Video: Katy Roberts on cycling around the UK coast
Click on the image above to watch the video.
Content warning: suicide.
When she was 17 years old, Katy Roberts lost her dad to suicide. For a long time she felt like she wanted to do something to help others who had gone through the same thing, but didn’t know what to do.
Her growing love for cycling, and meeting someone who had done a similar charity ride, gave her the idea and motivation she needed. She would cycle the 3,500 miles around the UK’s coastline, raising money and awareness for mental health and suicide.
Starting out in June 2024, the ride took just under three months. From having her bike run over in Devon, to Scotland’s stunning scenery, there were ups and downs along the way.
However, Katy says the best part was all the people she met along the way, with dozens joining her on the ride for a section, including Cycling UK’s own Scott Runciman.
She recalls meeting a farmer in Scotland who had lost a friend to suicide and a man who had himself considered taking his own life. A father of a young daughter, he had reached out to Katy after seeing an Instagram post of her and her dad.
I remember I met a guy in Scotland who was like, six foot tall, like massive shovel hands. He was a farmer. And I was like, what are we going to talk about? We just had the best day
Katy Roberts
Katy also talks about how cycling and getting outside in nature are integral to her own wellbeing and how building a community is so important to mental health. She found that being on the bike made it easier to talk about difficult subjects.
You’re not face to face with the person you’re talking to, so it feels less forced. If you run out of things to say, silences don’t feel awkward because you can enjoy the scenery you’re passing through.
She’s building her own cycling community – all it takes is to get together with some friends. After completing her epic ride she now cycles with a group of friends every Sunday and she loves it. She says it’s her favourite day of the week.
Katy isn’t sitting on her cycling laurels now her challenge is done. She’s taking ride leader courses with Cycling UK and is going on a women-only introduction to bikepacking weekend.
Meeting fellow female cyclists on her round-the-UK trip brought it home to her that a lot of women feel there are barriers to them cycling more and she’s keen to help break these down. And as for the future, she’s looking forward to more bikepacking, more Sunday rides and getting more people out on bikes enjoying themselves.
To watch the full interview, click on the image at top of the article.
