The Persuader Ben Austin, 36, London (plus nurses and physios at St Joseph’s Hospice)
The Recruit Helen Fleming, 36, London The Strate y Plot a route…
“After years of shilly-shallying, I started cycling to work having been inspired by the community nurses and physios at St Joseph’s Hospice,” explains Helen. “They’re often out on their bikes when they visit patients. I was hesitant, wary of London roads, but an old friend, Ben, came to my rescue.”
Ben plotted a simple route based on his experience of cycling a similar commute.
“I live in Forest Gate, near Helen, and so I worked out a route that took in quiet roads, back streets and parks such as the Olympic one. It was still relatively direct and not too time-consuming. It was a simple hand-drawn map, but the key was that it was safe and reassuring for Helen.”
It was the nudge Helen needed. “I wasn’t sure I could even cycle that far in one go! The first time I set out, the skies opened and my printed map got soggy in the rain, but despite that, and getting really lost, I knew I had the bug. I’ve been cycling to work for about a year now, aiming for three times a week and clocking up around 40 miles a week.”