Where does the time go? We are so busy with activities on the circuit we forget to update our blog. Our first post of 2025 is an inspiring case study from Alison Kerr who lives in Glasgow. Alison has been using the circuit and sessions run on the facility including Womens’ Hour on a Monday and the TCI Friday race series

I ran marathons for 8 years but then work got busy and I couldn’t fit in the training. A friend said they thought I’d also be good on a bike so when my inherited/very old hybrid commuting bike needed replaced I bought a road bike in September 2019. But the traffic on the Glasgow roads I commuted on scared me (I had to cross a really busy dual carriage way crossroads to get to any routes) so the bike never got much use.

Fast forward to empty lock down roads in April 2020 and I loved the freedom to escape the daily grind of lockdown/homeschooling/still working full time that the bike brought. Each evening in the summer I’d head solo out for some me time. Just feeling free.  I gained confidence on the bike and when traffic reappeared I held my road position much better and felt safe enough to ride irl.

During covid I also discovered Zwift and indoor riding and then racing with the Zwift Riders Scotland team. I love the team aspect and supportive environment.  I gained a lot of fitness riding on the turbo and it was ideal for childcare. With a primary school aged son I could still ride 40 plus km and not leave him/the house. I could even help him with his spelling homework as I rode!

Zwift has brought me a group of super supportive friends and I’ve been lucky enough to meet several in real life in the Pyrenees (twice), in Majorca, on mount Tiede in Tenerife and in Scotland.

I turned 50 in February and decided that I’d love to have a go a in real life racing.  But as an outsider to the racing community I found it incredibly hard to work out how to get started.

I saw a post on Facebook about an intro to road racing session being held for women so I signed up… it was cancelled unfortunately but the organiser mentioned in passing the West Lothian Cycle Circuit and an upcoming race… the ‘L’Enfer du Linlithgow.  I had zero idea what it entailed but thought “let’s do it’.

I mentioned at race sign on it was my 1st race and another competitor heard me and she took the time to explain the logistics and what would happen. During the race she even gave me hints.. thank you Diana!

The race organisers mentioned woman’s hour to me and I loved the idea but I stay in Glasgow so didn’t think it would work out… but I managed along to the 1st session of the year and loved it. It’s still a hike after working in Motherwell to get home and then over to Linlithgow but I try to get there every couple of weeks as it’s so beneficial. 

I’m learning heaps and gaining confidence.  And now I’m in the racing loop, I’m hearing about all the opportunities to race that occur in the central belt… wish there were more over in west though! I did a hilly TT, another crit race and had my 1st road race in June. (In a small field I managed 2nd! But more than that I had a really great time meeting the other competitors, especially the ladies. Plus I’ve signed up to the next TCI Friday race.

So far the female racing community has been nothing but super friendly, supportive and welcoming.