Recently I’ve been thinking to myself: am I safe out on my bike? There was pro rider Alex Richardson’s awful episode in Richmond Park the other week, where his bike was stolen from beneath him by machete-wielding criminals, and of course the tragic deaths of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.
I tend to ride by myself but in rural areas, passing through the occasional town. Thankfully things seem to have been OK recently but I have previously had some unpleasant occurrences that have made me very fearful.
Previously, I thought maybe it was just anxiety and me overthinking, but looking back I was well within my rights to be afraid, especially while out riding on the road by myself. Or even while I’ve been on a run during my winter training.
At times I’ve had people beeping at me in a disgusting manner; I’ve been wolf whistled at numerous times while being passed; and on one occasion someone tried to reach out of their car window and smack me.
Why can I not just go out and not have to deal with this sort of behaviour? I appreciate that this is not everyone, and thank goodness it’s not, but it only takes one unlucky encounter to end a person’s life.
Denne historien er fra October 21, 2021-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
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Denne historien er fra October 21, 2021-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CLASSIC BIKE - JOHNNY BERRY
Johnny be good at making beautiful lightweight bikes
UK SCENE - WUNDERKIND HUDSON WINS YORKSHIRE CX
Newly crowned junior hill-climb champ shows his versatility by winning round seven on the mud
WATT WORKS FOR ME TADEJ POGAČAR
The man himself - subject of this special issue - explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
11 WAYS TO POG-UP YOUR PLAN
Tadej Pocačar's performance is out of reach but you can adapt his training to raise your game. Chris Marshall-Bell consults the experts to find out how
Why do modern aero bikes look less aero?
Are today's aero bikes really faster, or is marketing just getting better? Joe Baker investigates...
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
An Olympic year is always special and the cycling season once again delivered a year of highs and lows, from Pogi's triple to Katie Archibald's pre-Olympic trip
MEET THE PARENTS
What made Tadej Pogačar the phenomenon he is today? Chris Marshall-Bell went to Slovenia to meet his mum and dad, Mirko and Marjeta
HALF MAN HALF GOAT
Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against
Lefevere cashes in his chips and leaves cycling management
The news that Patrick Lefevere will step down as Quick Step boss marks the end of an era, after 22 years in charge
Mathieu van der Poel weighs up skipping Tour de France
Dutchman hints at missing Tour in favour of mtb Worlds bid, reports Tom Thewlis from Dénia, Spain
