Introducing: Samra Said

Welcome to Introducing, our series diving into the amazing stories of our diverse group of contributors. Today we sit down with Samra, an inspiring figure in her local community and beyond. Samra chairs the board at Cycle Sisters, a charity organisation born in the heart of London to offer a space for Muslim women and women in general to get into cycling, get connected and get confident.

Where do you live: London 

Are you part of a Club/team: Cycle Sisters

Social: Samrasaid

Tell us about yourself. 

I’m Samra Said. I’m a cyclist and Chair of Cycle Sisters, where we create accessible and empowering spaces for Muslim women to cycle and become healthier, more confident, and more connected. I’ve recently developed a love for aquabike, a multisport discipline, combining swimming and cycling. Alongside my voluntary roles, I am also Co-Director and Producer with Arts & Homelessness International, bringing positive change to people, projects, and policy in homelessness through arts and creativity. 

 What do you love about cycling? 

I love cycling because it is poetry. I love its rhythm, breath, and flow. It’s also a protest against my knee arthritis, and I ride as a form of resistance to chronic pain. I am always in pain, but when I’m on my bike, I can pedal every stroke pain-free. I feel my healthiest and instantly reminded of my strength.  

It is also never just about getting from A to B; it’s about making my body ride through a landscape that wasn’t built with me in mind and still choosing to belong. 

When I cycle, I love curating my own routes through a world that has forgotten it was designed to see me. It is also deeply joyful; I get to be attentive to my surroundings, to know the places and the people much better, and I’m grateful for all the friendships I’ve made through cycling and the stories I get to archive in my memory. 

What barriers have you faced in cycling? 

I didn’t grow up cycling. I taught myself to ride a bike as an adult, mirroring my friend in the park; there was fear, doubt, and a strong sense that this space wasn’t meant for me. Our families’ concerns for our safety weren’t exaggerated either; the infrastructure simply doesn’t consider us. Poor lighting, lack of access to bikes, no safe spaces to learn; these are real structural issues. And of course, the broader cycling world can feel exclusive and intimidating, especially when you’re a Black Muslim woman. 

That’s why, with Cycle Sisters, I’m passionate about ride leading; creating supportive and welcoming spaces for women to build confidence, develop their cycling skills, explore our local areas, and form lasting friendships. I’m committed to making the experience joyful for everyone, so they can grow and take their cycling journey in whatever direction they choose. 

Recently, I witnessed something incredible. I was leading a local ride in Hounslow alongside a few of our amazing ride leaders. As we were riding along, we saw two of our other leaders, who have now trained as instructors, teaching a cycling session to a group of young teens at Osterley park, while another, who had just qualified as a bike mechanic, was fixing bikes. I was filled with joy in that moment about how far we have come. Most of these women first accessed cycling through our groups, and now they’ve moved into paid opportunities and leadership roles. This is what community looks like! 

Why were you interested in contributing? 

You mention wanting to create a space where community breeds community and that community is diverse and wonderful. I want to be woven into that with you. Because stories matter! 

Too often, the voices of Muslim women; especially those from diverse backgrounds are missing from mainstream cycling narratives. I want to show that cycling can, and should, belong to everyone. By sharing my experience, I hope to inspire change; from local infrastructure decisions to the ways groups and communities' welcome new riders.

I want to amplify the stories that ought to be celebrated, the people who should be known for the positive change they are leading and how, together, we are already doing just that. 

I'm also keen for us all to co-create our cycling manifesto so we can reclaim our stories, become more caring towards each other, collaborate creatively, ride in solidarity with communities, and bring people together. 

Your fondest memory on the bike? 

So many to mention, but two stand out that I often come back to. 

One is riding solo in Wales from Knighton to Rhayader via the Radnor Ring, and spending the weekend bikepacking with the Ultra Distance Cycling team. I clocked my biggest climb and immersed myself in the beauty of the Elan Valley. So much stood out for me that weekend; the stunning landscape, the rolling hills, lush valleys, and breathtaking waterfalls (and don’t get me started on the three farm dogs who chased me, barking loyally from behind!). And I got to enjoy it all with incredible people who genuinely cared about my progress in cycling. We laughed, we rode, we shared stories, and we supported each other; one even fixed my vulnerable tent that had zero chance of surviving the terrain and rain! 

The other memory is Tour de Cycle Sisters; riding from London to Essex as part of the Rapha Women 100. I was in awe of the women who organised it, who challenged themselves with the distance, and the selfless women who ride-led and supported the groups. And of course, my humble bike; time and time again, it teaches me that it's got my back. 

This ride came at a time when I was going through grief, and I truly felt it healed me. I felt the love of sisterhood, and the strength of the community we all played a part in building. It reminded me to stand in confidence and in joy; and it had such a positive impact on my mental well-being. 

It’s probably these two fondest memories that gave me the confidence to ride solo from London to Paris and to trust my body, my bike, and my navigation skills. Because I know I am riding in the path of the women who rode before me.

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To learn more about Cycle Sisters, head to https://www.cyclesisters.org.uk/