Staff member, Lene Stokes, tells her cycling journey with Peddle My Wheels

From cycling as a child, to now working full time as Community Partnerships and Events Manager, Lene Stokes leads us through her experience of how her role at Peddle My Wheels has evolved. 

I started working for Peddle My Wheels in the summer of 2016. I’d met Alper (the governor) through a friend because he needed some extra help with the second hand bike market at the Lambeth Country Show; in the heady days when it wasn’t a fenced off event. The weekend was spent outside all day long, chatting to people about the joys of cycling and helping people choose a nice old bike. It was bliss. I took to it immediately and Alper asked me to start working at the school markets as well.

I loved being a market supervisor for the bike events. I worked with Benson who had been with PMW from the start, and we called ourselves the A Team. Rocking up with loads of bikes, tools and a big gazebo gave me plenty of exercise and it was great to meet people and talk about all things cycle related. Initially I didn’t know much about bikes at all, but that gradually changed after working with Benson and other mechanics, who are so good at explaining how things work and giving tips on the little tricks and tweaks you can do. And so many mechanics seem to have a positive outlook on life and a compassionate take on people in general. I learnt a lot.

I’ve always had a bike, for as long as I can remember really. I had a bright green Moulton Midi when I was little and spent most of my days in the valley of Biggin Hill, out and about with my brothers and other kids, bombing around on our bikes. I’m pretty sure I went head over the handlebars at least once, but I was fearless and carefree then, and as long as I could stay out all day it didn’t matter.

In my twenties I lived in Brighton, working in clubs, on the door, DJing and promoting, making films, videos, music and generally being a bit arty. I had a lovely old fashioned bike with only a couple of gears (I’ve still got it gathering rust in my garden), it took me along the seafront and probably looked more stylish than it was functional.

I moved to Brixton in the 90s and worked at DJMag in various journalistic roles. I remember attempting to cycle into central London to save money on the tube fare. At the time I would wear a face mask because I was worried about the fumes. I think as I got older I started to get more fearful of the other vehicles on the road. It got to a point where I would just ride along the pavements, thinking that was absolutely fine (it’s not). And by the time I had my sons I’d almost ditched cycling completely, even though I continued to nervously encourage them to take it up.

It was Alfy that suggested I take some of the cycle training sessions you can get with the council for free. I met up with Sylvia from Cycle Confident at the Rookery in Streatham and we spent an hour there. We worked on me being able to look over each shoulder and then lift a hand from the handlebars. At first I couldn’t do it. I was terrified. But it was easier than I thought, I just needed someone to help me practice. And it might sound corny but everything changed from that point on. I had another session and we did junctions and a roundabout and that made me realise that keeping a visible position on the roads can really help your confidence.

PMW later booked me onto the Bikeability cycle instructor course and I have been passing on that knowledge (from both the course and those two sessions with Sylvia) ever since; delivering bikes in our Try Before You Bike scheme and looking after our Active Travel Community Influencers across the capital. I do feel like I’m learning all the time though. In 2023 I had a bit of a mental health dip and I started to get riled by aggressive drivers. It was obvious I wasn’t exactly helping matters by flipping the bird at them(!) I’ve managed to wean myself off road rage and I try not to be too bothered by how other people behave now. It helps. A lot. And I love cycling now.