How Did it Start For You?

[Auntie Helen]

I remember that in my teens, after my parents bought me a Raleigh Wisp (10 gears, don't ya know), I cycled everywhere. Parents were happy because they didn't have to be taxis, I enjoyed it, lost loads of weight (important at 16) and had real freedom.

At 17 I passed my driving test and, as an Essex resident, joined in the rite of passage - dump the bike, get a car. So that was it - car only from then on.

At 22 I had an operation on my arm which means I can't ride a normal bike as I can't lean on the left arm. My husband and I did buy a set of mountain bikes (pretty basic ones) about 6 years ago when I wanted to try to get fit again but I couldn't manage more than a mile before my arm pained me. My MTB is a loaner to friends generally and feeling very bereft.

Six months ago we moved back to Essex and out in the countryside. As we were planning the move I took a good, long hard look at the disadvantage of country living - no shop 10 minutes' walk away. I realised I really had to sort out a bike so that I didn't have to use the car the whole time. We hired a tandem but I discovered that gives even more pressure on my bad arm. I began to despair.

Then some judicious googling informed me that there was a such a thing as a recumbent trike. Just before we moved house we hired one for 3 hours and I spent the whole time with a huge grin plastered on my face. We did 8 miles - I (who hadn't cycled for best part of 15 years) felt fresh as a daisy; husband (who's much fitter and has done a reasonable amount of cycling in his time) had a sore bum, achy back, cricked neck. I decided the trike was definitely for me!

We moved house, then a month later went to my local (but not very local at all!) trike shop and bought the Trice. They're horribly expensive but it's been worth every penny five times over. I've done 1800 miles in 5 months and that's pretty much all pleasure cycling (I work from home so no commute). Two months after I got mine my husband had to get one too as he was fed up being left behind on his DF bike. We've both now qualified as cycle instructors and are very familiar sights on our local country lanes, as well as further afield.

Plan for next spring is to do some longer tours; I have a hankering to do a good tour in Germany (from where I originated) but will need to do it overland rather than by air because of the awkwardness of the trike. I think I'll start off with a few days in Holland.

Oh, and my car has done 450 miles in the last two and a half months... Saves money but I've spent much more on bike bits so it's not overall a cheaper option yet!

 

[Flyingfox]

I've been cycling on and off for years. I can't honestly remember how old I was when I started. We lived in the country, and during school holidays my parents never saw me. My friends and I used to go miles, we even cycled along the M20 before it was opened (yes I am that old!!!) - that was great, a big wide motorway with only a few kids on bikes instead of 3 lanes of traffic .

I went to live in Australia for quite a few years, and cycled there until it became compulsory to wear helmets. Loads of brilliant bike lanes but in 35C heat it becomes unbearable in a helmet. When I came back to London I was given an old mountain bike and would go on 30 mile rides at weekends, and now having upgraded to a new hybrid try to cycle to work at least 2-3 times a week. Trouble is I get asthma and have found that cycling in the cold weather makes it worse, so might have to get the train in the winter.

 

[peanut]

Thanks to all for sharing your stories with us. Reading some of these, I feel quite ashamed that it took me so long to get back on a bike.

I'm sure that we all have periods where for one reason or another we don't ride as much as we would wish. The important thing is we all know that we will never lose that love of cycling . Its only a question of time before opportunity and motivation return.

 

[nilling]

Had bikes as a kid but it wasn't till I was studying for my A-levels in the 70's. I use to jump on my brother's Sun racer and go tearing round the local park. It was a great way to wind down.

Then saw Joey McLoughlin win the 1986 Milk Race that inspired me to buy his Peugeot race replica from Halfords, that had a garish plastic orange saddle. I used it to commute and even did a mini 5-day coast-to-coast tour on it. The offices I worked at had no where to secure bikes so I use to lock it to the railings of a nearby office block that had a reception desk: thinking they'd keep an eye on it for me - but that didn't stop it being nicked I was gutted!

 

[oxbob]

A raleigh chipper, the less said......

 

[bikie]

I was always on my bike from age 4, at 12 got into bmx, at 17 had a crazy 18 months cars, drink, woman then met my wife and calmed down sold the car started cycling my dads racer then joined the local club, 20 years on I still love it although I've had about 4 slack years on the bike due to children and work, I may never be fast again but I will get back to it

 

[MattB]

Learnt to ride on a little townsend thing, which I loved because it was bright colours, and the name of one of my favourite footballers at the time

Then When I was about 10, my Dad bought me a Raleigh MTB which I thought was amazing, it was a bit too big for me, had 15 gears and I just rode around for hours on it, and all around my dads area was flat. Then when my mum and dad broke up, I got a little appollo thing which had 5 gears, but I hated it, with around my mums its all hills, so I threw a fit and got my big bike upto my mums, used to ride it school everyday (not even a mile though lol) and rode it around all of the fields and lanes.

