We’re currently working with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to help deliver road shows to promote cycling as part of their Go Cycle programme.
Win a set of lights
To celebrate the start of this year’s events later this month, we have five sets of LED lights and five puncture repair kits to give away. Simply leave let us know how many years you’ve been cycling at the bottom of the page and we will pick five winners next week.
Go Cycle
Following a successful bid to become a Mini-Holland borough, Kingston was awarded a share of £100 million from Transport for London to be spent on revamping its cycling infrastructure and improving public spaces for cyclists and pedestrians.
While work gets underway to install ‘hard measures’ such as two-way segregated cycle lanes and improved bicycle parking, Kingston Council has also put a range of ‘soft measures’ in place to ensure that residents are made aware of the Go Cycle programme, and the many benefits it will bring to the borough.
Over 25 years’ experience in promoting cycling made us an ideal partner to help Kingston deliver their aims for the project, and as such they have adopted the Back on a Bike concept, translating it into a vehicle for spreading the word about Go Cycle. The result: an eye-catching mobile road show providing free information about the scheme and encouraging people to take up cycling by introducing it in a stress free, off road environment.
Delivered by our vintage Citroen H Van and manned by a group of keen cycling advocates, the Go Cycle mobile road shows offer something for everybody. Clear information about the programme is displayed and handed out, and local residents are encouraged to share their views on planned developments. Children and adults alike can enjoy a special bicycle powered scalextric track and are offered useful cycling freebies such as reflective bands and water bottles, while ‘Dr Bike’ mechanics are on hand to provide free bike checks for passing cyclists. Residents who do not currently cycle are also encouraged to engage with the project, and are offered access to information on cycle training and bike loan schemes being run by the council.
For the ETA, helping Kingston deliver these Back on a Bike inspired road shows will provide an invaluable opportunity to develop and refine the concept, without deviating from its original aim of reacquainting people with the simple joys of cycling.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
Karina Rauff Meistrup
Been cycling as long as I have been able to. If that’s from 3 years old I’ve been cycling 31 years.
Peter Clark
Seriously cycling for 9 years now – classic mid life crisis
Peter Cripps
About 55 Years – can’t remember the exact year I started!
Csa
I’ve been cycling 11 years. For the past 7 years i’ve been cycling right through the winter in all sorts of weather. I’ve got the bug. My bike is used for commuting, leisure and transporting just about anything i can manage
Tim Brown
I am 74, and have been cycling for as much as I can remember, but for at least 65 years.
Tim Brown
If you have things to give away, as your email suggested, I can use new lights on my bike.
Kenneth Martlew
I am only 68 and have been cycling for at least 65 years starting with a three wheeler and now have a pedelec which I love.
Bob swaisland
36 years Cycling on and off… Inow more than ever, but sportive this Sunday 🙂
Anna Shakoor-Green
I’ve been cycling for at least 53 years, possibly more. I love it!
Anna Shakoor-Green
I’ve been cycling for at least 53 years, possibly more. I love it!
DougMilly
I’ve clocked up about 68 years of cycling, since I was 9, and still enjoy it.
Bill
I (re)started cycling seriously again about 25 years ago. (You can’t have too many lights on your bike.)
James Russell
Since I was a small boy – just a few years old.
Commuting every day? About 7 years, now.
Phil
A cool 41 years of cycling
Happy pedalling
Rob
I’ve been cycling for over 50 years. It’s an enjoyable way of keeping the weight down!
Ian Stewart
36 years
George E
Been cycling for about 40 years now; had two punctures this week so would love a free repair kit, please!
Geoff Hudson
I started at age 4 and am now 65 so I suppose I have been cycling for 61 years. However I’ve just started again after a break of nearly 50 years! So in reality only 15 years!
Bikes have changed somewhat! My Dawes Star Realmrider cost £29 19shillings and 6 old pence when I was aged 11 (1962) so I suppose they are now better value!
Charlotte
I fondly remember my dad teaching me to ride without stabilisers when I was five, I’m now thirty (oh how time flies!) so it’s twenty five years of cycling for me!
Yousaf Mirza
I have cycled since 5 and seriously for decades. 33 years in the saddle and here’s to many more!
Susie
Do tricycles count? I was two when I got my first little trike. Then a bigger blue one for Christmas when I was three, & my first proper two-wheeler at 6. I turn 60 in 4 weeks time …. so, either 58 or 54 years cycling.
Malcolm Liddle
Coming up for 70,cycling since I was 9, let’s just call it 60 years
Malcolm Liddle
Coming up for 70,started cycling at 9, let’s just call it 60 years pedalling
Carol W
55 years of pedalling- just think where I could have gone if I’d just kept right on!! My present bike was going to be THE bike to last till my legs won’t go round so why is it each time I look in a biking mag or at this site I’m thinking about another?!
