Working for Sustainable Travel Services in cycle-friendly York City Council, David walks the walk and talks the talk, with a 40 mile round trip commute five days a week. That's 200 miles per week, by our reckoning. David, we salute you sir!
Name: David Short
Workplace: City of York Council, Travel Planning coordinator, Sustainable Transport Services
Tell us about your commuting rig: I have a number of bikes, my favourite being a Ti Lynskey Sportive equipped with Sram Apex which has a good range of climbing gears, Rosedale Chimney bank at 33% is my local ‘testing climb’! I use the Lynskey for commuting in summer and taking part in sportives. It is light, fast and a delight to ride ride. My winter bike is a Whyte Charing Cross XC bike which I can swop tyres and head for the trails through the woods and over the moors on a weekend.
What’s your commute like? I live in a rural village in the Howardian Hills and I cycle commute the 40 miles round trip to York and back. The first part of my journey is a steep downhill, (which of course is a steep climb on the way home!). The ride is then gently undulating along quiet country lanes until I get to the suburbs of York where the cycle lanes start so generally my journey is traffic free.
How many days a week do you commute by bike? Usually five days a week
What do you enjoy the most about bike commuting? The best thing about biking to work is that I do not regard it as a commute. Instead it is time for me to do what I enjoy, cycling. So, when I get up to go to work it is actually me saying. Hey! It’s time to ride my bike! 20 miles and an hour and a bit later I am at work. My employer, City of York Council is very pro cycling and provides undercover, secure parking for my cycle, showers and changing facilities. Likewise at the end of the day I never think of the drudgery of commuting home. Instead it’s ‘my time’ again, doing the thing I love, cycling! One of the best things I enjoy is beating the rural buses which pass through nearby villages into York and beating all the cars stuck in traffic jams. I am also quite competitive and addicted to Strava!
What’s your least favourite thing about commuting by bike? Inconsiderate and aggressive motorists and some very poor quality road surfaces in places.
What are your main reasons to commute by bike? I cycle because it keeps me fit, saves me a shed load of money but most of all because I do not regard it as a commute. Instead it is time for me to do what I enjoy, cycling
Have you got any funny or interesting bike commuting stories or experiences to share? Living in a rural area I often see wildlife close up. One night last week I was cycling home when a barn owl wafted past my face so close one of its wings brushed my cheek. A magic moment caught fleetingly in the beam of my Hope 1 Vision Light.
What’s your killer commuting tip? Invest some time in a proper bike fit by a professional bike shop. When you are commuting a long way it is critical to not only have the right gear but that it’s set up to maximise your cycling efficiency. You will be amazed at the difference
Are you a British Cycling Member? If so how does your British Cycling membership support your bike commuting? I am a member of British Cycling. The commuting tips are invaluable, excellent advice for cyclists by cyclists who know what they are doing.
Send us your Commuter Profiles!
We want to know about your commuting experiences; how far you go, why you choose to ride, your killer tips and your commuter grumbles. Download, complete and email back your commuter profile to editor@britishcycling.org.uk and tell your story. Feel free to include a photograph/photographs of you and your trusty commuting bike!
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