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Local Profiles (1-15)

In association with the CDT project the Lancaster Guardian is running a regular feature on local cyclists called WorkCycle.

Read Profiles 1 - 15 below

WorkCycle No. 15

Rachel Noblett, Westmorland & Ridge Lea Hopsitals & Pedal Power

How old are you?	24
Where do you live?	Bare
How often do you cycle to work?	When working locally (Weds - Fri)
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	Bike stands
Why do you cycle to work?	Quicker, cheaper and more convenient than driving or the train Keeps me fit while getting me to work. Practical way to help the environment. Door to door with total flexibility.
What sort of bike do you ride?	Urban bike
Do you wear a helmet or cycle clothing?	Sometimes wear a helmet. Wear a high viz waistcoat in poor visibility conditions.
Do you cycle for leisure too?	No.
What's the best thing about cycling?	Total freedom and flexibility about where you go and when.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Strong winds - you arrive at your destination exhausted if the wind's against you.

WorkCycle No. 14

Lucy Hampson, teacher at Lancaster Steiner School

How old are you?	34
Where do you live?	Lancaster.
How often do you cycle to work?	Most days.
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	Yes they have bike racks.
How long does it take you?	15 mins max.
Why do you cycle to work?	It’s healthy, exhilarating and wakes me up. It's much better than chugging through the traffic and usually quicker.
What sort of bike do you ride?	Mountain bike
Do you cycle for leisure too?	The cycle path and along the canal.
What's the best thing about cycling?	The outdoors, wind, speed, it's like being a kid again. And I love to be part of the changing seasons.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Glass, dog muck and traffic.

WorkCycle No. 13

Naomi Elliot, Sales Analyst, Reebok

How old are you?	27
Where do you live?	Hala, Lancaster.
How often do you cycle to work?	Everyday.
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	We have some cycle racks and we also have a gym where I can get washed and changed and leave my stuff during the day
How long does it take you?	15 mins short route or 30 mins long route
Why do you cycle to work?	It’s a relaxing way to start and end the day and incredibly peaceful along the old railway line in the morning.
What sort of bike do you ride?	Marin – hard tail.
Do you wear a helmet or cycle clothing?	Yes, I wouldn’t go out without my helmet and cycling gloves. I also have a cycling jacket and waterproof trousers for when it's wet.
What's the best thing about cycling?	Being able to get away from roads and enjoy the countryside. It’s also cheap and good exercise.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Car drivers who cut you up and pedestrians who walk into the road without looking.

WorkCycle No. 12

Tony Heward, Administrator, Lancaster University

How old are you?	56
Where do you live?	Greaves, Lancaster.
How often do you cycle to work?	2/3 days a week.
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	No, but it's planning to put some in.
How long does it take you?	15 - 20 minutes
Why do you cycle to work?	It wakes me up on the way to work, it relaxes me on the way. It's good exercise and a way to get fresh air for a dek-bound office worker.
What sort of bike do you ride?	Claud Butler.
Do you wear a helmet or cycle clothing?	Helmet, no special clothing.
What's the best thing about cycling?	Feeling airborne.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Irresponsible dog owners, I was in a serious accident last year caused by a dog. I was in hospital for 2 weeks and off work fo over 4 months.

WorkCycle No. 11

Hazel Leech, Receptionist, The Adult College

How old are you?	44
Where do you live?	Torrisholme
How often do you cycle to work?	3 days a week (I'm part time).
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	Showers, bike racks, loan of equip- ment, and a positive attitude towards cyling to work.
How long does it take you?	I can do it in 20 minutes – but why hurry
Why do you cycle to work?	To beat the traffic and to enjoy the ride. It’s quicker by far from Torrisholme in the mornings, and all downhill going home. On the cycle track I regularly see a heron, long-tailed tits, cormorants, baby swallows etc. It’s always interesting to see what birds are about, not to mention an occasional fox!
What sort of bike do you ride?	Vogue Concept ladies bike with basket on the front. Not glamorous but does the job.
Do you wear a helmet or cycle clothing?	Just kagoul and leggings in the rain. I feel there’s too much pressure to appear fashionable and those of us who can’t compete should not miss out.
What's the best thing about cycling?	Time to think. "Head space". To be a child again, standing on the pedals over bumps or slaloms through
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Going uphill.

