Everyday pedal pioneer: Andy

I’ve always loved bikes, nearly always had a bike, even if it just sat in the shed and one of my earliest memories is getting a BMX for christmas as a young child.  In 2021 on my commute, sitting in the weekly Friday afternoon traffic jam on the M61 and with the price of petrol rising, I felt I didn’t want to be behind the wheel of a car every day. I decided to try commuting to work one day per week on two wheels. I had done this earlier in my working life so the idea of riding to work wasn’t alien to me but it was clear the distance, 13 miles each way, was going to be the main challenge.

I scoped out my workplace, checking that I had somewhere to get changed and freshen up after the ride and then worked out a route using cycle paths for over 50% of the journey. I then invested in some proper cycling gear and headed out on a practice ride. Everything went smoothly and I began to ride most Fridays, as long as the weather was ok in the morning. I class the weather as ok if there is no ice and not raining when I am setting off. Rain on the way home is less important because I am heading home. I know rain puts people off cycling, but don’t always trust the weather forecast, use your instincts – it rains less than you think it does.

I found cycling boosted my energy, fitness and mental health at a time immediately post Covid when all three were quite low. It also put me in a much more positive frame of mind while at work. One unexpected benefit was that as I was taking exercise as part of my working day it freed up time at the weekend and in the evening for other things. There are other benefits too, I love the fresh air early in the morning, the wonderful sunrises over the Ribble and I have been lucky enough to see the demolition and rebuilding of the tram bridge in Avenham Park most weeks over the past few years. I’ve also spotted some good bits of urban wildlife, deer, possibly some minks and lots of herons.

Now, nearly 5 years on I try to cycle around twice a week, although more in summer. I’ve got the route down to about 11 miles by shaving bits off here and there, tweaking the route and can now ride confidently on some of the busier roads in South Ribble. I also get to work in around 45 mins, which is actually shorter than the time it was taking me when I was stuck on the M61!