Jennifer has had her bike for 31 years.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n
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The bike went with Jennifer to university in Southampton, it went with her when she worked in London, although storing a bike in a terraced house is not very convenient. Now Jennifer is back in Oxford and commutes from the Summertown area into town for work. She works in finance for a charity in the city centre, and her office provides bike parking, which is convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jennifer also has a fold-up bike, bought through the wonderful cycle to work scheme<\/a>, which is great if you want to take your bike on the train to London or elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have bike, will travel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What about trips? Jennifer\u2019s first real outing was at the age of 16, riding in the Peak District with her sister for three or four nights. She says she should have noted the name \u2013 Peak District means peaks, i.e. mountains, but nevertheless she enjoyed this trip. The two sisters stayed in youth hostels and it was their first real taste of freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More recently, on turning 40, she decided to do some cycling \u2018pilgrimages\u2019, to places that have meant something to her. She has cycled to Bath (taking a few days and coming back on the train), to Southampton where she was at university and from Cambridge to Ipswich (both towns she has lived in). In the summer of 2020 Jennifer took on the Kennett and Avon Canal Route from Bath to Reading<\/a> \u2013 a great activity after the first lockdown. Canal cycling doesn’t have the same variety as being out on country roads, though it’s great for not having to worry about navigation \u2013 you\u2019re either 100% right or 100% wrong. She has also joined a 3-day organised tour of Hadrian\u2019s Wall. This year\u2019s project? Bath to Bournemouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further afield<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For led cycling holidays overseas Jennifer uses the bike supplied by the company. Taking your bike abroad by train is not easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She has cycled in both Provence and Tuscany and finds that cycling holidays suit her because she loves being active, loves the challenge. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Even better are organised cycling tours: that way, she doesn\u2019t have to worry about the route or the arrangements, she can mentally zone out. \u2018It takes me to a different place,\u2019 she says. She can let her mind wander and she finds that immensely refreshing. It also means meeting new people, exploring new places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She tried a bit of guided mountain biking in New Zealand, though this turned out to be at a level above her comfort zone. She made it through the technical sections, but must have been concentrating really hard as she then fell off during the last relatively simple section. No major damage done, though her shorts were badly ripped so it was a bit embarrassing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or just the ride to work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n