Riding Confidence

On the evening of Friday June 27, 2025, the quiet streets of Swindon, Wiltshire, transformed into a roaring boulevard of solidarity and hope. Hundreds, possibly thousands of bikes—roaring, shining, and wholeheartedly unified—descended upon the town to escort Josh, a young man who had endured relentless school bullying, to his prom.

I knew this Mod 1 training session would test not only my ability to balance and corner, but also the whispering doubts in my mind. I had to be better than I had been before. I had to push myself just a little bit further past my comfort zone. Kurt, our trainer, radiated calm as usual and always full of insights. As he guided me and my riding pal for the morning through slow-speed manoeuvres and hill starts, I strained to keep my gaze on the horizon making sure that Kurt did