I\u2019ve always wanted to be a lawyer, I was 17 years old, when I stepped foot into Clifford Chance, this towering skyscraper and the firm where I later trained at qualified at. I\u2019ve always seen being a lawyer as my identity. Suddenly cycling came around and I was just like \u2018hold on a second, I\u2019m more than a lawyer\u2019. Now I\u2019ve got something else that gives me a sense of purpose, identity and community. I\u2019ve found such good friends through cycling, being a cyclist has become the new defining feature of my identity and I want to share that with everyone.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.scienceinsport.com\/us\/sports-nutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/11\/US-Diverstiy-Shuhena_2-900x600-1.jpg\")
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<\/h4>\nRIDING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC<\/strong><\/h3>\nIn the backdrop of a global pandemic, lots of new cyclists are joining the road for their daily exercise, a safer way to commute or to explore the outdoors with their families. There has also been a surge in the number of those training indoors on platforms like Zwift. Cycling Weekly reports a 977%<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>increase in turbo sales as cyclists respond to Covid19.<\/p>\nFor me, the bike is a safe place, my sanctuary. During the peak of lockdown I cycled over 225 miles in a week, which included rides to Box hill (80 miles) and Cambridge (90 miles). Photos to illustrate how beautiful it was, and although the Cambridge Central Mosque\u00a0<\/a> <\/span>(Europe’s first purpose-built Eco Mosque \u2013 it has solar panels and environmentally friendly ethos) was closed, when I’d explained that I had cycled 62 miles to get there, I was allowed to pop in and be the only person in the prayer area as a result of Coronavirus.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
HOW I GOT INTO CYCLING<\/strong><\/h3>\nI first learned to ride a bike aged 20 in Victoria Park, with such magical memories of falling over on a hybrid. I had no idea I would be falling over again when almost a decade later I made the transition to cleats, lycra and a road bike! I tried road cycling whilst on holiday in Dubai in April 2018, on the Al-Qudra track (a training ground for cyclists including the pros, like Geraint Thomas and Caleb Ewan!). I rented a road bike for the first time, did about 60km with no padded shorts (regretted later!). \u00a0There I fell in love.<\/p>\n
When I returned to London, I was connected with a charity which offered entry level road bikes to borrow. So, I borrowed a bike and bought most of my kit and accessories through the Cycle-2-Work-Scheme. I did my first big ride London2Brighton, and then also managed to crash downhill and break my arm a month later! After recovering, I went back to Dubai to the Al-Qudra track to regain my confidence. In February 2019, I bought my first road bike and officially joined my local club Hub Velo. I later joined Rapha CC and Velociposse, a women’s only club and my adventures have been incredible, having cycled in the Peak District and Yorkshire. During the period of a mental health breakdown, losing my dad, cycling got me through my grief, I was even riding at 6am to Epping on the day of his funeral.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.scienceinsport.com\/us\/sports-nutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/11\/US-Diverstiy-Shuhena_3-900x600-1.jpg\")
<\/h4>\n<\/h3>\nWHAT CYCLING MEANS TO ME<\/strong><\/h3>\nMy bike is my best friend, in a lonely world, where it can be difficult to talk, even for a massive extrovert like me, it certainly helps me process my thoughts and feel grounded again. I used to travel abroad a lot and use flights to run away and now seeing the English countryside is my great escape. I have also made lots of friends along the way, my riding companions who understand my love for the bike and passion for #choosingcycling. It’s also a great conversation starter with senior colleagues, cycling seems to be the new golf with many!<\/p>\n
Being a Muslim woman in hijab & lycra, comes with its cultural and religious challenges, both with my family and the wider community. I grew up with 6 sisters who all chose marriage and motherhood, me choosing to be a lawyer and going to university was already trailblazing, I then threw cycling into the mix! However, the inclusivity of the cycling community has been mind-blowing and I’ve even had Sir Bradley Wiggins encourage and follow me on Instagram!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
WORKING WITH CYCLING BRANDS<\/strong><\/h3>\nAs my social life during lockdown became limited, I needed the interaction with others so I was always out riding, which was my way of coping during months of working from home. I got approached on Instagram to work with Rapha, a global cycling apparel brand, to work on their #choosecycling campaign. I was involved in a collage of other cyclists who used cycling during the pandemic to find strength and meaning in a dark and lonely world.<\/p>\n
I was then asked by Rapha to be an ambassador for the Women\u2019s 100 campaign, a ride which unites women across the globe and encourages them to ride 100km on the same day. Modelling for this and being a part of the \u2018invisible peloton\u2019 a concept founded by ultra-cyclist Emily Chappell was phenomenal. The day the campaign launched, 14th July, I felt my whole life had changed. Rapha had made a custom hijab for me to match my jersey (see links below) and suddenly cyclists across the globe, including the pros, knew who I was. I was able to leverage this opportunity to showcase to my community of young Bangladeshi Muslim women, discouraged to partake in sport, that if I can take up road cycling in my late twenties, that really anyone can!<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.rapha.cc\/us\/en_US\/stories\/the-invisible-peloton-shuhena-islam<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
