For the month of August we are sharing short stories from our listeners, volunteers, friends, family and staff all about their love for walking.

If you'd like to share your walking story with us, please email us at [email protected]

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr and Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All

"It's a bike shop with a difference"

1.3 million brits bought a bike during the first lockdown. It's fair to say that local bike shops have seen a massive change to their business. This then led to a national shortage of new bikes and parts. 

In this episode we chat to the owners of one of our local bike shops - Mark and Colin Fiddler from Bikepost about their shop, what has changed for them in the last 18 months, they give us some top tips on bike maintenance and even tell us about an exciting new venture they've got in the pipeline!

Find Bikepost on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BikePost-1592098844446052

And in real life at the shop in Troon  -  151 Dundonald Road, Troon KA10 7AY

or at Electric Bikepost, their e-bike showroom in Troon town centre  -  61 Portland Street, Troon KA10 6QU

https://www.facebook.com/Electric-bikepost-100462751758330/

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr and Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All

"how to exercise WITH them and not just take them for a walk"

For our latest episode, we are chatting to Lindsay Johnson of Cani-Fit about Cani-Hiking, a power-walking based activity of fast paced hiking with your dog pulling you in harness. This sport has it's roots in the sled dog world but Lindsay is bringing it the people of Ayrshire and beyond to have fun and get fit with their own pets.

www.cani-fit.com

www.facebook.com/canifit

@canifit1 on Instagram

Podcast   https://anchor.fm/lindsay-johnson86/episodes/Cani-Fit-Real-Talk-eppoaa 

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr and Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All

"I've been called a Deliveroo idiot before"

As part of the Ayrshire Women's Cycle Festival - we wanted to discuss the clear gender gap that there is in cycling in the UK. It is after all, the whole reason that the festival exists.

74% of UK cyclists are male. Why is that? Well, we roped in a local expert, Megan Kirkton, to explain it all and discuss some of the possible solutions.

Links:

Ayrshire Women's Cycle Festival 2021 www.ayrshirewomenscyclefestival.org

Are We There Yet Report https://www.sustrans.org.uk/media/2879/2879.pdf

Bike Life Inclusive City Cycling Report https://www.sustrans.org.uk/media/2930/2930.pdf

Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed For Men by Caroline Criado-Perez https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1113605/invisible-women/9781784706289.html

Jools Walker @ladyvelo on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ladyvelo/?hl=en

Just A Little Run Around The World by Rosie Swale Pope https://bit.ly/3eEA2yz

Motherload by Liz Canning on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/ondemand/motherload

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr and Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All

"Nordic walking?! What's Nordic Walking?!"

For this episode we are joined by Fiona Fisher - a local Nordic Walking instructor - to tell us all about this relatively new (to the UK) walking based fitness class.

Fiona has a really interesting background and day job outside of her Nordic Walking too - she is currently the Outdoor Community Development Worker for Barrmill Conservation Group.

Fiona's Nordic Walking Website: https://nwuk-northayrshire.co.uk/

FMF Fitness/Nordic Walking on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FMF.Fitness

Barrmill Conservation Group:  https://www.barrmillvillage.co.uk/barrmill-conservation-group/

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr and Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All

“Did you have a suit of armour on?!"

Colin and his mountain hound joined us to give us the inside scoop on some really exciting projects that are in the pipeline for walking and cycling in South Ayrshire. He is passionate about developing active travel and is involved in lots of local community groups to help improve and promote this. He also has a few calls to action for you, so get involved!

SAPI Website                                               https://www.southayrshirepaths.org/

SAPI on facebook                                        https://www.facebook.com/SouthAyrshirePathsInitiative

The Culzean Way                                          https://www.facebook.com/theculzeanway

River Garden Auchincruive                            https://www.facebook.com/groups/2236884676410635

Ayr Through The Ages App                           http://audiotrails.co.uk/ayr-through-ages-app/

Troon The Cycle Friendly Toon                      https://www.facebook.com/Troon-the-Cycle-Friendly-Toon-128508407802647

South Ayrshire Council paths leaflets             https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/outdooraccess/walking-cycling.aspx

SAC Report paths issues & access issues       https://beta.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/report

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr & Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The  Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All

"Better to wear done than rust done"

The Ayrshire Coastal Path is a 106 mile designated route along the stunning Ayrshire coastline. From Glenapp in the South, all the way through to Skelmorlie in the North. 

Jimmy Begg MBE, a retired GP from New Cumnock, is the Trail Manager of the coastal path. Involved from the very inception, there's not much that he doesn't know about it. Jimmy has joined us for a chat about the beginnings of the coastal path through to present day and how it continues to thrive. 

This much loved route provides a snapshot of Ayrshire to walkers of all types, from those just getting out for the first time in many years, to seasoned long distanced walkers. Jimmy gives us some gems of insider knowledge about the route, about walking in general and about wildlife spotting along the way. We hope this inspired you to visit (or revisit) the route.  Do let us know!

For more info you can go to https://ayrshirecoastalpath.org/

The guidebook he mentions is available at https://ayrshirecoastalpath.org/guidebook/

You can keep up to date with what's happening along the path at https://www.facebook.com/ayrshirecoastalpath

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr & Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The  Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All

"This is a different way of working"

Lockdown has affected the way all of us have to live our day to day lives. Whether you have had to shield yourself by staying at home, start working from home full time, change the way your business operates or perhaps close entirely - everyone has been affected.

This has also led local authorities to have to think about how we are using our towns, is there enough space for us all to move around safely? How can businesses recover and still allow for social distancing?

The Spaces for People Project has been a way of looking at this and in this episode we are joined by Emily Davie from Sustrans who works on the project.

If you've had to change the way to live your day to day life because of COVID, then this one's for you!

Here are some links to some of the projects Emily discussed

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr & Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices Smarter Places programme from Paths for All.

"Newsflash - GP Leaves Desk!"

TWALK = Talk + Walk

In this special bonus episode we're joined by local GP, Dr Alexia Pellowe who has found a new way to hold her meetings whilst working from home.

Alexia also tells us all about walking and how it fits in with her life, her work and what good it really does us to substitute screen time for walk time.

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr & Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All

"The Pilot, The Stoker and The Rambler"

In this episode we talk to Danny Sweeney, a keen tandem cyclist who is registered blind and a total treat to chat to. Danny tells us how he's been able to get back on his bike since lockdown and what keeps him pedaling on round Ayrshire.

The Walk It Bike It Podcast is produced by the Ayr & Kilmarnock Active Travel Hubs. The Hubs are South and East Ayrshire Council led projects delivered in partnership with Sustrans and supported by the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme from Paths For All