Why They Ride - Dom
Who are you and what do you do (when you’re not on the bike!)
Dom Spitzer-Wong. I live in Birmingham and I'm a Disability and Active Travel/Cycling advocate. Currently I am a full time bicycle mechanic for The Bike Project.
What drives you to get on your bike? Is it your commute, your sport, your passion… or something else?
I've been getting myself about almost exclusively on two wheels since the age of 6. When I hit my late 20's, after 11 years in the music industry, I suffered a breakdown and needed a career change. I came to reflect that the one constant in my life, and greatest benefit to my mental health, had always been cycling, both for utility and leisure.
In 2006 I was encouraged to train as a cycling instructor and since then I've been lucky to be able to share my love for cycling as my job. Over the past 16 years I've specialised in disability cycling, including being a volunteer tandem pilot for British Paracycling. I've also taught Bikeability in Primary and Secondary schools, basic maintenance classes and Safer Urban Driving to professional drivers.
By far the best part of my work has been the countless beginners, young and old, who I have helped learn to ride their bikes. It's not unfair to say my life revolves around bicycles almost exclusively, from work to holidays. So much so that I met my partner through cycling. Even at our Wedding reception we didn't have a first dance, we had a first lap.
Although change is slow in the UK I fully intend to continue championing and enjoying the benefits of cycling in the hope of a better and healthier future for everyone.










