Previous Peddlers

Every person who joins a Brake the Cycle trip has a positive experience to share for the rest of their lives, meet the very best of our past peddlers and discover what happens during a cycling trip with us!
Jen
What do you do? I'm the Co-founder of LOANHOOD, your fashion rental app.
Ride you joined: Lisbon to Seville, 2018
Where do you live? Hackney
For everyone wondering if they should join a BTC ride, I'd say... Do it. You'll meet like-minded people, go on great rides, eat, swim, laugh and make memories.
Ed
Ride you joined: LEJOG 2018
Where do you live? Portugal
Not gonna lie, the hardest part was... probably the first few days climbing the tough Cornish hills, mostly due to my lack of training. It got easier from then on :)
For everyone wondering if they should go on a BTC ride I'd say...
Kate
Job: Climate/energy policy researcher/consultant at the Carbon Trust in London
Ride: Wild Atlantic Way 2019
Lives: London
I chose to join a BTC ride because...
I'd never been to Ireland before and I thought it would be such an amazing way to see the west coast - an inexpensive, sometimes-challenging and low-carbon trip (I recommend taking the ferry over), for me it was a way to meet new friends interested in sustainability and cycling, and a guilt-free way of enjoying Irish delicacies, too!
The thing that surprised me most on the trip / about BTC was... How much more satisfying Guinness is after a day in the saddle!
If I had 5 words to sum up my BTC experience I’d say... Great, green, Guinness-filled getaway.Tom
Work: I work for a start-up, and probably run often enough to call it a part-time job
Rides you crewed: LEJOG 2018 (you can add the 2019 C2C if it looks better to have done more than one, I mean I did help out a lot on that trip!)
Lives: South London
The thing I love most about being part of Brake the Cycle crew is…
supporting and seeing people transform in their cycling confidence over the course of a tour
An unexpected outcome of crewing BTC rides has been… I didn’t expect to be nostalgic about the early wake up calls, dealing with issues on the road, or cooking a big meal after a long day’s riding, but it’s part of what makes the trips so unique.
For everyone wondering if they should join a BTC ride I'd say...
They are true adventures, and as soon as you finish one you’re already planning the next!

Hannah
Rides you joined: Milan to Barcelona 2017, Lands End to John O Groats 2018 and Cork to Galway 2019
Lives: Brighton
One of my favourite things about Brake the Cycle is...
the people, wonderful companions who I'd never have met otherwise, who challenged me, taught me fab stuff, put up with me graciously and laughed with me.
A lasting memory from all the trips I've joined has to be...
the views, so many beautiful landscapes cycled past, photographed, enjoyed. This is one beautiful world, and seeing it by bike wins.
For everyone wondering if they should join a BTC ride I'd say...
you'll love it, maybe not every minute at the time as of course there'll be challenges but for sure you'll look back with such joy.

Bex
Work: I'm a freelance marketing strategist working in the adventure tourism industry. Currently working with Spirit of the West Adventures, Backseat Bivy and Fresh Adventures Canada.Where do you live? Originally from Worcestershire. Recently emigrated to British Columbia, Canada.
An absolute highlight from all the trips and rides I've joined has to be...
The depth and purpose behind BTC. The fact that each trip is also about highlighting a more sustainable way of living attracts a certain kind of person - which translates into meeting the most amazing folks on BTC rides.
If I had 5 words to sum up my BTC I'd say...
Challenging, purposeful, kind, adventurous, memorable.
For everyone wondering if they should join a BTC ride I'd say..
I cannot recommend Brake the Cycle enough. Whether you want to challenge yourself on your bike, have some quiet time to reset, be inspired by sustainability projects or find a new community, BTC rides do all of that and more. 3 years after I completed LEJOG, our Whatsapp group is still going strong and we still have lively discussions about everything from making your own oat mylk to the ethics of travelling and whether or not to buy an electric vehicle. I am so glad I signed up to LEJOG - it was an awesome experience, which left me with amazing memories and a group of wonderful new friends.
Lydiana
Tom
What do you do: Marketing
Ride you joined: Lands End - John O Groats 2018
Where do you live? Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire.
I chose to join a BTC ride because... So many reasons! This was our honeymoon, and it was unforgettably good. We chose it as a chance to get to know the land we live in, as a way to experience different ways of living in the places we stayed, and in a big way, for an adventure.
The highlight of the trip was... There were daily highlights! I think my favourite landscape was Glen Coe. It's exhilarating to ride through. The food was always great but I particularly enjoyed the jackfruit burgers after a long day to catch the sunset at Findhorn. My favourite climb was probably Cheddar Gorge - at the top we stayed in an amazing barn, perfect for warming up after a rainy blast over the tops! But overall, I think my biggest takeaway is the friendships and bond we have as a group, still regularly in contact now.
If I had 5 words to sum up my BTC experience I’d say: Ethical, Personal, Fun, Life-changing.

Rob
What do you do?
I set up and grow small businesses so that they are able to run themselves independently.
Lisbon/Seville, Berlin/Munich, Dartmoor.

Phil
Camaraderie and community. The sense of achievement having completed such a massive ride and seeing the UK from the seat of my saddle was such a joy. Oh, and an unseasonably dry and warm April which made for great riding.
Frosted undercrackers left out overnight. That is, my cycling shorts which I had washed and left out to dry were frozen come morning time. Not fun riding a long day without padded shorts.
Do it! BTC rides aren’t just about the destination — they’re all about the journey. The one on the road and the one you undertake with yourself. Cycling is such a great way to feel and sense the world around you. Bigger rides are also a chance to catch up with yourself and pedal out all the worries and anxieties that may have been troubling you. It’s also a great way to connect and commune with other humans.
James Ballantyne
Work: I work in government trying to sort out climate change.
Ride(s) you crewed: Milan - Barcelona 2017; Lisbon - Seville 2017; Lands End - John O'Groats 2018, Yoga & Cycling 2018, Cork - Galway 2019
Where do you live? South East London
Josie
What you do / Where you work : Design Engineer, London
Ride(s) you joined: Coast to Coast 2019
Where you live: Uxbridge, West London
The thing that surprised me most on the trip was how supportive and close-knit everyone became in such a short space of time.
A standout memory from the Coast to Coast 2019 has to be...
eating a can of rice pudding in the rain, nothing has ever tasted that good!
If I had 5 words to sum up my Brake the Cycle experience I’d say...
breath-taking views, optimistic, delicious food!
David
Francesca
George
What you do / Where you work: Retired Trade Union and political activist (but still active!)
Ride you joined: Lisbon - Seville
Where you live: Bradford
I chose to join a BTC ride because I... loved the commitment to adventure, eco-friendly stays and great routes
Not gonna lie, a low point in the trip was... trudging up a hill to camp, after a long day in the saddle.
My lasting memory of the BTC trip is... loving the camaraderie, the sense of achievement and the lovely food!
Bertille
Community, Fun, Alternative, Sustainable, Loving.