In the backdrop of a global pandemic, lots of new cyclists are joining the road for their daily exercise, a safer way to commute or to explore the outdoors with their families. There has also been a surge in the number of those training indoors on platforms like Zwift. Cycling Weekly reports a 977%<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>increase in turbo sales as cyclists respond to Covid19.<\/p>\n For me, the bike is a safe place, my sanctuary. During the peak of lockdown I cycled over 225 miles in a week, which included rides to Box hill (80 miles) and Cambridge (90 miles). Photos to illustrate how beautiful it was, and although the Cambridge Central Mosque\u00a0<\/a> <\/span>(Europe’s first purpose-built Eco Mosque \u2013 it has solar panels and environmentally friendly ethos) was closed, when I’d explained that I had cycled 62 miles to get there, I was allowed to pop in and be the only person in the prayer area as a result of Coronavirus.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I first learned to ride a bike aged 20 in Victoria Park, with such magical memories of falling over on a hybrid. I had no idea I would be falling over again when almost a decade later I made the transition to cleats, lycra and a road bike! I tried road cycling whilst on holiday in Dubai in April 2018, on the Al-Qudra track (a training ground for cyclists including the pros, like Geraint Thomas and Caleb Ewan!). I rented a road bike for the first time, did about 60km with no padded shorts (regretted later!). \u00a0There I fell in love.<\/p>\n When I returned to London, I was connected with a charity which offered entry level road bikes to borrow. So, I borrowed a bike and bought most of my kit and accessories through the Cycle-2-Work-Scheme. I did my first big ride London2Brighton, and then also managed to crash downhill and break my arm a month later! After recovering, I went back to Dubai to the Al-Qudra track to regain my confidence. In February 2019, I bought my first road bike and officially joined my local club Hub Velo. I later joined Rapha CC and Velociposse, a women’s only club and my adventures have been incredible, having cycled in the Peak District and Yorkshire. During the period of a mental health breakdown, losing my dad, cycling got me through my grief, I was even riding at 6am to Epping on the day of his funeral.<\/p>\n My bike is my best friend, in a lonely world, where it can be difficult to talk, even for a massive extrovert like me, it certainly helps me process my thoughts and feel grounded again. I used to travel abroad a lot and use flights to run away and now seeing the English countryside is my great escape. I have also made lots of friends along the way, my riding companions who understand my love for the bike and passion for #choosingcycling. It’s also a great conversation starter with senior colleagues, cycling seems to be the new golf with many!<\/p>\n Being a Muslim woman in hijab & lycra, comes with its cultural and religious challenges, both with my family and the wider community. I grew up with 6 sisters who all chose marriage and motherhood, me choosing to be a lawyer and going to university was already trailblazing, I then threw cycling into the mix! However, the inclusivity of the cycling community has been mind-blowing and I’ve even had Sir Bradley Wiggins encourage and follow me on Instagram!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As my social life during lockdown became limited, I needed the interaction with others so I was always out riding, which was my way of coping during months of working from home. I got approached on Instagram to work with Rapha, a global cycling apparel brand, to work on their #choosecycling campaign. I was involved in a collage of other cyclists who used cycling during the pandemic to find strength and meaning in a dark and lonely world.<\/p>\n I was then asked by Rapha to be an ambassador for the Women\u2019s 100 campaign, a ride which unites women across the globe and encourages them to ride 100km on the same day. Modelling for this and being a part of the \u2018invisible peloton\u2019 a concept founded by ultra-cyclist Emily Chappell was phenomenal. The day the campaign launched, 14th July, I felt my whole life had changed. Rapha had made a custom hijab for me to match my jersey (see links below) and suddenly cyclists across the globe, including the pros, knew who I was. I was able to leverage this opportunity to showcase to my community of young Bangladeshi Muslim women, discouraged to partake in sport, that if I can take up road cycling in my late twenties, that really anyone can!<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.rapha.cc\/us\/en_US\/stories\/the-invisible-peloton-shuhena-islam<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nHOW I GOT INTO CYCLING<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/h4>\n<\/h3>\n
WHAT CYCLING MEANS TO ME<\/strong><\/h3>\n
WORKING WITH CYCLING BRANDS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.scienceinsport.com\/us\/sports-nutrition\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/11\/US-Diverstiy-Shuhena_1-900x600-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n