Getting Back in the Saddle: Falling in Love with Cycling Again

Like many people, I absolutely loved cycling as a kid. It was freedom, fun, and adventure all rolled into one. Whether it was bombing down hills, racing friends, or just peddaling along chatting to a mate, the bike was everything.

But, like most of us, that all changed once I learned to drive. Suddenly, the car became the default way to get around. And why not, I love cars, convenient, comfy, so so easy to travel long distances - dry, cool whatever. My beloved bike ended up collecting dust in the shed, a relic of simpler times. I would add, that I still love cars, I love big engines, nice sounding cars, 4x4’s and campervans. But I really really dislike driving. Like really. I hate just being sat in traffic, especially on the motorway. Stressed trying to get to the train on time. Or stressed trying to find a car park for the day (£20+ a day in Manchester at the time of writing). I do love being able to listen to a podcast or a few songs using apple car play, that is a game changer. But you’re gonna need it if you want to remain sane whilst sat in all that traffic, all your hard earned money literally going up in smoke.

Then COVID hit, and everything changed. Life slowed down. I started to question my habits and where I was spending money. One major expense stood out: my car. I was paying a lot for something that sat idle 95% of the week. It just didn’t make sense anymore, so I sold it.

But I still needed a way to get around, especially with regular travel to London for work. I’d had a bike stolen about 12 years ago (that’s for another day) and that was such a devastating experience, top of my list was not getting my bike stolen again. That’s when I discovered (or rediscovered) the Brompton. Compact, practical, and incredibly fun to ride (a little scary with how twitchy it is?), it was just what I needed. What started as a functional choice quickly turned into something more: I fell in love with cycling again.

I’ll do a more in depth review of that bike soon but in short, the stats - 6 speed, flame orange laquer, extended/telescopic seat post. I’ve made a number of alterations during my ownership - a rack, an electric upgrade and a phone holder to name a few - remember I mentioned apple car play above. Turns out you can have the same on your bike. Although honestly right now I don’t listen to anyrhing, I just enjoy the ride. I do however use it for checking the speed and range of the battery, again we’ll come back to that in a review of the ARCC Brompton C Line conversion.

That little Brompton sparked something in me. I found myself enjoying the ride, not just enduring it. I wanted to go out on my bike. It was enough of a push, we decided to sell the car. I remembered how good it felt to be out on two wheels, moving under my own power. Inspired, I dragged my old mountain bike out of the shed. It was dusty, neglected, and in serious need of some TLC. So I took it in for a full service.

When I got it back, it was like riding a brand-new bike. Smooth, responsive, and packed with nostalgia. I couldn’t stop smiling. It felt like being a kid again.

Now, I actually look for excuses to ride my bike. Whether that’s commuting, popping to the shops, running a few errands, or just riding for the joy of it; cycling is back in my life, and I couldn’t be happier.

If you’ve ever thought about getting back on a bike, I can’t recommend it enough. You might just fall in love all over again.