Pledge Your Support to Sustrans!

Sustrans have mastered Connect2 - a scheme to allow us all to enjoy cycling and walking by enabling us to reach our destination safely and in an environmentally friendly way.

But they need your help to make it happen. Connect2 has 79 schemes across the country to build bridges across roads and railways, make new and improve walk/cycle ways and revitalise walking/cycling in the community. The Connect2 project is up against four others in a race for £50 million of Lottery money.

Take your chance to change the future of cycling by voting for the project. See the Sustrans Connect2 website and also the Trek News pages for more info.

'Quickie' Interview....Dr Alice Speaks

Kids in bed? Cuppa in hand? BBC2 on the box? Many of you will be familiar with this guest interviewee Dr Alice Roberts - creator, writer and presenter of ‘Don’t Die Young’ and co-presenter of the immensely popular ‘Coast’. Alice is a medical doctor and a specialist in anatomy. We caught up with her to discover a little of what makes her tick!

Name Alice Roberts

DOB 1973

Bike Trek Topfuel 8

When, where and why did you start cycling? I’ve cycled for as long as I can remember. I remember milestones like getting my first ‘proper’ bike – an orange bike that folded up to fit in the boot of a car… and the first wobbly ride without stabilisers. Dad used to take my little brother and I on cycle rides around country lanes at the weekend and later, when I was revising for exams, Dad and I would go for midnight bike rides to clear my head. It was just us, the foxes and hedgehogs on the road! I always had a bike at university and still cycle to work every day. It’s such a pleasant way to commute and I enjoy the thinking time and the exercise. I also like cycling off-road in the woods – and take my border terrier, Bob with me – though he often disappears to chase deer, then has to catch up. The bicycle is, of course, the steed of choice for the modern eco-warrior. I’m concerned about our effects on the environment, but also quietly optimistic that technology will provide part of the solution. The bicycle is a brilliant piece of engineering and has to be part of any plan to reduce fuel emissions. Cycling is also a fantastic way to keep fit and to enjoy the natural environment.

What are you working on now? I’m finishing my PhD, which I’ve been doing part-time alongside other research and teaching at Bristol University. Then, I’m taking a year off to film a couple of series’ and to write a book!

What do you dislike? Bigotry. Intolerance. Cruelty.

Where’s the best place you’ve ever cycled? I had a great cycling holiday around the Cornish coast with my friend, Sue. We hadn’t quite reckoned on just how hilly it would be when we set out from Plymouth, but we had ‘thighs of steel’ by the time we finished in Padstow.

What do you do to relax? Cycling, of course and walking the dog, growing vegetables, reading and painting.

What’s your favourite food? This depends a lot on my mood. But you can’t beat simply cooked vegetables straight from the garden. Delicious, waxy new potatoes with butter and tender broad beans…

Up, up and away!

Ok, so welcome to the first post on sheSpoke! Finally, we're up and running and we can discuss all things bike-like and woman-like....and what a beatiful day to talk about bikes. The sun is shining, it's 15 degrees ( a second Spring) - what a perfect day to get out there!

I have to admit it's been difficult lately trying to get out on the bike. My son, who sits on the back, protests at the recent cold weather. I can't get further than a mile without him prodding me in the back to take him home - kids today!

I feel like my summer fitness is slipping away more quickly than I'd like, so I've decided to take advice and start cross-training this winter. I want to reap the benefits of an all-round fitter body for the next biking season. I'll be swimming, running/power-walking and doing some strength exercises to maintain fitness. The weekend, of course will be dedicated to the bike - mostly path and off-road riding. My road bike gets stashed in the rafters for the winter season - sad as it is. But as the seasons change so must we. Our exercise and training takes on different forms and that's ok. Let's take a rest, have a break and enjoy it!!