When I was about 16, got a BMW (Townsend I think again) from the nextdoor neighbour, and I loved it, jumping off everything, spinning the bars etc... used to ride that like a nutter, even overtaking cars! Though it got into a bad condition really, I had no idea how to look after it and first time, the brakes failed I went hand first into a wall and smashed a few of my fingers. Few weeks later I was bombing down a hill (late for college) and the chain fell off the rear cog, jammed the pedals I went head first over the handle bars (Silly youth in no helmet), luckily got my arm infront of my had, ripped the whole sleave off my coat and cut all my arm up, but was fine.

After that, I threw the bike away and just walked. Passed my test when I was 18, am now 20 and decided petrol is costing me too much and, with working at mcdonalds, im getting a bit of a gut so getting back into biking seems a good idea!

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Blimey Matt!! That's a busy old life you've had !!

 

[snapper_37]

Great thread Lazy!

Started with little trike, moved up to stabilisers and first went 'stabiliser free' on a disused carpark at 5, thinking my Dad was still holding the saddle. One of my best memories is probably learning to ride a bike.

Had a Chopper then a Grifter and then some kind of set-up knocked up by my Dad with massive 'bullhorn' handle bars (now today's riser bars!!!), as he'd been made redundant and money was tight. Used to go everywhere by bike and remember the long summer days when I'd be out at 6.00 a.m. and not go home until around 8.00 a.m.

Stopped cycling when I was at school and getting into 'lads and stuff'. Started again in early 20's with mountainbiking on a crappy bike until I learned that quality and comfort come with a price.

Started commuting by bike to work around '93. Haven't stopped since and just included weekend rides (when I can be arsed I'm ashamed to say). Mountainbiking has dropped off a bit though, *must get fitter*.

 

[MattB]

Blimey Matt!! That's a busy old life you've had !!

Hehe yep, ive always been doing something

 

[Andy in Sig]

Like everybody I had a bike as a kid but from the age of about 16 never seemed to get on one. Then the second time I was in Germany I got dragged on a tour of a section of the Rhine valley, only about 20 km a day for five days but then I was hooked and got into touring and longish day rides and commuting when living anywhere where circs allowed. My biggest achievement so far is 200 km in a day but I want to do, just once, 200 miles in a day.

 

[Madcyclist]

Cycling History

I was always on a bike as a child going for short rides most Sundays as a family. Played football at County level during my teens until water on the knee became too painful. My gp recommended cycling for the water on the knee as it was low impact when i was 12 or 13. Met up with a middle age cyclist and myself and a few freinds started to ride with him regularly often doing 60-70 mile rides at weekends. Slowly my freinds drifted away from cycling leading me to join the South Bucks CTC section and then later the Aylesbury CC. Started racing at 15 winning the juvenile and later junior BAR club titles. Continued racing predominantly road racing as a first cat but for some strange reason always got more satisfaction from riding time trials and touring.

Cycling started to become to painful when i was 22 due to lower back problems, tried tinkering with position and reducing mileage to no avail, it got to the point where it would take 15-20 mins to be able to straighten my back after even the shortest rides leading me to hang up the wheels. It was just over ten years later that Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) was diagnosed. Fortunately for me the AS is no longer troubling me and there is is only minimal ankylosis in my pelvic region.

I tried cycling from time to time over the years and have found that I have not had any difficulties with my back since May this year. Started with relatively low mileage at first and soon started commuting the 9.37 miles to work a couple of days a week. As my body began to readjust I've gradually increased the distance and am now averaging just under 150 a week.

I aim to continue commuting throughout the winter. back allowing, building up the base miles from the start of next year. Having split with my wife at the start of this year I'm intending to take a career break once the house is sold to go cycle touring in South Asia possibly including the Manali - Leh highway.

 

[Bodhbh]

Got a hernia around easter which made the swimming and weights I was doing to keep fit uncomfortable. Had just lost 8 stone over the last couple of years, in no way wanted a relapse and enjoy my food so bought a bike pronto, and spent next couple of months doing 20mile fitness loops in same way would hammer out laps in the pool. Okay, but mindless, then....

Had a backpacking holiday booked to Latvia this June, and then thought what the hell, I'll bike around instead since I can. Hired a big, klunky hybrid, and away for a week exploring. Absolutely Brilliant!

Been on a couple of biking tours since, and only been home 1 weekend in last 2 months going off around the UK, loving it. Cheap, can eat what I want, exploring parts of the country never seen before, getting out, just love it, 100% independent with bike and tent, wish I started 15yrs ago. Will probably tone it down soon with the nights drawing in and weather, but can't wait for next year already.