AD: My Adult Cycling Journey
AD: This post is a sponsored post, in collaboration with LAKA
When I applied to work for the Bikeability Trust, there were many things that attracted me to the role including its important ethos; helping children to enjoy cycling and discover the many benefits that an active lifestyle brings.
But I had a secret – I didn’t actually cycle myself.
So, when I was offered and accepted the job, I knew it was only a matter of time before I was found out.
I had learnt to cycle as a child, although I wasn’t lucky enough to enjoy Bikeability cycle training at school like most children do now, and I was never very confident. When faced with the choice between walking or cycling, I much preferred to walk and cycling was never something I needed to do. Somehow, despite living in two major cycling cities York and Cambridge, I never felt like I was missing out on cycling. Then, last summer, I was invited to a bike pub crawl for a friend’s birthday and, combined with my new job at the Bikeability Trust, I felt that the time had come to “get on my bike.”
I started with the basics; borrowing a bike and performing the ABC check (air, brakes, chain) to ensure it was roadworthy. I bought a helmet, adjusted my saddle and set off to practise on my estate. It felt slightly ridiculous to be learning how to start and stop safely, as small children whizzed past me, and there were a few falls and tears of frustration! The quieter roads during lockdown provided a perfect environment to build my confidence and slowly but surely, I started to see an improvement. Finally, I built up my confidence to cycle to the next village, motivated by the promise of fish and chips at the local pub The Norton Dog at the end. The crispy battered cod, chunky pub chips and a fresh pint of beer was the perfect way to toast my achievement.
Time sped by and, before I knew it, my biggest challenge was almost upon me. National lockdown had relaxed and we could now enjoy the pub with friends. The Birthday Bike Crawl, which had originally inspired my adult cycling journey, could go ahead. As the cycle ride drew closer, I felt paralysed by nerves and questioned whether I would be able to keep up with the pack of Cambridge locals. But of course, it wasn’t the Tour de France – it was a sociable bicycle ride with friends and as we set off from the centre of Cambridge on our ride, I took a deep breath and began to pedal. We headed towards the outskirts of the city, eventually reaching the beautiful village of Grantchester. Stopping in some of the best beer gardens on route, we looped our way back to the centre of Cambridge via Newnham, enjoying the heavenly sunshine.
As we safely reached our final destination, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so proud of an accomplishment – and I’ve been chasing that high ever since!
Hopefully, we have an even better summer ahead and I can’t wait to continue building my confidence and explore more on my bike. Cambridge is one of the best places in the world to cycle and there are many more routes I want to explore. However, Cambridge is also a city notorious for bicycle theft, and this is where Laka comes in. It’s bicycle insurance but with a twist; it offers collective cover for all its members. It helps keep prices low, from just £5 a month, and you know that your insurance isn’t just protecting your own bike – it’s helping everyone. Whether you have a top-of-the-range bike or a simple run-around, losing your bike is never a nice experience so I love the “pack” collective mentality of bicycle insurance with Laka. Prices are capped, so there are no nasty surprises, but you have the peace of mind knowing that you and your bike are protected.
After rediscovering cycling, I don’t want a bike theft or accident to put me off my journey and Laka offers me the reassurance that, if disaster strikes, I’m #backedbyLaka. If you want to feel the same, follow my referral link and try Laka today!
