On The Pedals

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.

In this episode of On the Pedals, Imogen Cotter speaks with journalist and author Laura Laker about bike theft, cycling infrastructure, road safety, and the future of cycling in Britain.

Having had multiple bikes stolen in London, Laura explains why bike theft remains one of the biggest barriers preventing more people from cycling. The conversation explores secure bike parking, the realities of recovering stolen bikes, and the wider impact theft has on confidence and cycling uptake.

Laura also discusses Britain's National Cycle Network, why disconnected infrastructure discourages cycling, the role of politics in shaping transport, and how better-designed public spaces can bring communities together.

Drawing on her reporting and her book, Potholes and Pavements: A Bumpy Ride on Britain's National Cycle Network, Laura shares what works, what doesn't, and what needs to change if we want more people to choose cycling for everyday journeys.

In this episode of On the Pedals, Imogen Cotter speaks with Jeyda Heselton, founder and CEO of fettle, about building a modern bike repair network for the future of cycling.

Jeyda shares how the idea for fettle began while working at JustPark, why bike servicing needed to become easier and more convenient, and how the business grew from a single London workshop into a nationwide repair network supported by Kwik Fit.

The conversation explores cycling infrastructure, e-bikes, cargo bikes, bike theft, secure bike parking, women in cycling, and the barriers preventing more people from choosing bikes for everyday transport.

A thoughtful conversation about entrepreneurship, urban mobility, and the future of cycling in the UK.

In this episode of On the Pedals, Imogen Cotter speaks with Professor Rachel Aldred about cycling infrastructure, road safety, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), active travel, and the barriers preventing more people from cycling in the UK.

Professor Aldred explains why transport systems still prioritise cars and why women are less likely to cycle than men.

The conversation also explores bike parking, bike theft, inequality in transport access, and how safer streets can improve everyday life in cities.

Aztecs Bikes is an independent bike shop in East London built from the ground up.

Marco and Angie started by repairing bikes in their flat. Today, they run an award-winning shop known for its focus on customer trust, transparency and community.

In this episode, they share their journey into cycling, what it takes to build a business in a tough retail environment, and how they’ve grown through word of mouth and reputation.

The conversation also explores bike theft and security, changing customer behaviour, second-hand bikes, and the realities of running a shop in London today.

It’s a grounded look at what it really takes to build something from nothing in the cycling industry.

Key takeaways

* Building trust is everything in a local bike shop

* Education and customer empowerment drive loyalty

* Bike theft continues to shape how people buy and ride

* Second-hand bikes come with hidden risks

* Running a cycling business is getting harder, not easier

In this episode of On the Pedals, host Imogen Cotter sits down with Mark Sutton, editor of Cycling Electric, to look at what is really happening in the cycling industry.

They discuss how e-bikes have evolved from niche products into mainstream transport, the impact of the Covid sales boom and the stock hangover that followed, and why infrastructure is still the biggest driver of meaningful growth.

The conversation also explores media misinformation around e-bikes, bike theft and tracking technology, and why the industry may have a marketing problem of its own making.

If you want a grounded, practical view of where cycling is heading and what needs to change, this episode breaks it down.

For more on cycling, security and industry insight, visit:
https://www.stolenride.co.uk