London Cyclist, say hello to Jack

In 2013 I hope to get a couple more people involved with London Cyclist on the writing front. Our first new writer is Jack and below is his introduction. Please be gentle – it can be a great pleasure and at times a little scary to open your writing up to thousands of readers. I hope you’ll give Jack a warm intro in the comments!

Having grown up outside in rural Hertfordshire, I spent my youth freewheeling down country lanes, attempting wheelies and – don’t tell my Mum this – occasionally swinging from one side of the road to the other. The roads were empty and, I was quickly coming to realise cycling is an absolute pleasure.

Moving to London stirred a few concerns that I’m sure many share. Country lanes are different to city roads. Admittedly, it took me a good year or two before picking up a bike. However, with the help of my employer’s cycle to work scheme, I’ve gone from being terrified by the thought of London cycling, to being a twice-a-day Lycra-wearer.

I now find myself at the point where I resent travelling by train. I struggle to resist a slight smirk when colleagues tell me about their nightmare journey to the office. But, to the untrained eye, cycling can be expensive – there are hundreds of gadgets which some cycling shops will try and scare you into buying. Some are worth the money, some are not.

So here I am: my name’s Jack, I’m 27 and I commute from Greenwich to Liverpool Street by bike, and try to explore the city on bike too when I can. I hope I’ll be a useful addition to the London Cyclist team – giving hints and tips on how to successfully navigate London’s roads, reviewing accessories and gadgets and telling you which ones you may actually find really useful. Look forward to getting started!