Introducing: Darren Haider

Welcome to CCC Introduces, our series spotlighting the incredible contributors who give their time and energy to Cycling Culture Club.

Today we stay in south east London, meeting Darren Haider. A boxing injury brought him to cycling, his brother pointed him in the right direction, and the rest, as they say, is a very personal bike build.

Follow Darren on Instagram: @haidz

Words: Darren Haider

Tell us about yourself

I'm Darren Haider, based in South East London. I got into cycling after a boxing injury stopped me from competing at my best. I decided to hang up my gloves and, on my brother's advice, who is also a cyclist, I jumped on a bike. What started as a change of direction quickly turned into a real passion for cycling.

What do you love about cycling?

I love how quickly cycling can bring people together and how easy it is to make friends through the sport.

I also love how relaxing cycling can be. You can be in the middle of the city, and within 30 minutes, find yourself out on quiet country lanes with no noise, just you, your bike and your thoughts. There's something incredibly therapeutic about it.

What barriers have you faced in cycling?

When I first got into cycling, I quickly realised that the sport isn't always accessible to everyone. It can be expensive, and you often find yourself spending money on things you don't necessarily need, and sometimes at a pretty high cost.

That was until I found a group of friends and a community who were able to help me navigate the sport, share advice and show me that you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy cycling.

Why were you interested in contributing?

I want people who grew up like me to know that you can wear Lycra and still be cool. I want to help people overcome that fear of being judged and realise that cycling is for everyone. Don't let what other people might think stop you from trying something new.

If you're comfortable, tell us about your personal experience of diversity in cycling

I've met cyclists from all walks of life and from so many different backgrounds. One of my favourite things about cycling is being able to share who I am with people from different walks of life, while also learning about where they come from, their experiences, and what brought them to where they are today.

Your fondest memory on the bike

My fondest memory has to be buying my second Scott Foil from Primers Sports. The bike fit and service they gave me were unreal, and it really made the whole experience special.

Since then, I've built the bike up to the exact specification I want, and it's now become a bike that feels completely personal to me.

Where are you from: Mixed British Nigerian

Where do you live: Greenwich, SE London