Many people in the UK enjoy cycling as a hobby and for some it’s their main form of transport, but there are some risks and an American man shared his experience of cycling to Brighton
An American went cycling in the UK and was left terrified by one thing. Some people like to cycle instead of driving to stay fit, save money or because they see it as better for the environment but for someone who’s not from Britain it can be a bit daunting.
This was the case for the TikTok star @kjordyyy who moved to London from the United States and has become well known on the platform for sharing the differences he has noticed between American and British culture. He recently posted a TikTok video sharing his experience of cycling from London to Brighton which took him along a country road in Chaldon, a village in Surrey. The self-dubbed “mere Yank amongst Brits” found that there’s “nothing more terrifying than UK countryside roads.”
In the clip, he said: “Right now I’m cycling to Brighton and I’ve been on this little side country road for the longest, cool yet scary.
“I’m in a random place called Chaldon. [The] roads are like this tiny. I can barely fit yet cars are flying around the corners. It’s just scary as hell, I’ll be honest bro.”
The American continued his bike ride to Brighton, which is about 55 miles (88km) from London, and showed the narrow paths he cycled through, including by a bush where he was convinced he got “stung” multiple times by a plant while riding.
He added: “I got 36 more kilometres left. London to Brighton is not for the faint of heart.” Getting back on his bike with 30 kilometres to go, he made it to a “cute little seaside town” cycling down a narrow path surrounded by trees.
Almost at the end of his journey, Kjordy remarked: “Last 10km, I feel like this would be the hardest. 90km later, two hurt legs and low morale we finally made it to Brighton.”
Looking out at the sea, he described the seaside resort as “sick” and “lowkey like a little Miami.”
Insurance company NFU Mutual cited advice from Nick Chamberlain, policy manager at British Cycling, on staying safe while cycling on rural roads.
The first is to “ride defensively but respectfully” noting that on narrow, winding country lanes it’s important that you don’t ride in the gutter and instead make sure you ride in a visible position away from the edge of the tarmac.
Other tips Chamberlain gave are to pass with sufficient space and speed allowing at least two metres of space and keeping to a low speed when passing people in the road, such as when there is no pavement, and to be particularly careful around junctions, especially those where minor rural roads meet busier, higher speed A roads.
Kjordy’s TikTok video has garnered more than 70 comments and one user said: “Respect to you for completing the journey, Brighton is a lively place with its own character.
“You are an honorary Brit now, I really enjoy your videos, thanks for posting them.”