Listen up – iwoca is sponsoring The Cycling Podcast

At iwoca, we’re passionate about cycling – both in supporting small cycling businesses such as Hub Velo, and encouraging our employees and customers to improve their physical and mental health by getting active.

During coronavirus this is more important than ever. With business owners ditching their commutes in favour of remote working set-ups, many have found new time to invest in staying fit.

This year, to take our love of the sport to the next level, we’re sponsoring The Cycling Podcast – one of the most respected shows in the business.

“For us, our title sponsor is hugely important,” says Richard Moore, a host of the show alongside Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe. “In 2019 we produced 184 free-to-air shows, including daily episodes from the three Grand Tours, the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España.”

“iwoca's support will go a long way to ensuring that we can deliver not only the same coverage in 2020, but more and better, with a new spin-off show about to be launched.”

But why cycling?

Earlier this year, we asked small business owners about their attitudes towards cycling. One fifth regularly cycled, and 25% said that they followed professional cycling events – from the historic Tour de France, right through to Olympic cycling.

Mike Mooney, iwoca customer and owner of Hub Velo cycling shop, is just one business owner who decided to turn his passion for cycling into his livelihood – leaving behind a successful career in the music industry in exchange for a new business venture.

“We started off as a very small workshop around seven years ago in Hackney,” says Mike. “There were no other bike shops near us at the time and while we knew the high street was a hard market to crack we thought we’d give it a go.”

“Bikes are a huge part of my life, and it’s just the same for everyone who works in the shop. That’s what you’ve got to be for people to believe that you’re passionate about what you do,” says Mike. “Bikes have always been in my blood and my partner Gary is exactly the same.”

And it’s not just our customers who love cycling

There’s a growing cycling culture amongst iwoca employees too.

“For me, cycling is almost a perfect mix of individual pursuit and group achievement,” says James Turner, who’s been part of the iwoca team for almost two years. “Using the bike on my commute never fails to prime me for the day ahead, or help me relax afterwards if work is particularly tough. Since the start of coronavirus I’ve found even more reasons to use my bike – I’m not sure I even know where my car keys are at the moment as I’ve not needed them for three months!”

The Cycling Podcast – Explore and more

Explore by The Cycling Podcast covers endurance and gravel racing, as well as bike-packing and other cycling adventures. Initially run as a mini-series at the end of 2018, the team have relaunched it as a monthly show this month.

In addition to Explore, the team release monthly episodes on the women’s professional races with Orla Chennaoui and Rose Manley, have a bike tech show entitled ‘Service Course’ and have recently brought ‘Life in the Peloton’ – an interview-based series hosted by pro rider Mitch Docker – to the stable.

We’re thrilled to be supporting The Cycling Podcast team, and can't wait to see where the road leads.

Listen to The Cycling Podcast on all major platforms, including:

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• TuneIn
• Overcast