Photograph Stocksy
Like making sourdough or hosting a Zoom quiz, cycling became somewhat of a 2020 cliché.The number of rides uploaded to Strava nearly doubled and during the strictest lockdown periods, cycling levels rose by up to 300% for commuters. According to Strava, women in particular were responsible for the boom, taking advantage of the quieter roads. Now, working with the British Heart Foundation to promote their virtual MyCycle challenge, former Olympic snowboarder and cycling enthusiast Aimee Fuller is encouraging more nervous newbies to get on their bikes. ‘The important thing is to ease yourself in gently,’ says Fuller, who suggests mastering the tricky bits – like learning to stand up on the bike, brake sharply and take quick turns – from your garden or on a quiet street. When you’re ready to venture further, Fuller recommends using Google Maps to find nearby cycle routes. And keep yourself accountable by signing up to the MyCycle Rookie Rider challenge, in which you have 30 days to cycle up to 100 miles.