Siraj Balubaid was voted Rider of the Year for 2024 by readers of Cycling Plus, securing nearly 40 per cent of votes in the magazine's reader poll. Here, the Yemeni refugee tells us how cycling helped him adapt to life in Scotland, make new friends and help others
I arrived in Scotland in 2019 as a refugee from Yemen. My initial feelings as I walked around Glasgow for the first time were happiness at a new life ahead of me, as well as apprehension at not knowing anybody here.
I had to wait for three years for my asylum application to be processed by the Home Office. It was very stressful.
I did not have the right to work. I couldn’t study easily and yet I wanted to learn and be successful.
A friend told me about Bikes for Refugees [a charity that helps to resettle refugees through the provision of free bicycles] and I applied to get a bike.
Before coming to Scotland, I would cycle a little in the local neighbourhood for leisure.
But when I arrived here and was using public transport to get around, I kept seeing so many people on bikes.
I wanted to cycle here too. I’d seen videos in the past on social media of cycle touring and that was something I also wanted to try.
When I got my hybrid bike, I started cycling right away. I got out a little before the lockdown and I really enjoyed it.
Whenever I could, I’d cycle. It helped to keep my mind and my body active. It helped me to cope with the wait for my application decision and I got to explore more of Glasgow and Scotland.
What I like most about cycling is the feeling of freedom it gives me. It’s my effort, my time, my energy.
It’s me deciding where to stop and where to keep going. It’s literally a freedom. I just cycle wherever I want. I can stop whenever I want. I’m not restricted to anything.
I care about my bike too. It upsets me whenever something goes wrong with it. I have a big attachment to it.
I’ve cycled thousands of miles on it already – I think I take more care of my bike than I take care of myself sometimes!
Soon after I got it, I wanted to become a bike mechanic and a ride leader. These are little things to most people, but to me they would be a great achievement.
I started helping the Drumchapel Community Project, where I qualified in Velotech bike maintenance and I’m now also a mechanic and a bike library co-ordinator with Govan Community Projects. As a mechanic, I check and repair bikes.
We do this for free for anyone living in Glasgow. But if the bike requires a lot of work, we request a donation to the charity.
After I qualified as a bike mechanic, I set myself new goals.
I’m now studying sports therapy at university and I hope to become a sports scientist.
I’ve also been shortlisted to be a non-executive director with Dynamo Glasgow, a community interest company (CIC) that supports under-represented cyclists.
New horizons
I have made many new friends through cycling and helped many others to learn to ride bikes too.
But the only downside to cycling is when I have to deal with what I call ‘anti-cyclists’.
I cycle with three front lights and three back lights (flashing and static lights) and yet some motorists say they still don’t see me.
Sometimes, maybe as much as once a week, drivers come very close to me on the bike, which is unnecessary.
They could wait literally a couple of seconds and then they can overtake me easily, but they don’t want to wait and so they drive dangerously close to me.
I cycle four to five days a week. It depends on the weather a little – which sometimes in Glasgow is tough.
But I always try to ride from my flat to work, or from my flat to university.
My advice to anyone cycling in Scotland is to always have some waterproof kit on you or in the bag.
I have waterproof trousers in my bag whenever I’m on the bike and I wear a waterproof jacket and waterproof shoes.
In July 2023, I took my bike and cycled solo to the Outer Hebrides. I love cycling in the open spaces and seeing mountains.
It was amazing. But I came up against some really strong winds and I couldn’t complete the trip I wanted to.
I was totally drained and fatigued by it and I ended my ride by heading down to Skye and back down to Glasgow.
Next, I would really love to complete Scotland’s North Coast 500 [around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending in Inverness] – if I can, I will try to do it this summer.
Thanks to Cycling UK for their assistance with this interview.
