Episode 12 - Lucy ChoulesJust Fucking Around and Finding Out — Lucy Choules on Audax, Tax, and 1,000km in Scotland,

Lucy Choules didn't grow up dreaming of riding a thousand kilometres through the Scottish Highlands. She only learned to ride a road bike in 2020. But somewhere between qualifying as a tax accountant, watching her eight-year-old sister discover cycling, and turning down crit racing in favour of stamping a card in a school hall at 2am, she found her people — the quietly brilliant, slightly unhinged world of Audax. In this episode, Nick sits down with Lucy to unpack her rapid journey from cycling convert to completing LEL and a 1,000km Scottish Audax in under two years, all while studying for her final accountancy exams. They talk about why Audax suits her life in a way that road racing doesn't, the joy of riding with a group of women who just get it, and the liberating logic of going in underprepared. They also get into kit — bibs, merino jerseys, dynamo hubs — and the Van Rysel endurance bike that Lucy put to the test over 1,000km of Scottish terrain, ferry crossings and all. Lucy is funny, honest, and completely without ego about what she can and can't do on a bike. If you've ever talked yourself out of attempting something big, this one's for you. Topics covered: Audax vs ultra racing · London Edinburgh London · 1,000km Scotland event · Dynamo hubs and charging on the road · Merino jerseys for long-distance · Bibs, kit and what actually matters · Content creation without the performance · Teaching her sister to ride · Why cycling is a leveller