What's holding back cycling in London? Is it the lack of safe cycle lanes, the risk of having your bike stolen, or the politics of changing our roads?

Dr Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, joins Imogen Cotter on On the Pedals for a conversation about what it's really like trying to make London a better place to cycle.

Will talks about the progress made since taking on the role in 2016, the resistance he's faced over new cycling infrastructure and why some parts of London are still missing vital connections.

He also shares the story of having his own Brompton stolen. It's an experience that brings the wider problem of bike theft into focus, particularly for people who rely on their bikes to get around. They discuss why so many thefts go unreported, what happens to stolen bikes and whether better parking, registration and police enforcement could make a difference.

There's plenty on road safety too, including the relationship between cyclists and drivers, 20mph limits, School Streets and London's Vision Zero ambitions.

And if Will could change one thing about London's cycling network, with no political or financial barriers, where would he start?

Topics covered:

- Bike theft in London and Will's stolen Brompton

- Secure cycle parking, BikeRegister and police enforcement

- London's cycle lanes and cycling infrastructure

- Political opposition to safer streets

- Road safety, School Streets and Vision Zero

- What needs to happen next for cycling in London

About Will Norman: London's first Walking and Cycling Commissioner, appointed in 2016.

About Imogen Cotter: Former professional cyclist and Irish national road race champion.

On the Pedals is a Stolen Ride podcast featuring conversations about cycling, bike security, road safety and the people working to improve life on two wheels.

Mountain bike pioneer Hans Rey joins Imogen Cotter on the Stolen Ride podcast, On the Pedals, to look back on a career that has helped shape modern mountain biking.

From his early days in bicycle trials and the story behind the “No Way Rey” nickname to becoming one of the best-known names in mountain biking, Hans talks about pushing the sport beyond racing and taking his bike to places few would think of riding.

He shares stories of riding alongside volcanic lava in Hawaii, adventures with Steve Peat, the famous Cliffs of Moher ride, serious crashes and how his approach to risk has changed over the years. Now 60, Hans also talks about e-bikes and e-MTBs, ending his 38-year relationship with GT Bicycles, and starting a new chapter with Santa Cruz and Bosch.

The conversation also turns to bike theft. Hans's property in England was targeted on three consecutive nights, with around nine bicycles, two trials motorcycles and other belongings stolen. One of those motorcycles later turned up for sale in Estonia. Hans explains what happened and the lasting effect the experience had on him.

He also tells Imogen about recently meeting an 86-year-old mountain biker riding a black diamond trail in Whistler. For someone who has spent much of his career inspiring other riders, this time Hans was the one who came away inspired.

Subscribe to On the Pedals, the Stolen Ride podcast, for more conversations with the people who live and breathe cycling.

Presented by Imogen Cotter.

Produced by Stolen Ride.

Gary Fisher has spent most of his life pushing at the edges of cycling. In this episode of On the Pedals, he talks to Imogen Cotter about the early days of mountain biking in Marin County, the Repack races, building MountainBikes in the late 1970s, working with Japanese manufacturers, and what happened when the bike industry started to take the idea seriously.

It is also a much wider conversation than that.

Gary talks about growing up around the San Francisco music scene, the stolen bikes he once managed to get back, why good bike design still leaves too many people behind, and why he thinks the industry has become too focused on people who already own several bikes.

They also get into e-bikes, cycling infrastructure, China, accessibility, women in cycling, the post-pandemic bike market, and why the best thing the industry can sell is not another technical feature, but health, happiness and freedom.

Towards the end, Gary reflects on what it feels like to still see Fisher bikes being ridden around the world decades later.

A wide-ranging conversation with one of the most influential people in modern cycling.

On the Pedals - A Stolen Ride Podcast.