Spotlight on a cyclist – Alan Irving

1. What is your name, where are you from and how long have you been in Aberdeen (if not local)?

I’m Alan, I had a somewhat nomadic upbringing but I’ve been in Aberdeen off and on for (yikes) twenty-five years. I currently work in Stavanger (Norway) and travel home every weekend or two.

2. How did you get into cycling?

As a child of the 1980s, I had (and outgrew) a Raleigh Chopper, Mag Burner (BMX), Peugeot racer, then a steel mountain bike which I still own. I fell out of the habit at university in Edinburgh and London, but fell back in thanks to keen work colleagues – first mountain biking and orienteering in Scotland, then road cycling when we lived in Pau, southwest France, for five years.

3. What kind of cycling do you do?

A bit of everything, although I undoubtedly spend as much time fixing bikes as riding them. My favourite sort of ride is mixed terrain: quiet roads, lanes, woods, nature…of which we’re fortunate to have plenty around Aberdeen. But I equally enjoy using bikes for transport whenever I can, instead of defaulting to the car.

4. What type of cycle do you use?

See above. Most often I ride a cyclocross bike that is reasonably efficient and practical (rack and mudguards for commuting) but capable of detouring offroad when required. I still have road and mountain bikes but ride those quite rarely. We have a family folding bike (Brompton), which is handy for mixed mode trips (bus, train or car boot).  And in Stavanger I often use the public rental e-bikes – which are free for the first 15 minutes, or one hour if your employer is a member of the local sustainable travel scheme.

5. Where do you cycle usually/any favourite routes? How often?

My usual route in Aberdeen was from Redmoss to Westhill via the A944 path, but I wouldn’t call it a favourite…  Otherwise, the Gramps (Kincorth and Tullos), the Coast Path from Cove to Greyhope Bay (before it was buried by the harbour), Tollohill Wood, the Causeymounth, and the aforementioned quiet roads and lanes linking them up.  In Norway, I can bike to work on a mix of quiet roads and shared paths, which are well maintained (swept in autumn and cleared in winter) and quiet enough to minimise conflict between users. The public transport is well integrated too, and I’ve taken my bike on buses, trains and boats, which opens up some fantastic terrain for exploring on two wheels.

6. What would you like to see to improve your cycling experience?

Where to start? It won’t be news to anybody, but better, continuous cycle routes would be number one. Norway is undoubtedly rich, but they spend it wisely. Tunnels, underpasses and bridges are common, and it’s quite rare to cross a road “at grade” with other traffic. There is a (nearly finished) 16km (10-mile) Sykkelstamvegen (cycle highway) between Stavanger and Sandnes, with electronic counters recording the thousands of daily users (including the occasional roller skier or speed skater). There are also some simpler (cheaper) things we could adopt – clear signs, user-activated crossings that change quickly (or even automatically when a cyclist is approaching), and handy metal rails to avoid dismounting while you wait.

7. Any top tips for someone considering cycling in the area?

Find buddies, for help, advice and encouragement. And go for it! The Norwegians talk about overcoming the dørstokkmila – the doorstep mile. If you can just get outside and start moving, you’ll usually forget whatever was holding you back.

Some photos from cycling in Norway.