Where Could a Month of Bike Loan Take You?
Hear from Nhan, in her own words, a now self-proclaimed “Bike Baddie,” as she shares her experience using Women on Wheels’ Bike Equipment Loan Library, places cycling has taken her, and lessons learned from her journeys on wheels.
It all started when a friend from my local running group mentioned that there’s a cycling group that helps women build confidence on wheels. She went to a couple of sessions with them, and they even assisted and cycled with her to her work. She couldn’t recommend the group enough, and that’s how I came across Women on Wheels.
Earlier this year, ScotRail announced major modernisation works on East Kilbride line to take place between the end of January through to the middle of May. At that time, for me, this meant I was forced to arrange alternative travel options to commute to and from work, as my usual trains (yep, the East Kilbride line) were to vanish for a few months, and I couldn’t just solely rely on rail replacement services.
I was thinking of cycling. I kept thinking, and thinking, and thinking about it. But it unfortunately never materialised, even by the time the East Kilbride line resumed operations again in mid-May. I know how to cycle. I can cycle. But I was so apprehensive about my complete lack of experience in traffic: how to signal, how to overtake, how to negotiate roundabouts and junctions, the list of worries goes on. And especially when you are not native to the local traffic or the language, the fear that something might go wrong can paralyse you from doing something so, so simple—something you could normally do with your eyes closed in a more familiar environment. (Please DO NOT cycle with your eyes closed!!!)
In retrospect, I wish I wasn’t so apprehensive and just hopped on a bike.
So when my running friend told me about WoW, I knew that was the push I needed to finally get cycling.
Re-Gaining My Confidence on Wheels
Last weekend in June, I decided to join the Learn to Ride session to see where I was at cycling-wise and what to work on. After all, at that time, I hadn’t ridden a bike in over 10 years, give or take. WoW’s Gemma led the session, and I felt so welcome right away. A couple of people were also at the session and we were all assigned a bike. We went to a traffic-free playground nearby and literally just got cycling!
This was my first time riding a bike with gears. Gemma explained, showed how they work, and kept an eye on me practising them, which didn’t take long to get the hang of. I also learned how to signal and was doing laps to practise both turns.
And then, I was flying! (Well, not literally.) An hour flew by, but it was more than enough for me to reignite my interest (let’s not call it love or passion, yet) in cycling.
My first session with WoW was so good that I decided to join the Confidence Building Led Ride the next weekend, and a 4-hour Led Ride the weekend after. Every single session I joined, I learned something new: feathering the brakes (it definitely comes in handy going downhill in Glasgow), road positioning, road awareness, etc. Given that my main goal at that time was to cycle in traffic with confidence, the biggest takeaway was to make my intentions clear and “own my space” because cyclists are legitimate road users, just like other vehicles*.
Borrowing a Bike: “My” Wow 17 Small
A couple of days after my first session, I knew right away I wanted to borrow a bike. I emailed WoW’s Mollie about the bike loan scheme and was added to the waitlist. Waiting patiently and starting to use Glasgow’s nextbike every now and again, I finally got off the waitlist and arranged the pickup of a bike in the first week of August, perfect timing!
I was given the WoW 17 Small, Specialized Ariel, on loan for a month, along with cable and D lock. (I later borrowed a pannier rack and pannier bag, too.) Upon pickup at WoW hub, Mollie and Pernille were there to answer all of my questions, giving me a lot of advice and recommendations including a route planning app for touring.
I quickly developed some sort of attachment to the bike, in a healthy way, I believe! I cycle to work, I cycle to get a coffee, I cycle to get groceries, I cycle to my yoga class, I cycle just to cycle. I can’t help calling it “my” bike, air quotes included.
Being on wheels regularly now, what I’ve become much more aware of is, ironically, being on foot. I’m now more observant and vigilant about “changing lanes” when I walk in the park, on pavements, or along shared use routes, making sure to leave space for cyclists to pass safely. Now that I’ve experienced and better understood both sides, it has massively changed how I move, and how I see others move around me.
It’s so freeing not having to wait for the train, not having to worry if a bus would actually show up in the early morning, and not having to plan my day around timetables. I can now say that cycling is my primary mode of transportation.
And my journey on wheels goes beyond commuting.
Onto Long(er) Rides
When I said earlier, “let’s not call it love or passion, yet,” well, this is where cycling has become quite an obsession! The more I cycle, the freer I feel.
I started to challenge myself and go on longer weekend rides. I led a group of my friends on our first long ride from Glasgow to Balloch. I cycled solo to Lochwinnoch and to The Kelpies. While these might not sound revolutionary for experienced cyclists, for someone like me who was once riddled with anxiety about road cycling and completely inexperienced in touring, they feel like huge strides.
Whenever I’m out cycling, I’m reminded of how supportive this community can be. Once, a couple of cyclists actually stopped and asked if I was ok or needed help when I appeared to be fiddling with my bike off the trail (I was just sneaking a snack). On another occasion, a fellow soloist helped point me in the right direction when I appeared to be confused at the Stockingfield junction (to be fair, this time I was actually confused); I caught up with them again further along the route so we cycled two abreast for a bit and exchanged our stories.
With over half of women (58%) reporting that safety concerns and a lack of infrastructure put them off cycling, I strongly believe that feeling empowered to cycle goes hand in hand with feeling welcomed to do so. (Of course, I cannot speak for everyone). Imagine me calling myself a Bike Baddie ready to hit the road with my newly gained confidence, only to be made to feel like I was doing something wrong or, worse, like there was no place for me in cycling. This could have been a completely different story to write about.
And while we’re still on the topic of women on wheels (literally), representation is more important than ever. As a newbie, my first impression of cycling is of a male-dominated sport. (And I wasn’t wrong, as the majority of cyclists in most countries are young to middle-aged men, research shows). This alone can pose a barrier for women who want to just try cycling, let alone take it up as a hobby or pursue it competitively. Not to mention harassment and abuse directed at women cyclists, which deserves a discussion of its own. This London Cycling Campaign’s video highlighting too many women having experienced gendered abuse and aggression while out cycling should hopefully put this into perspective.
What I’m trying to say here is, we, women, need to get out there, on a bike, on the road, on a trail, on a race, wherever we want (because we can and we belong!). And, most importantly, we need to take positions where we can welcome and support other women in cycling, wherever they may be in their journey. And this is exactly how WoW has helped facilitate and empower me to start cycling again.
What’s Next?
I’m well aware my newfound love for cycling might come across as incredibly naive! (But seriously, what’s wrong with that anyway?) And I know I still lack knowledge and skills off the bike, say, how to change a tire, how to clean a bike chain, etc. But these things can be learned and even mastered over time.
What’s next for me is, definitely, to dive deeper into cycling, with caution. I’ve had the privilege of riding WoW 17 Small to places near and far throughout this summery August, and I’ve loved every minute of it, yes, even the daily quest of hoisting it up and down my first-floor flat and second-floor office. I’m now preparing and equipping myself with proper skills and tools for colder, darker, and shorter days to come.
So where could a month of bike loan take you? I would say wherever you want! And if my story can help even just one person to finally hop on a bike, that’s a win for me.
Nhan and Wow 17 Small recently parted ways (tears were shed), but she is getting her own bike (for real). Nhan is determined to complete The Five Ferries challenge next summer.