This month, we are celebrating Alan Ackroyd, who has been a valued member of the Cambridge instructor team for the past four years. As he prepares to hang up his high-vis vest, Rob caught up with him on how he got into Bikeability, some stories from out on the road and his plans for a well-earned retirement.
Alan’s journey to becoming a Bikeability instructor is really special and this was a really fun interview!
From Sourdough to Spokes: Alan’s Journey
Before joining us, Alan was well-known in the Cambridge community as the founder of Cob’s Bakery, a real trailblazer in championing artisan bread. After realising his home-baking hobby was a true calling, Alan trained at the National Bakery School and built a successful business from the ground up.
However, life threw a curveball. Following a battle with cancer, Alan decided to retire from the bakery (and sold it to the famous Fitzbillies). Rather than slowing down, he felt a profound urge to give something back to the community. Having trained as a primary school teacher 30 years ago, a path he ultimately left due to the negative atmosphere at the time, Bikeability offered the perfect middle ground: the joy of teaching without the red tape and with his favorite subject of cycling.
Overcoming the cycling proficiency skepticism
Alan admits he initially had reservations about Bikeability. His own childhood memories of cycling proficiency involved a certain PC Kennedy, some fire hoses used as “kerbs” in a playground, and a harsh reality check when he actually had to commute to secondary school on real roads. “I wondered how a playground course could prepare kids for the real world,” Alan notes.
Those doubts vanished during his first week on the job with fellow instructor Hugh Massam. Alan watched a young girl transform from being too terrified to pedal to confidently navigating junctions and traffic in just a few days. He was hooked.
The Magic of the Job
When asked what he enjoyed most about the last four years, Alan’s answer is simple: the people. Alan describes his colleagues at Outspoken as supportive, “good people” who genuinely want to see each other succeed. He found the environment a refreshing contrast to the competitive nature he experienced in traditional schooling.
One of Alan’s standout moments involved a disruptive student who struggled in the classroom. Once on a bike, the young man excelled, proving that practical skills are just as vital as academic ones. As someone with dyslexia, Alan felt a deep connection to this “lightbulb moment.”
Of course, working with children leads to some comedy too and Alan fondly recalls an 8-year-old girl whispering a concerned question about his co-instructor: “Larry looks very old. Will he be ok on a bike?” It’s pleasing to know that Larry still looks fab on a bike!
What’s Next?
While Alan is stepping away from instructing, he isn’t stepping away from the saddle. He recently treated himself to a brand-new touring bike, and we have no doubt he’ll be clocking up significant miles with the CTC and elsewhere in the months to come.
On behalf of us all at Outspoken Training, we want to say a massive thank you. It’s been an absolute privilege to have you on the team and we wish you all the best with your retirement.