WorkCycle No. 10

Nick Baker, Lecturer, Lancaster University

How old are you?	28
Where do you live?	Galgate
How often do you cycle to work?	Almost every day.
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	A really old bike shed.
How long does it take you?	10 minutes
Why do you cycle to work?	It's the quickest option and I like cycling.
What sort of bike do you ride?	A fairly normal racer with dead thin wheels. A Claude Butler off eBay from a few years ago actually. Needs a good clean
Do you wear a helmet or cycle clothing?	Just a helmet when I'm going to work. Proper shorts and top when out for a long ride.
What's the best thing about cycling?	Coming down a valley and spotting a secluded local pub in the distance Stopping off for a drink and a big meal at lunchtime. Getting to the front of a really full car park.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Horizontal hail when ycling up near vertical roads, punctures, chains snapping, odd metal grating noises. We seem to get them all on the tandem pretty often.

WorkCycle No. 9

John Cox, New Deal Advisor, Jobcentre Plus

How old are you?	48
Where do you live?	Standen park, Lancaster.
How often do you cycle to work?	Every day.
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	I leave my bike in the store room.
How long does it take you?	10 minutes
Why do you cycle to work?	Convenient, inexpensive, daily exercise, physical and mental well being
What sort of bike do you ride?	25 yr old Raleigh Royal.
Do you wear a helmet or cycle clothing?	Yes and a winter cycling jacket with fluorescent marker.
Do you cycle for leisure too?	Yes enjoy locally cycling round trip to Glasson Dock - a peaceful scenic country ride. Favourite mountain bike ride has to be High Street, the highlight being the descent near Pooley Bridge.
What's the best thing about cycling?	Commuting to work - convenient, cheap, daily exercise, feeling mentally alert most of the time. Off road - exploring beautiful countrside locations, and the buzz that comes with traversing difficult descents.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Cycling up East Road every day, seriously it’s a good workout. Inconsiderate motorists; anti social cyclists who tarnish the majority of law abiding cyclists; cold, wet winter mornings; slippy roads.

WorkCycle No. 8

Matt Oppenheim, Project Engineer, BSW, Lancaster

How old are you?	35
Where do you live?	Green Lane, Lancaster.
How often do you cycle to work?	Every day.
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	They let me store my bike in the utilty room. I have a key for it.
How long does it take you?	15 minutes as opposed to a 30 minute drive.
Why do you cycle to work?	I love being on a bike, it's faster than driving. I feel good when I arrive at work.
What sort of bike do you ride?	Edinburgh Co-op Courier.
Do you wear a helmet or cycle clothing?	A cycling jacket and cycling shoes.
Do you cycle for leisure too?	Get out most weekends - the Dales are my favourite area. Locally, pottering around Over Kellet and up to Kirkby Lonsdale.
What's the best thing about cycling?	Feeling like a kid again.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Too many cars.

WorkCycle No. 7

Ian McCulloch, Resources Librarian, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

How old are you?	44
Where do you live?	Marsh, Lancaster
How often do you cycle to work?	Whenever it's not too wet or windy. I'm not a masochist, I get the bus when the weather is bad.
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	They have recently arranged for a secure, lockable bike rack to be erected and is on the provess of converting one of the toilets into a shower room for cyclists.
How long does it take you?	25 minutes
Why do you cycle to work?	Because I can, and anybody who can should. It's the only way to sort out lancaster's traffic problems. get more cars off the road, don't build more roads to get clogged up. Plus I get some good exercise while I'm going to work, instead of having to go to the gym.
Do you cycle for leisure too?	Sometimes. I recently enjoyed going along the cycle path to Morecambe, down the coast to Heysham and back via the Golden Ball at Snatchems
What's the best thing about cycling?	Free exercise and feeling that you are doing your bit to beat traffic congestion and global warming
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Being treated as second class road users by (the minority) of ignorant car drivers

WorkCycle No. 6

Duncan Orme, Sport & Exercise Science, St Martin's College

How old are you?	34
Where do you live?	Lancaster
How often do you cycle to work?	2-3 times per week
Do you wear a helmet or special clothing?	Only wear a helmet when racing - always wear proper cycle clothing
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	Limited no. of cycle secure bike storage units.
How long does it take you?	5 - 10 minutes
Why do you cycle to work?	Quick way to get through town
Do you cycle for leisure too?	Cycle both competitively and for leisure. Too many to mention but Yorkshire Dales round Hawes and Kirkby Stephen area
What's the best thing about cycling?	Best way of seeing the countryside.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Drivers that think the roads belong to them