Gabriel Scally
I learnt to ride a bike 50 years ago when I was given a cousin’s outgrown bike. Still cycling regularly today.
Paul M
I’m 57 next week so that means I’ve been cycling on 2 wheels 50 years next week! For the last 7 years, since I went self employed, it has been my only means of wheeled transport for work.
Chris W
Been cycling for 50 years or so, and hope to keep going for many more.
Mark B
The best part of 50 years. Would love to celebrate with some new lights!
James
Started cycling as older person when 35 friend grabbed the saddle and it took him 3 times to get me to cycle short distance. Used to cycle 15 miles each way to work after a lot of shorted efforts!
Francis Voon
Been cycling off and more on lately, for over 50 years.
TheCyclist
Always on the lookout for new lights and puncture repair kits – just in case. 🙂
JP
I was a keen cyclist as a youth and stopped cycling regularly in my early 20’s until I got back on my bike at 35 and have been cycling most days for last 6 years, feeling much better for it too 🙂
Keith Miles
’62 was a good year to learn to cycle ! Just the 55 years on 2 wheels for me then 😊
Alan
45 years
Tim
Cycling for 22 years, commuting for 10 and loving it
Alastair Seagroatt
I think about 65 years since I got a trike when I was 3 or 4, still out regularly.
David Beacham
Started at about 3 years old but stopped when I was old enough for motorbikes. Restarted again 20 odd years ago for financial and mental health reasons.
David Wilson
Hmm, about 33yrs but had an enforced 6yr gap at one point. And only recently found “cyclocross”!
Pam H
When I was about 12 I “inherited” the bike my Grandpa bought my mum just before the outbreak of WW2. It was made by Bennetts of Scunthorpe, had a fully encased chain and weighed a ton. That was 44 years ago.
Chop Wales
About 27 years ago, I got my mate into Bubblecars, in return, he got me into bicycles. I have folders, a recumbent, a Long-John delivery bicycle and recently sold my Indonesian rickshaw.
Pete Gateley
Started cycling when I was 6 and haven’t stopped cycling for the last 60. Still the most enjoyable way to get about. Long may it continue.
Peter Chisnall
53 years
Peter Shirley
About 45 years
Clare Gordon
About 47 years.
Lawrence Davies
44 years
Lisa
only 2 years..still learning!
Janet Robertson
Cycling for 35 years but need to get back into it properly!
Greg
Started over 50 years ago, stopped for about 25, been back on the road for 15 now, before r could/should do more.
Helen Taylor-Carter
Cycling has been lighting up my life for 40 years, bing on 40 more!
antvren
About 25 years, I learnt because I was teaching my children to ride. So we all learnt hobby-horse style, down a gentle slope.
Ron Oakley
Cycling for 75 years
Jeanette Hanley
Over 40 years now on 2 wheels. 20 years as a Postie until they took our bikes off us. Brought up without a car, so it was 2 legs or 2 wheels……wheels were faster🚴
TD
Been cycling for probably 50+ years and cycled to work all my life apart from about 3/12, so that makes about 37 years.
Jamie Johnson
42.
Charmian
Cycled as a youngster in the days of Cycling Proficiency, abandoned it after a fall and came back to it two years ago in anticipation of retirement from the world of work.
The next Lance
Cycling ‘seriously’ for 31 years, both as recreation and commuting all year round.
Paul Kirkley
Now just 66, cycling 63 years.
Akin to Shakespeare’s seven ages of man: 1st on 3 wheels (tricycle), then 4 (with stabilisers), then 3 (lone stabiliser), then 2 with 1-gear, 3-gear, 21-speed, and 6-speed Brompton. I have yet to explore the later stages with spoked wheels on wheelchairs!
Jonathan Hunt
41 now. Started ‘commuting’ to school aged 6. Joined cycling club aged 15. I’ve always commuted to work since school (whenever possible). So 35 years is my answer.
Longest commute ride 110 miles 🙂
Arnold
60+ yrs riding
Got first paid job paper round, Bought first bike age 10.
Joined Royal Navy took it on HMS Tiger preyed we did not go to war as it would have been thrown over the side….
Used as a means of transport ever since. last 20yrs no car so Now Carry everything on it. 2yrs ago diagnosed type 2 diabetic lost 38 kg / 5 stone now get there much quicker.
Discovered have lady Sit bones last year finally bought Selle Royal Scientia saddle 2 weeks ago, Can at last ride without being in pain, now to increase journey times above 2 hrs now.
Frank
Trike till five, scooter till seven, bike to present and beyond.