Well, that’s been an eventful few weeks …

Since giving birth to Darlobikebaby, I hadn’t been out on my bike. I had no need to, being on maternity leave for a year meant we pretty much just stayed at home or would get a bus into town with the buggy.

The problem is, leaving it so long meant that I’d pretty much lost my cycling mojo, it got harder & harder to get back on it.

Then things happened that kinda kicked me up the arse …..

A few weeks ago, our local bike hire scheme, Darlovelo was facing closure.
A number of factors had contributed to this, not least that bastard council shutting down the Arts Centre which was where Darlovelo is based.

It’s fair to say that being faced with this made me realise that I wasn’t about to roll over & let my passion for cycling & this town die – it’s true what they say, you don’t know what you’ve got ’till its gone.
So after a few frantic emails & a couple of meetings, a number of us “members” became trustees & have taken steps to salvage something that we’re incredibly passionate about.
It’s going to be hard work, there’s no denying it.
It’s this crisis though, that has forced me to take a long hard look at myself & realise that I don’t want to roll over & succumb to metal boxes & shitty public transport. I want to be free again, I want to have a fun commute to work, I want to get others as passionate as me!

So there it is, I’ve started cycling again, I’ve even rejoined a Triathlon club with the hope of competing again next year.

I’m going to put my heart & soul into this. I’m gonna be DarloBIKEgirl again & I’m gonna bloody well try my damnedest to get this lazy sodding town off it’s arses and onto our bikes!

You have been warned ….

*thanks go to Richard, Beatrix, Duncan, Hugh, Sally & everyone else involved in this project