Meet Breeze Champion and regular bike commuter Claire Kennedy from Milton Keynes.
Name: Claire Kennedy
Workplace: Accountant, Finance Systems Manager, Santander, Central Milton Keynes
Tell us about your commuting rig: I have a Claud Butler mountain bike, my all-weather, all-road ride. I also have a Trek hybrid, for dry weather and the smoother road rides.
I have a pannier with a bag each side and a huge compartment on top. I commute with towels, shower stuff, make up, work clothes, bag for life, waterproofs, bike locks, spare inner tube, tyre leavers, puncture repair kit, mini Allen keys, mini screw drivers, map, cycle path law and my lunch
Along with any other things I have to transfer on the day to or from work!!!
What’s your commute like? Seven miles each way, mainly red-ways, slight inclines and mini hills to keep you awake.
How many days a week do you commute by bike? Every day (five working days), as long as it is not chucking it down with rain, it surprisingly takes just as long by car or longer and I hate it, the road rage people have the way people drive, the sitting in traffic and having to park. I love being on my bike!!! Saying that I have had some wet days!!! Grin and bear it and just feel the pleasure when you are home and dry in Pjs!!!
I try and get out every weekend too, if I can't I clean my bike or read my bike magazines…
What do you enjoy the most about bike commuting? Riding to work, having the goal of the location no matter the time or weather, meeting people along the way and making daily route geek mates.
Cycling home and by time home forgotten all about work and had a fantastic ride and gives you time to be in your own bike bubble.
What’s your least favourite thing about commuting by bike? The rain. I hate getting soaked, by bike wet and my stuff.
What are your main reasons to commute by bike? It started with just having an alternative focus to the day, ride into work and home. Not sporty person at all, just have got into cycling and love it. I swim once or twice a week but that doesn’t do for me what the bike does.
I have always cycled, cycled for leisure on and off. About four years ago I commuted to work one summer but that was it. However May 2011 I picked it up again, and I have not stopped. Not stopped cycling. I miss it if I don’t get out on my bike. If I get out everyday then I feel great. I notice a difference in myself if I miss a day.
I have lost five stone, eat what I want. If I ride extra rides in the evenings or weekends more weight comes off, I don’t watch what I eat really. If I did I could lose more but I want to lose another two stone this year and I will with my planned rides I have. I love it.
What’s your killer commuting tip? Don’t be beaten by the grumpy pedestrians, or from any falls, just keep pedalling and enjoying the ride.
Are you a British Cycling Member? If so how does your British Cycling membership support your bike commuting? I am. I'm a Breeze Champion. British Cycling have been into work and met with us as Breeze champions, from that I am going to be:
- Promoting Breeze and British Cycling
- Promoting the London to Brighton
- Doing organised rides
- Advertisement through the council for the rides we are doing and cycle awareness
- Helping to achieve secure cycle parking near our work
- Community Days to involve cycling
- Raising awareness in our internal gyms and in communications we have within the company.
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!
Download Commuter Profile Form (Word Document)
