We are LCL: Life begins again… this time, on a bike!

Allison Blackshaw recently became a Sustaining Member of London Cycle Link, after returning to cycling during the pandemic. She and her husband are now rediscovering the joys of two-wheeling, along with the wonder of riding safely over snowy patches and the whimsy of tooling from their downtown home all the way out to Masonville, just for coffee! LCL caught up with Allison on Zoom recently.

Q: How did you first get connected with London Cycle Link and the Squeaky Wheel?

A: My child’s girlfriend told us that there was a bike co-op, and so I looked it up. At that time, we were just kind of dipping our toe in the water, so we bought a couple of used bikes and I took mine into the Squeaky Wheel to tune it up. And I'm telling you I was just  so impressed and overjoyed to find this space where people are willing to teach you and to help you. Dave is a volunteer, and the fact that he was taking time out from his day to teach me the basics, how to adjust my brakes, I felt really grateful and blessed to have this. I love going there. I've always felt so welcome. They're just so eager to help.

Q: When you picture yourself riding a bike, what are the words that come to your mind first?

A: Joy. Freedom. Youth! It reminds me of when I was a kid… It's so liberating and exhilarating. I'm constantly looking people in the eyes as I pass by them and smiling, because I just feel so happy to be out there on the bike. It feels like the reverse of what I thought would be happening at my age.