We all know that riding a bike is great. It’s the most efficient form of transport ever invented. Cyclists live long and happy lives. A bike is something you can build yourself, using new or old parts, the satisfaction when they work perfectly! A bike ride is even cheaper than a bus ride. But best of all… this machine fights climate change.

The purpose of this site it to make cycling even more great!

So… here are five ways cyclists can join together to achieve this.

1/ Join a group ride
Admittedly I often “didn’t have enough time” or avoided being tied to start times etc, but recently I have started riding with Flame Rouge in Bedford and really enjoy the camaraderie. The rides are regular, organised to suit different riding pace and start and finish at a local bike shop which has great coffee!

2/ Share your cycling
I’ve chosen to link some of my own rides on Strava in this blog. A digital footprint (including this website) has a price, all those photos in the data centre cost energy. The tradeoff is that we can incentivise others. Building an international presence we can reach out to people with our motivation and in return receive the nudge to pull on all that winter cycling gear at 7am on a Sunday morning. If you want to follow me, please do I will follow back as they say!

3/ Choose a cycling holiday
If you cycle long enough, at some point a friend is going to suggest bike packing or going on a tour. Do not hesitate to say “YES!” Riding somewhere new, with ‘your house on your back’ is totally empowering. I’ve now ridden the South Downs way, Norfolk coast, the Hebrides and across Scotland. Ask someone you love to buy you this for Christmas 😉

4/ Ride to work
For a long time, nearly 20 years I endured a long commute to work. The worst bit was always the congestion nearest the office. So instead of sucking it up I got a Brompton for the boot of my car and rode the last bit every day. Now post-covid I WFH (and a lot less lol). So I can still ride a bike every day.

It’s the bike riding that makes it worthwhile.

There are people I follow who ride in and out of MK or Bedford every day, I salute you as true ambassadors. There is even one amazing person who rides to Northampton, off road to work in a bike shop. Chapeau.

5/ Stand up for the right to ride
Ever been to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, or ridden the cycleways of France? Here in the UK we have a lot of work to do and it won’t happen on its own. Activism isn’t easy but there are lots of ways and the people you will share your adventures with will be the nicest people on the planet.

Bedford Critical Mass is a group ride in Bedford town centre every first Saturday of the month starting at the embankment 2pm.

If you are inspired, look out for specific actions designed to raise awareness, increase engagement and project the fragile air we breathe, spaces we inhabit, environments we cherish.