Yesterday, we ran 5km to the Preston Park Velodrome to support the Brighton Bike Hub — a brilliant volunteer-run community workshop. 🚲 They make cycling affordable by offering free tool access, DIY repair spaces, refurbished bike sales, and adult cycle training in and around Preston Park.

Our GoodGym group session mission? To tidy and paint their 20ft shipping container, transforming it into a clean white canvas for an upcoming mural artist!

The Bike Hub mission? Reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality and making our streets more people and planet-friendly, while getting around more cheerfully. They are also committed to enabling those on a low income to enjoy the benefits of cycling.

Did you know that nearly half of people in Britain spend more than 18 hours a week on the sofa – yet 70% say they want to be more active? Timely, today, British Cycling launched Sofa to Saddle to get the nation active – a free eight-week programme to help more people discover the joy of cycling. The benefits of getting started are significant. Research shows that people who cycle at least once a week are 37% more likely to feel good about themselves, while 79% say cycling helps clear their head and 58% feel calmer and more relaxed.

By making cycling more accessible and supporting people to take those first pedal strokes, Brighton Bike Hub contributes to Cycling UK mission to enable and inspire everybody to experience cycling's joys and benefits, and to British Cycling ambition to help one million more people get on their bikes by 2028, creating healthier, happier communities across Britain.

This GoodGym session and organisation are close to my heart. It felt rewarding to help others get a Good addition to their active travel journeys.

Book a training with BikeHub here: https://brightonbikehub.org/training-sessions/

Download Sofa to Saddle here: britishcyc.cc/sofatosaddle

Join GoodGym for another Good session!

Mission Commencement: Tuesday, 1830 hours.

The Squad: Eight GoodGym operatives arriving via foot, bike, and bus.

The Objective: Clear a severe nettle insurgency to liberate the allotment’s blackberry and pear trees.

Tactical Execution The team deployed immediately upon arrival. Operatives Sarah, Stefania, and Ruth formed the frontline defense against the stingers, bravely cutting them back (smartly utilizing their advanced tactical gear: long trousers). The rest of the squad provided crucial support, handling general weeding duties to secure the area.

Meanwhile, Michael was sent on a solo side-quest to prep the allotment beds for incoming squashes. During the excavation, he uncovered some hidden assets: rogue potatoes and what local liaison Warren officially described as the "Biggest Garlic bulb we’ve ever seen."

Mission Accomplished With the enemy nettles decisively defeated and defensive cardboard successfully laid, all objectives were secured, and the squad stood down for a mandatory debrief inside the pub. The evening concluded successfully with some well-earned refreshing drinks and a bit of covert World Cup viewing.

Mission Status: 100% success