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BN:
Now onto some questions about cycling itself. Recently, we’ve read about numerous incidents involving cyclists and cars/lorries within the London area - from your own experiences, what is the biggest challenge with riding in such a vast urban area?
CL:
The challenge in London I feel is getting quality specific training in. Life is hectic and the roads are not suitable to get un-interrupted or structured miles in. Luckily from where I live it's only 20mins into the country side and hills of Kent. The London traffic is easy to navigate once you know how. In fact I have the most close calls from cars not giving way by a roundabout near my house then I do with trucks in town. But that has a lot to do with how I ride and where I position myself on the road and at intersections. Knowing when to go fast and when to slow down and take the lane behind a truck are good skills to develop. I always tell myself ' A truck can't squash me if I'm behind it'. Reading the NYC Bike Snob 'Enlightened Cyclist' was a watershed moment for me and made me calm down and really start enjoying commuting so I no longer find it a challenge.
BN:
It obviously can’t be all doom and gloom. In contrast to the above question, if you could pick on thing that you love about where you live and cycle - what would it be and why? >>>