing with rain and you’ve got a puncture and it’s miserable, it’s still better than any other form of commuting. It’s a blissful moment of escape from the constant buzz of notifications.”
“I enjoy cycling so much, I’ve started my own bike club”
Jennifer Emele, a 25-year-old financial analyst, from Grays, Essex, recently started cycling again and is hooked. She learned to ride when she was ten and has cycled on and off since, but bought her first adult bike in lockdown.
“As I live in Essex, I often drive my car to a park in London to ride around – that way I get to see all the beautiful scenery and go for longer rides. My favourite route so far has been Tottenham to Clapham Common for a cheeky picnic and then back to Tottenham, which was 40km in total. At the completion of it, I was really proud of myself,” she said. “I enjoy cycling so much, I’ve started my own bike club. We meet every fortnight to ride together. Our next challenge is to cycle 50km, hopefully we’ll complete that before the end of July.”
Emele added: “I got into cycling for two reasons, for leisure and to keep fit – I’m glad I’ve found a fun way to lose weight. I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face while cycling – it’s an epic experience.”
“Without lockdown, I’d probably have never gotten around to purchasing a bike, but now I’m not sure what I’d do without it.”
Bekki Ramsay, 25, a digital PR manager from Newcastle Upon Tyne hasn’t been on a bike since in well over a decade. After receiving money back from her cancelled summer holiday she decided to treat herself to a new bike instead and take up cycling again.
“The best thing about owning a bike is the freedom that comes with it – you can travel further than you could on foot, which often can make it easier to socialise, too!” she explained. “Without lockdown, I’d probably have never gotten around to purchasing a bike, but now I’m not sure what I’d do without it.
“I was struggling with poor mental health and slowly turned into a bit of a hermit from not leaving the house for a month at all. After making a financial investment, I went on my first bike ride and fell in love. It helped me clear my mind, got my body moving again and I felt the best I had in weeks.”
“It’s also nice to learn a new skill as an adult and to see yourself improve at something you thought you’d always be shit at.”
Isabelle Aron, 29, a journalist who lives in North London didn’t learn how to ride a bike properly when she was younger either and couldn’t get past taking the stabilisers off. Thanks to the pandemic and the roads being quieter she’s finally gotten over her fear of falling off and tackling the daunting busy London roads.
“I’ve always thought I’d never really improve at cycling but over the last few months I’ve cycled more than I ever have, and I can definitely see an improvement,” Aron explained. She’s covered a lot of ground during her cycling lockdown journey and has been all over to Trent Park, Ally Pally, Hampstead Heath, and riding along the River Lea canal.
“The other night I met some friends for a beer in the park and we were all on bikes, which would have never happened before. It’s also nice to learn a new skill as an adult and to see yourself improve at something you thought you’d always be shit at.”
“Cycling to work is very open and calming – it gives me time and headspace to think.”
For Miguel Roca, a musician and educator in his late 30s, based in south east London he also learned quite late in life at the age of 28. He had a cycling accident where he fractured a bone, which put him off big time.
“I was going too fast down an incline and mistimed my front brake so I came to an abrupt, undignified stop and went over the handlebars,” Roca said. “I didn’t try again for 10 years! Now I cycle to and from work again which is in a semi-rural area and avoid busy roads. I love to cycle around where I live as there’s a lot of green space. Cycling to work is very open and calming – it gives me time and headspace to think.”
“I spend more time with the family.”
Biomedical scientist Judith Philip, 46, has commuted to work for 10 years, but lockdown made her appreciate spending more time cycling for leisure with family.
“During lockdown, I’ve been able to teach my kids how to ride a bike, just as my mum taught me how to ride,” Philip, who lives in Walthamstow, north London, explains. “I spend more time with the family taking short trips to the park, exploring Epping Forest and along Mini Holland. They love going out on their bikes now.”
“It was an amazing sight to see families and newer riders especially from a diverse community, who would not have ridden before lockdown dust off their bikes,” says Judith, who is part of the Black Cycling Network. “Our role is to inspire, encourage and support the BAME community to enjoy all the benefits of cycling - another area [of focus] is the under representation of BAME women in cycling.”
“It’s such a fantastic way to exercise and so good for your health – it gets the blood pumping.”
Keith Greaves, 50, who works as a financial data monitor in Manchester has been an avid cyclist for years. He only started cycling in his early 40s, but since he was involved in numerous accidents that wasn’t his fault. His confidence has been knocked slightly.
“I always follow guidelines, wear a helmet and reflective gear,” he explained. “I had pressure from my family that if I can’t find a route that was mainly off road in quiet areas then I should give it up.”
Despite being discouraged and having a few bumps and scrapes along the way. Greaves still loves cycling, especially through country roads around Sale. “It’s such a fantastic way to exercise and so good for your health – it gets the blood pumping. I wished I took up cycling sooner, it’s one of those things where you start and you really learn to love it if you keep doing it.”