Every. Day. Ride #47 with Ali

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m Ali, 26, from Cambridge, and I’m the creator of Handle Bars 360.

I studied History and came out of university in 2023 knowing I didn’t really want the classic 9–5 route, at least not straight away. I got involved with my local community radio station, started interviewing people, and realised very quickly that I loved drawing stories out of others.

Handle Bars 360 actually began as a music platform, with artists performing while gliding through their local area on a vehicle. Since then it’s evolved into something broader and more human: I now meet strangers in public, hop on a vehicle with them, and see where the conversation goes.

I genuinely believe everyone has a story. Most people’s lives, if you looked closely enough, could probably be turned into a film. That’s what I love about speaking to strangers - it can be one of the scariest things in the world, but also one of the most rewarding.

How and when did you get into riding?

I was born in Cambridge, so I was never exactly far from a bike. My dad was a cyclist too, so I think it was always going to end up in my bloodstream somewhere.

Then in 2023 I picked up a fairly nasty ankle injury, and electric vehicles suddenly became less of a novelty and more of a practical solution. Since then I’ve ended up using all sorts of things to get from A to B.

I’ve even ridden a Penny Farthing, which felt like a health and safety incident waiting to happen…

What are the best and worst things about riding?

The best thing is the freedom. You move through the world differently when you’re on a bike or scooter - quicker, lighter, and a bit more awake to what’s around you. It beats sitting in traffic or gambling on a bus turning up.

In Cambridge, that matters, because the local bus service can be a bit like one of those dodgy hands-free soap dispensers in public toilets: technically there, but not always doing what it’s supposed to.

The worst thing is definitely when the weather turns on you, which in Britain feels less like bad luck and more like a guarantee.

Tell us about your most memorable ride to date

One of the funniest was during lockdown, when my dad and I got back into cycling together. We only had one proper road bike between us, and being the generous man he is, he gave that one to me.

That left him riding my mum’s bike, which had a basket on the front - but because he’s an ex-cyclist, he still insisted we both wear full Lycra.

So there we were: two grown men squeezed into racing gear, one of them on a road bike and the other wobbling along on a bike with a basket like he was off to buy tulips and a baguette. We must have looked absolutely ridiculous, and I’m fairly sure half of Cambridge agreed.

What’s the best piece of riding advice you’ve ever been given?

Always look left and right. It sounds basic, but it’s the golden rule for a reason.

A lot of riding advice gets overcomplicated, but staying alert and assuming other people haven’t seen you has probably saved me more than anything else.

How do you keep your bikes secure at home and on the go?

I keep my vehicles secure with a LITELOK X1. The biggest thing it gives me is peace of mind - especially when I’m leaving something locked up and don’t want to spend the next hour imagining the worst.

It’s become one of those bits of kit that quickly feels essential once you’ve used it properly.

Share your best tips to help others keep their bikes safe

Make your bike look like too much hassle.

A lot of theft is opportunistic, so the goal is to make your setup feel awkward, visible, and time-consuming to mess with. Lock it somewhere public, ideally near CCTV or foot traffic, and make sure it looks harder to steal than the next bike along.

You don’t have to make it impossible - just deeply annoying.

When someone asks what kit you recommend, you say?

Go for the gear that feels comfortable, solid, and right for how you actually ride.

There’s a lot of noise online, and if you spend too long reading forums you can convince yourself you need equipment designed for crossing the Alps when really you’re just nipping to the shops. I think practicality beats theory most of the time.

What’s on your riding bucket list?

I’d love to explore South America from behind the handlebars.

It’s one of those places that feels colourful, rhythmic, and full of life - the kind of place where riding through it would tell you far more than sitting indoors ever could.