While many of us here at Tweeks Towers are keen Cyclists, we’re often keener to chat about bikes and spend hours trawling the internet looking at shiny new things we don’t need or can’t afford than actually turning the legs and getting the miles in. Even resident mile cruncher Craig has let his mileage slip! Every April though, that changes. For the last 5 years, a collection of us have embarked on 30 Days of Biking. Yep, that is riding every day, for a whole month!
What is 30 Days of Biking?
30 Days of Biking (http://30daysofbiking.com/pledge-2019) is a pledge to ride your bike every day in April and share your adventures and experiences online, using the hashtag #30daysofbiking. Why ride every day for a month? Well for a start, it gives us the kick up the backside we need to get out on our bikes! On a more serious note though, it is about so much more than that!
Not only does it promote getting out more and helps you get fitter, it also helps promote cycling. If people see you having the time of your life on social media, scaling epic climbs or shredding a delicious section of singletrack, it might just get them to make the leap and get out on a bike themselves. Not only will they feel better, you can feel the warm glow of knowing you have inspired someone to share your hobby!
It’s also a great way of meeting new people; there could be a whole cycling community right on your doorstep that you were never aware of! These like-minded enthusiasts may even introduce you to a new route or trail that becomes a future favourite and has you questioning why you never tried it. It’s all about spreading the word, sharing your memories and inspiring others to take up cycling to help them become fitter, feel better about themselves and above all, have fun!
Why should I get involved?
30 Days of Biking can do wonders for your local community and with the wide-reach of social media, you can spread your wings much further that; your perfectly edited Instagram post could inspire someone on the other side of the world! Inspiration can only go so far though. Bicycles are not cheap and for millions of people a bike could change their lives. For 2019, 30 Days of Biking are fundraising for World Bicycle Relief (https://give.worldbicyclerelief.org/team/210923), to help bring bikes a school in Zambia, to people who need them much more than we do. Think about that the next time you’re browsing in search of that latest cycling must-have – that money could help to change the life of someone in much more need than you.
So, by now you’re probably wondering how you can participate in 30 Days of Biking. Well the good news is you don’t need a specialist bike or be super fit. You can ride any bike and go any distance. You don’t even have to go outside! A quick spin around the block counts just as much as 100-mile ride, and turbo trainer sessions and spin classes count too! The idea is to just get out there and share your journeys with the community. Living in North Wales we know the weather can be bad, so if it really is belting it down we wouldn’t blame you for letting your motivation waver, so if you miss a day don’t panic, just carry on! Thousands of people make the pledge every year and take it from us, you’ll feel a whole lot better when you get to the end; you’ll be leaner, fitter and much, much more so what are you waiting for, make the pledge today!