It’s Bike Week here from the 5th until the 11th of June! With that, we contacted our Wellbeing Champions to see who cycles to work regularly. We also asked what sort of facilities their workplace had to help with this.
We caught up with Plessey Semiconductors and Steve Brown, a Wellbeing Champion and Engineer who has worked with Plessey since 1991. Here is what he has to say about cycling, why he took it up and the benefits of using his bike instead of driving…
When I re-joined Plessey in March 1991. At the time I decided to cycle to work because it wasn’t worth taking a car for a 5-mile journey. As well as this, I planned to use the cycle to work as part of my exercise as I didn’t have the time in the evening. As a bonus, I saved money and wouldn’t have got stuck in traffic. I cycle in all weathers and have continued to do so. It is mostly my wife who uses the car, especially when the children are with her.
Through the years at Plessey, there were and still are others who cycle, some all year round, others when it is dry. As the number of cyclists grew in the company, occasionally people had punctures and other issues to fix with their bikes; this was when Silicon Cranks was founded. This is a cycling club which has tools you can borrow to do repairs at home or at work. This is on our lunch breaks or just before we return home. Being part of the club is useful for this and it only costs £1 a month, which comes directly from your salary.
Cycling is enjoyable, but it hasn’t been without incidents. I have had a few injuries, none involving a car thankfully. I went over the handlebars in Derriford Roundabout and tore my collar bone ligaments. However, this has never put me off because the health benefits outweigh the pain. In 32 years of cycling, there have been about seven months without cycling. Six months renting in Plymstock, four weeks due to pneumonia and a week for my collar bone. The days that I have driven I have felt lethargic all day rather than some of it. Cycling to work, I find, gets me ready for the day. I can think of nothing worse than sitting in a cosy warm car in traffic when you could be cycling in the cold rain. I’m sure there will be many people who disagree with me though!
In 32 years, I have also ridden a few different bikes such as racing bikes, mountain bikes and hybrids. There is no doubt that technology has changed as well. Plessey do have a Cycle to Work Scheme. This is a great incentive to purchase an upgraded bike and potentially one more expensive than you set out to purchase. You can also get clothing and accessories on the scheme, once you decide how much you want to spend. I haven’t migrated to an electric bike yet, but if you want to ditch the car for a different motorised vehicle, then my advice would be, do it.
Plessey recognise the importance of their employees maintaining a healthy lifestyle, so they have recently invested in the refurbishment of their onsite changing facilities. Both spaces have undergone a complete transformation! No longer are there 1970’s floor-to-ceiling tiles and dated shower room facilities. It is now so amazing that it looks like you are walking into a spa at work and it is all free for employees to use! Whether Plessey employees are cycling to work, using the onsite gym, or wishing to freshen up after a lunchtime walk, they have said that they are so pleased to offer them modern and functional facilities to use! And we must say, they look incredible!
Plessey Semiconductors are active within our Wellbeing Champion Programme at Wellbeing at Work with 6 engaged Champions throughout the organisation. We look forward to seeing more from you in the future regarding wellbeing at work!
