Do you define yourself as a "cyclist", or just a normal person going about their daily business on a bike?

We believe the beautiful thing about bikes is not actually the bike itself - it's the individual benefits they provide us, unique to one person and the next.

Which is we're launching a new regular feature, #LifeOnABike, where we highlight people going about their day as normal, just enhanced via a bit of cycling. 

First up, is our pal Aaron Felming-Saheed from CyclingSparks - pedal-powered-electric-magician to some, but also just a bloke who started cycling to jobs one day.

How long have you been using a cargo bike?

Since 2019 in earnest. I had a Reise & Muller Multicharger which was very nice. I used that until I bought the Urban Arrows.

What we’re you using before?

I used a Tern Joe folding bike (I still have it in fact). It’s what I started cycling on in 2016. It’s a full size folder which mattered because where I live there was no storage at the time and I had to bring it up to the flat every night. It’s a beast to some, but I started the business on it. It was reliable and it never let me down.

What made you consider a cargo bike?

Range and weight carrying capacity. Headwinds used to zap me of energy. For example it would take me a while to get to Angel in North of the river from the South East on my old bike, eCargo’s take a lot of the work out of it.

What’s the best thing about it?

The ease. I started out carrying 15kg of tools on my back and 10kg of materials in the panniers and I made it work. I didn’t consider it at the time as that just how I was doing it. Once you make the switch, nothing bothers you too much be it wind or rain.

And the worst thing?

Doesn’t matter if you have a bike or a van, secure storage and theft is always an issue. Also having to take the various bits off the bike when you’re popping in somewhere so they don’t get nicked is an unfortunate routine we all have to do. It would be great to just hop off and come back. But you can’t.

What advice would you give to others starting out?

Work out what is best for you, how everyone works is different. What works for the person standing next to you might not work for you. Think about what you’re doing and don’t be afraid to get things wrong, it’s frustrating. But it’s going to happen.

And there you have it. Aaron is proof in the pudding that cycling isn't just for the traditional "cyclist" in lycra - it's a mode transport which works just as well as any other vehicle type, even if you lugging around equipment too. 

You can visit Aaron and the CyclingSparks website here, and give them on Twitter and Instagram too.