WorkCycle No. 5

Linda Wilson, Estates Assistant, Lancaster City Council

How old are you?	59
Where do you live?	Carnforth
How often do you cycle to work?	Every day
Do you wear a helmet or special clothing?	Yes helmet and gloves
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	I have a cycle locker
How long does it take you?	40 minutes
Why do you cycle to work?	To keep fit and to save the planet
Do you cycle for leisure too?	Yes - I'm a member of the CTC and enjoy long rides in the countryside
What's the best thing about cycling?	The feeling of getting somewhere under your own steam / keeping fit / meeting new people
What's the wost thing about cycling?	The traffic - I have been knocked off my bike a number of times

WorkCycle No. 4

Mrs Leach, Teacher, Carnforth High School

How old are you?	Over 21
Where do you live?	Hest Bank
How often do you cycle to work?	Most days except when it's icy.
Do you wear a helmet or special clothing?	A helmet plus a reflective jacket (I want to be seen!)
Does your workplace have any special facilities for cyclists?	Yes a great 'cycle shed' for staff & pupils which is kept locked.
How long does it take you?	About 30 minutes
Why do you cycle to work?	It makes me feel good and it gets me to work. It's environmentally friendly and measn we only need one car.
Do you cycle for leisure too?	Yes - I love cycling to Morecambe and out to the end of the Stone Jetty.
What's the best thing about cycling?	Being out in the open air and the feeling of freedom.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Cars going past me too close and too fast.

WorkCycle No. 3

Jon Carter, Graphic Designer, Lancaster & Morecambe Newspapers

How old are you?	40
Where do you live?	Lancaster
How often do you cycle to work?	Five days a week, all year round
Do you wear a helmet or special clothing?	No
How long does it take you?	About 20 minutes – depending on the direction
Do you cycle for leisure too?	Yes. Lancaster to Conder
Why do you cycle to work?	Can’t stand the tedium of the journey by car, it makes me feel like I’m doing my bit for the environment and it helps keep me relatively fit. And it saves me a small fortune.
What's the best thing about cycling?	Simply being outside in the fresh air and not contributing to the problems of pollution and congestion. And there’s some interesting wildlife to be seen along the cycle track.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	It can be pretty horrible sometimes in the winter, weather-wise, and some of the other users (pedestrians, dog walkers, drunken chavs…) of the cycle track can be a bit, let’s say, unsympathetic to cyclists.

WorkCycle No. 2
Peter Armer, Director of Resources and Finance at St Martin's College

How old are you?	46
Where do you live?	Heysham
Why do yo u cycle to work?	Two reasons - health/fitness & time saving due to congestion
How often do you cycle to work?	On average, 4 days out of 5
How long does it take you?	30 minutes
Do you wear a helmet or special clothing?	I wear a helmet & clothing appropriate to the weather. Certainly not lycra!
Does your workplace have any special facilities?	St Martin’s has very good bicycle storage and we have a number of buildings with shower facilities.
Do you cycle for leisure too?	I used to but I now find it is a bit of "busman’s holiday". My wife and I took our bicycles on holiday last year and we intend to do the same this year.
What's the best thing about cycling?	My favourite thing about cycling is the feeling of well-being after a journey.There is also some satisfaction from the journey on the path parallel to the Greyhound Bridge, when I am travelling next to stationary cars with frustrated drivers!
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Having to cycle on roads - cyclists seem to be invisible to some car drivers. The worst road is Oxcliffe Road, which carries many lorries and is full of dangerous potholes near the kerb.

WorkCycle No. 1

Richard Tulej, Head of Corporate Strategy & Communications at Lancaster City Council

How old are you?	53
Where do you live?	Bolton-le-Sands
Why do you cycle to work?	To try to maintain my miserable level of fitness
How often do you cycle to work?	As often as I can. Meetings in multiple locations sometimes prevents me. One average probably 3/4 times per week.
How long does it take you?	Varied between 20 - 30 mins. There are lots of possible routes between home & Lancaster.
Do you wear a helmet or special clothing?	A helmet for my head and cycling shorts for my bottom - for it is big and my saddle is small.
Does your workplace have any special facilities?	Not particularly special - there are cycle racks at the rear and a shower inside.
Do you carry out repairs?	No - but I'm going to sign up for a maintenance course (as part of the CDT project).
What's the best thing about cycling?	The sense of freedom amd achievement it gives you, the way it clears the mind after a difficult day and when routes that you find hard get easier as you get a little fitter.
What's the wost thing about cycling?	Cars that don't give you enough room as they overtake.

We asked other local people to give us their thoughts on why they cycle to work - from saving time to saving money - Read them here