Meet our next Bike Buddy: Helen Stark

What do you do at UCL?

I am Research Impact Manager for two faculties – Arts and Humanities and Social and Historical Sciences. I assist researchers of all career stages in developing impact from their research and do strategic work to build skills and capacity.

What made you want to be a Bike Buddy?

I think cycling is great and I want to help other people enjoy it as much as I do! It’s often quicker to get somewhere in London by bike than it is on public transport and I don’t think many people realise that. But cycling in London can be very intimidating and there’s a real barrier there – one way to overcome that is to support less experienced cyclists.

What’s your route?

I take a Quietway (Q2) from Bethnal Green and then pick up the C6 cycleway briefly. It is between 3 and 4 miles and mostly fairly quiet apart from other cyclists although I deliberately leave before 8 (in normal, non-pandemic, times) to avoid traffic.

What’s your favourite thing about cycling?

Cycling makes me feel independent because it means I don’t have to rely on buses or the tube to get around. I’ve only been living in London for 4 years and it has really helped me get to know my way around the city. I’ve always cycled but have been much more serious about it since I did the Coast to Coast about 5 years ago and started doing triathlons.

Do you have any top tips for cycling?

When cycling to work, always keep a change of clothes in your desk drawer, especially dry socks!