Welcome to Why They Ride

A portrait project, centred around cyclists and what drives them. Get in touch if you'd like to be featured.

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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.

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Why They Ride - Andy/Kitobert

Who are you and what do you do (when you're not on the bike!)?

I’m a compliance advisor in financial services - it’s my job to advise my colleagues on how to stay on the right side of regulation. Many think it’s dull, but I enjoy it and I feel good that I can be the voice of reason in an environment where short-termist or greed driven ideas can otherwise gain traction.

What drives you to get on your bike? Is it your commute, your sport, your passion… or something else?

I cycled obsessively through my teens and into my early twenties, but life and work took over, and I soon became sedentary. Fast forward to 2019 and I’m over 27st (378lbs, 171kg), and thoroughly depressed. I was fortunate to be able to self fund a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and as soon as I was recovered I was on my bike again. I started with an e-bike but quickly switched that out to a hybrid and now I’m a full on head down, arse up roady. Last year I focussed heavily on distance, and completed my first 100+ mile ride, and a plethora of sportives.

Unfortunately, it appears I was too heavy for too long, and I’m now undergoing testing to see what state my liver is in after spending a decade or more drenched in fat. This has given me a new invigoration to pedal more, and give myself the best chance of a longer life. I’m already booking into sportives for 2023, and I’m aiming to push 200km and then 200 miles in a single ride (if I can!)

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Why They Ride - PeerQ

Who are you and what do you do (when you're not on the bike!)?  

My name is Peer, and I campaign for the rights of people with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia/personality disorders. Prior to this,  I'd spent a decade working in advertising before realising that I could use my skills for good and amplify the voices of people in marginalised communities. My work can be intense and emotionally demanding, so my weekends are spent as far away from the computer as possible!

What drives you to get on your bike? Is it your commute, your sport, your passion... or something else?

I learned to ride when I was five years old, but I was in my mid-30s when it became a real passion.

In 2007,  I lost a lot of my confidence and physical strength, and at one point I started to lose the feeling in my legs. Four months later, I was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and had emergency surgery. 

For the next twelve months, I lived with a ten-minute memory span and fatigue that could knock me sideway out of the blue. 

I realised that cycling could push me both physically and mentally, and I picked up a bike again and rediscovered my love of cycling – something I had not done for many years.

Fifteen years later, I am much stronger than I was, and these days you'll find me bikepacking around Scotland or North Wales with a massive grin on my face. Cycling and the cycling community real has put me back on the right track!

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Why They Ride - Lisa

Who are you and what do you do (when you’re not on the bike!)?  

My name is Lisa and I am working for an bike manufacturer in Germany.

What drives you to get on your bike? Is it your commute, your sport, your passion... or something else?  

Since I was a kid I was always an active, creative and restless person. I tried many different types of sports and hobbies, which made me happy for a while.

But I was never really passionate about them. After I bought my first bike myself in 2018 there was something changing…

Starting with a simple bike, to a hardtail, to a fully, to a gravelbike and now look at me, I am wearing this tight cycling kit and I’m looking forward to get my first roadbike. It is hilariously amazing what passion can do with people.

Finding out that cycling motivates me, calms my restless mind and gets me through times when I am struggeling with my mental health was the best thing I could have experienced.

Even in Rough Terrain or lousy weather.

I like how it teaches me confindence, to be alone, making me go on inspiring trips and gives me the opportunity to connect with amazing people.

I think it was this „right place, right time“- kinda thing and it is to be continued…

Thank you cycling!

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Why They Ride - Chris Dixon

Who are you and what do you do (when you're not on the bike!)?  

Chris Dixon. I work as a campaigner for a non-profit specialising in ocean conservation. I also play bass in Megaflora and have just retired from over a decade of playing roller derby with London Roller Derby. I am into nature, punk, trashy action films, craft beer and skating. 

What drives you to get on your bike? Is it your commute, your sport, your passion... or something else? 

I got into cycling while living in Graz, Austria, a city that is totally designed to get around safely by bike, so when I moved back to London in 2010 and didn't have a job, I felt like it was the best way to get around for free. For the past ten years it's been my main mode of transport, so I'm usually found with a pannier full of spare clothes and covered in chain oil.

While I sometimes think about cycling as functional rather than fun, I always try to pick up a bike to explore new cities, whether it's Melbourne, a small Japanese island or New Orleans. Without roller derby to fill my weekends during the lockdown I did jaunts to Brighton, Gravesend, Epping Forest and Richmond Park, so I'm starting to think I like to ride for fun more than function now. Am planning a few adventures. 

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Why They Ride - Ed Godby

Who are you and what do you do (when you’re not on the bike!)?  

I’m Ed, Englishman living in Wallonia (the French- speaking part of Belgium,) and I own and run a cycling café and cycling apparel brand called MUR with my friend and business associate Bernard. Bikes bikes bikes (and coffee) all day long.

What drives you to get on your bike? Is it your commute, your sport, your passion… or something else? 

Cycling is pretty much a religion in Belgium and I started to get interested in about 2011 after moving here. The town that I live in is home to a really famous climb (Le Mur de Huy) that has been used as the primary difficulty and final of UCI world Tour race La Flèche Wallonne since the 80s. I started watching professional road racing and then got myself a bike to try and lose a little weight and get in shape. I quickly became hooked. I like the social aspect of the sport, which I’ve now managed to bring into everyday life with the business, and I like the physical health benefits of cycling too.

However, for me the most important thing about riding a bike is the therapeutic side of things. Any and all physical activity is great for mental health, but I think cycling perhaps even more so than other sports because of the inherent adventure that it offers. Sometimes I’ll just get on my bike on a sunny morning and disappear for 4 or 5 or 6 hours, discover new places, see the countryside and be alone with my thoughts. If I’m feeling down, or stressed, nothing fixes me up like a bike ride.

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Why They Ride - Francis Barnett

Who are you and what do you do (when you’re not on the bike!)?  

I’m Francis, a native Londoner with a passion for all things bike.

By day, I’m a Partner in an executive search firm and wishing I was riding my bike! I’m an experienced road club cyclist that caught the ‘gravel bug’ a couple of years ago, which led me to create London Gravel – a cycling club for fans of the rough stuff. It was London’s first gravel cycling club and was really a way to meet people who liked the more adventurous side of cycling, discover new trails and go bikepacking with.

What drives you to get on your bike? Is it your commute, your sport, your passion… or something else? 

How much time have you got?! It’s so many things – escapism ranking highly. When on two wheels I can be thinking about everything and nothing at the same time. If all else is going wrong my bikes are my best therapists! Growing up in central London green spaces weren’t exactly plentiful, and discovering the natural beauty of countryside on two wheels has been hugely important to me – particularly getting off the beaten track on my gravel bike.

There’s also the thrill-seeking side of it, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. The range of emotions you can experience when really pushing your limits is something I find utterly addictive. Then there’s the social side – most of my friendship groups are in some way linked to cycling. It’s another reason why I love gravel and bikepacking – the cake stop becomes the pub stop!

Lastly, it’s the myriad health benefits, both mental and physical. I’m a completely different person since I discovered cycling – there’s not many things you can do in life where getting fit and healthy is a ‘secondary’ benefit!