Colin buchanan

As part of Bike week, Colin Buchanan’s HR manager, Helen Jones, was asked to cycle into work for the first time to see if she could be convinced to cycle to work. We follow Helen's progress here!

Having not cycled - at all - for the last 15 years (and never in a town) I was extremely nervous about negotiating London traffic. However, the route recommended to me was quiet, I could go at my own pace and I really enjoyed the journey. I might have chickened out at the last minute had it not been for the effort and enthusiasm of my colleagues in getting me kitted out with the loaned bike and helping me plan the route, but I’m very pleased I tried it.

Being very much a ‘fair weather cyclist’ my efforts to continue cycling have been somewhat thwarted so far. I’m hoping that the weather will improve enough for me to switch to the bike more over the rest of the summer.

After deciding to give cycling a go on a more regular basis I started looking for a second hand bike that would be an economical way to get started. I quickly discovered that I could get a new one through the Cycle to Work scheme for roughly the same cost and realised that it is not just children who get excited about the novelty of a shiny new bike!