Name: Les Hereward
Workplace: London South Bank University: Southwark
Tell us about your commuting rig: Currently Boardman CX with Open Pro rims on the wheels. New buike being built Qoroz CX, Ultegra DI2 and Dyno hub
What’s your commute like? About 20 miles each way: mostly flat London Streets but one route takes me through Richmond Park which lifts the spirits. All on road but Richmond Park had dedicated cycle paths for some of the way.
How many days a week do you commute by bike? Two or three days per week depending on work and weather.
| "British Cycling campaigns on behalf of cycling and is our voice in policy making." |
What do you enjoy the most about bike commuting?Time to think, the chance to exercise, I always arrive in a better and more productive frame of mind when I cycle in. What I really like best is the unexpected, it may be something small like a van with an unusual load. This week in the middle of Richmond Park I suddenly encountered smartly dressed folks walking with suitcases on wheels, like they were about to board a plane. It turned out that the Antique Road Show was ‘in session’ at the Royal Ballet School. On a bike you are so much more in touch with your surroundings.
What’s your least favourite thing about commuting by bike? Lorries and buses: any large vehicle particularly if it moves into the cycle lane.
What are your main reasons to commute by bike? To stay active, it is very time efficient form of exercise. I am not a ‘fast’ cyclist but going in takes only 15 minutes longer than the train. I also like what it does to my head, gives me time to think and it is good for my sanity as well. I also commute to protest at the way we damage the Earth by using fossil fuels.
What’s your killer commuting tip? To commute in London and come out the better for it you need to have a ‘laid back’ almost Zen like approach to the insanity you encounter. It is an exercise in positive thinking.
Make sure you have excellent lights, most commuting in the winter is in dark or dim conditions.
My target this year was to stop swearing at bad drivers and riders (broken four times so far). To smile wave and say thank you a lot. To dwell upon the good driving and riding I encounter (of which there is much).
Are you a British Cycling Member? If so how does your British Cycling membership support your bike commuting? Yes I am a British Cycling Member. British Cycling campaigns on behalf of cycling and is our voice in policy making.
