INTERVIEW WITH KALSUM (ESHA)

Kalsum (Esha) Qayyum hadn’t cycled since childhood - but, during the pandemic, she cycled hundreds of miles and been to countless new destinations on her bike! Nothing is going to stop her now!

Interview by Carolyn Axtell

How did you first start cycling?

I always wanted to cycle and I had heard there was cycle training available but I didn’t know how to go about booking it. 

Carolyn Axtell introduced me to JoyRiders. I saw her leading some of the pupils from the secondary school on the road in autumn last year, and I ran over and asked her, “How do I book a lesson? Can you help me?”

When I started my first lesson I said, “I can ride but I don’t have the confidence to go on the main roads because of very heavy traffic.” I used to cycle in Lahore as a child but not since then. I had my first lesson with Carolyn and I loved it! 

All the JoyRiders instructors were well experienced and gave me lessons. I started coming on any rides I could using a borrowed bike. I made so many new friends as well and I became more confident on roads - but I didn’t feel ready to go cycling on my own, only with the group.

What happened when lockdown started?

Lockdown started 23rd of March 2020 so my workplace was closed. So I tried to do walking, running and mild exercises. My colleague said “don’t go anywhere – “stay home save lives”. I was on furlough so I was just sitting at home. After that I got bored with not doing anything then I bought a bike. 

The main roads were so quiet, I started practising early morning and late evening, and bit by bit my confidence started improving. 

JoyRiders gave me a lot of support. The online coffee mornings, route videos, and suggestions for places to ride. They answered all my questions and gave me the confidence to start cycling further – everyone in the online community was so supportive, they cheered me on each time I shared photos of my rides and that encouraged me even more. Once we were allowed to cycle with people from other households it also enabled me to find other women to pair up with for rides so I had some company. 

I liked the online coffee mornings as it was a chance to see everyone and feel connected - I made coffee and had cake before logging on! It was a great way to share ideas and ask questions.

I like exploring new routes - I always try challenging myself by learning new ones. So many women said they were inspired to start going out on their own for rides during lockdown when they saw I was doing it and how far I was going!

I became more confident exploring, using Strava to navigate. I started building my stamina and doing longer distances. I took other women along and showed them the routes as well. I went to many new places or places I had only ever been to by car – Canary Wharf, High Beach Wanstead, Shadwell, and even Buckingham Palace!

One day my bike broke and I said, “Oh my God! How will I cope without my cycling!" It was like I am an addict and my drug has been taken away!  I took it to the bike shop and told them, "I have to be able to ride my bike, please help!" They fixed it and I was so grateful to them. Everything was closed, nothing to do, without the bike I would have been stuck at home feeling so bored. It was a relief when the bike was ready for me to use again!

When my workplace re-opened in June, I decided to try to cycle to work. I’d always gone by car from Woodford to Walthamstow for work and found it really stressful, I would sometimes be late as the traffic was unpredictable. But because I’d been cycling on my own during the lockdown I thought now I am ready to cycle to work and it felt so much better! I would arrive at work with much more energy. 

There is a cycle path all the way from Waterworks Roundabout in Woodford to Walthamstow now which is really good for me. I hope we will have more paths like this in Woodford, I usually come to Waltham Forest for cycling but I want to cycle more in Redbridge area as well. 

I only use my car for heavy shopping now, I prefer to make nearly all my journeys by bike because it makes me feel free and happy.”

How does cycling with JoyRiders benefit you?

I’ve become more confident socialising and talking to other women from other cultures. I’ve made so many friends and when we are laughing, joking, chatting together it makes me feel happy, it gives me something to look forward to. I feel like I have more energy.

The group chats online really boosted my confidence with all the lovely encouragement, and I like the way we all help each other by sharing tips and routes. I’m so proud of how much I have developed my confidence. I have lost weight, my health and fitness have definitely improved and I am comfortable cycling in the dark as well now – I will definitely carry on cycling through the autumn and winter and the weather won’t stop me!

What’s your proudest achievement in cycling?

On October 11th I cycled 40 miles London to Southend on a women’s charity bike ride to raise funds for the people of Yemen. I couldn’t imagine at the beginning of the year that I would be doing that. Now I want to do longer rides and challenge myself even more!”