Angela overcomes 20 years of fears to start cycling

This is Angela’s story: 

I went to university in Bristol and worked there for several years afterwards. Sometime around 2003 I knew I wanted to start cycling but I was nervous - about getting hit on the roads and being injured, as well as nervous about finding a bike that was the right size for me (I stand at just 5 feet 1.25 inches).   

I rang a bike shop to ask, hoping I’d get some general help and encouragement to start my cycling career. The man on the phone asked me what my inside leg measurement was. I explained that it wasn’t a measurement most women knew. He suggested I visit the shop so he could measure my inside leg. I wasn’t in much of a rush to take him up on that offer, and so my reluctance and fear of cycling grew. 

Despite that, my desire to do it remained over the years. I wanted to be a cyclist - to know what to do, to be confident on the roads and to benefit from the exercise.  

Impact on environment  

In recent years I’ve worked hard to reduce our household impact on the environment - but recycling will only do so much. Cycling could, I knew, be part of these efforts - if only I could get someone to help me, support and encourage me (without offering to measure my inside leg).   

In the spring, when I saw the opportunity to do the Women Into Cycling course with Sustrans, I knew this was my chance. I signed up and, alongside the fabulous Active Travel Officer Dianne Whyte, and her merry band of volunteers, I completed Level 1, 2 and 3 of the National Standard Cycling Training.   

But there’s a difference between knowing how to do something, and actually making it part of your day-to-day life.  

Support from Sustrans 

I was able to borrow a folding e-bike from Sustrans for a few weeks and Dianne helped me to work out a route from my house in South Belfast to the Mater hospital.  

Dianne also did a ‘buddy ride’ with me to work one morning. She then met me after work on the same day and we cycled back to South Belfast together, so I could get to know the route and, importantly, get some confidence.  

That was a game changer and really meant I was a big step closer to a regular commute.  

The first day I did the commute on my own I got to work with a big smile and a very dry mouth (I’d cycled with a big open grin all the way, doubtless catching flies!).   

Then I got a really fun folding e-bike on the Cycle to Work scheme and I’ve never looked back.  

Now I cycle into work most days, and I’ve started running some local errands on my bike too. I’ve clocked up over 320 km which is something that I would never have thought possible a year ago. 

Doing something just for myself 

It turns out that cycling is a lot more than just doing something for the environment, more than being a good role model to my kids and it’s definitely more than just exercise.   

This process has also been about me doing something just for myself - and overcoming nerves and fears which have stopped me from pursuing it for over 20 years.   

Cycling has genuinely improved my self-esteem, my confidence as well as my mobility, fitness and my energy levels. I now prefer travelling by bike than on foot or by car. 

Grateful for access to course  

I’m enormously grateful for organisations like Sustrans and for the access I’ve had to the course.  

If you’re contemplating getting back in the saddle my advice is sign up, you can do it! Grab the opportunity and enjoy the journey – your future self with thank you. 

Whilst it’s true that I’m just one (very) small cog in a massive organisation, it’s also true that keeping ourselves, as health care workers, healthy is so important in maintaining our ability and capacity to do our jobs. We may each be small cogs, but we are not easily replaced.