My Cycling Story In 3 Minutes! Bikes changed my LIFE!!! 

After my first heart attack at age 56, I quit smoking and started biking. At the age of 61, I had a second heart attack, but after a year of recovery, I was back on the bike! Even now at age 67, still cycling!

Katie you are an inspiration. This video made me cry. I’m an overweight 55 yr old woman and I just started cycling to help improve my fitness. I find any climbs very difficult but you have inspired me to keep trying. Thank you.

THIS THIS THIS!!! Soooooo many bike channels on RU-vid are pushing the whole "ride like a racer" to wannabes and posers instead of pushing the message that really matters: Be HEALTHY, be HAPPY and have FUN. Your bike weight doesn't matter. Having the newest and greatest $10,000 bike is irrelevant. You don't need bibs that cost $400. Buy a bike you enjoy riding, ride the wheels off the thing, and push yourself in a fun way -- not to beat anyone, but to improve yourself.

I know of a few you have inspired, and I am sure 1000’s of people round the world are inspired by you and your infectious love for cycling.

My cycling story is very similar. I had a big accident and damaged my back and neck. I didn't work for 3 years and after two operations I had to lose weight and get fit. I was 128kgs (2 meters tall), so pulled the old mountain bike out of the shed and started cycling 6 miles twice a week. Fast forward 13years and I now weigh 96-98kgs and cycle 200 miles a week. I have cycled all over the world and have about 1,300 KOM's and just love cycling. I live in Norfolk (UK). It's great when people change their lives for the better though cycling and it's not easy but so worth sticking at it and after a couple of years you can do anything! Well done Katie.

I myself forget that you weren't born on a bike as you seem so at ease riding and climbing and taking on whatever steepness is in front of you. I will always encourage you to be yourself, I will always support you to do your best; I'm proud of all you've done and achieved, I'm proud of you Katie K! 🤗 😄🙂 👋🌝

I love this story , love that your not bothered about coming last . I am slower then anyone I know yet I can get to the top of hard knot with out putting a foot down . Love that it just keeps getting better x well done Katie

Katie, As a 220 lb .. 56 year old man, You have gave me encouragement to ride more and to improve my fitness. Actually, you put a tear in my eye. Encouragement !!!! You reach people from across the world with your inspiration. I live in the US .... North West Georgia and love your videos. My short term goal is to ride a Metric Century then next year a full 100 Mile Century. My fitness is slowly getting better and I Thank You ,,,,, for helping me get off the couch and on the bike.

I was an age group triathlete and since Covid a raving lazy alcoholic..... But small steps forward....... Your video really helped and only 3mins as currently my span of attention is limited. So thankyou ❤

I lost 55kgs in college thanks to running. I’ve now been a runner for almost 15 years but have recently gotten into triathlon sports. I love cycling and seeing what I can do on 2 wheels. Congrats on your weight loss journey. I think anyone who has been on this journey knows how great a feeling it is hitting, then exceeding, your goals.

That's a great story Katie. So glad you found cycling. The independence and freedom it gives cannot be taken lightly. Happy days!

I've been cycling for an hour at 6am 4/5 times a week since March. Hardly any traffic. I struggled to get up hills when I started. Now I fly up them. My legs have never looked better. Watching you on RU-vid made me realise cycling wasn't a quick fix.

Thank you for mentioning the weight gain from your eating disorder. It can be a very normal part of recovery but it isn’t often mentioned. I’ve been cycling for years now and have tried a road bike but can’t seem to get used to it. I go pretty fast on my hybrid but hearing your story makes me want to go further on my bike. Thanks for being so open and for sharing your story.

When I was fifty, very unfit, overweight and a smoker my wife and I bought cheap mountain bikes, we lived in Melbourne, Australia. Started off in the local park, worked up to days then weekends. Every summer we spent two weeks in New Zealand with panniers and tents, did all the passes (we stopped smoking and lost weight). When we retired we went to Europe every year for three weeks with our bikes, a different country each year. Moved to France and now live in Switzerland. Now 78 years old, we cycle in the hills and mountains for a couple of hours just about every day, we also ski and hike.

Katie, that was such a beautiful story... It's comes at a perfect time because I have female friends who I've suggested cycling to, who want to lose weight and feel better physically... and have at least started by indoor cycling. I can't wait to share this with them. I know they'll absolutely appreciate it. You, Juliet, and Dave Noakes are a huge influence on me as why I still ride. Dave got me into tackling climbs with a fixie! 😅Thank you for your wonderful video.

Brilliant ! Giant make great bikes. They're like Toyota's ... well engineered, reasonably priced. Can't fault them. But like someone once said .... it's not about the bike.

At 66, 19stone 8lbs, 5ft 11, high bp, asthma, left knee replaced, was heading downhill fast, biggest problem was gluttony, my wife slim fit has always stood by me encouraged me so we bought e-bikes from orbea, expensive but got us out there, now after 3months I’m doing 20 mile hill circuits, on bike 6 days per week, will buy a ‘ordinary’ road bike for next year as I’m exceeding battery assisted speed and not riding on max battery power anymore. Just found your channel today, have subscribed. P.S. I’v lost 2stone but still wear baggy showerproof top but love my proper cycle gel Lycra shorts.

Katie, I found your channel after I started my cycling journey, I’m so glad I did. I have developed a love for cycling, to the point I’ve surprised my love ones and myself, as I don’t know where the passion came from, but I know it burns bright I too have lost weight as a result, it’s also healed a back issue. many of your videos have given me tips to improve and maintain my love of the sport, and for that I thank you. Forever ride safe

I'm 71 been riding for 61 years but these days not so fast or so far. With 4 bikes I've got one for every occasion. Here's looking forward to the next ten years,

Thanks for the update on your biking history. It's always been a curiosity of mine. I thoroughly enjoy your channel and have often wondered how did this "newbie" become so enamored and expert at everything cycling. Well, now I know and it is a terrific story. I have been biking my entire life having completed my first century in 1968 at 16. It seemed that during the sixties, seventies and even into the eighties, one never met an adult who began cycling as an adult. It seems that there existed only a few categories: kids, and bike racers. Now of course, folks from 30 to 70 are embarking on their own bike journey. Your channel and your history provide a wonderful peek into the world of non-competitive cycling for everyone. I often suggest your channel to friends who want to give biking a go but are a bit intimidated by all the jargon and tech info that dominates us today. Silly concerns such as: Do I need an power meter?, OMG my new bike is 18 pounds!, do I really need a carbon whatever bike frame?, I can only afford a 105 grupo. This is all meaningless and overwhelming trivia to non-cycling folks and tends to be a turn-off. Although, I love GCN, I never, ever suggest it to a friend who is becoming interested in cycling. Way too much emphasis on racing and out of control amateurs who envision them selves the next Primoz Roglic or Tadej P. So thanks for the channel, you have done more for "civilian" cycling than Trek, Cannondale, Orbea, Canyon, etc etc combined. I hope you keep going.

Thank you Katie! I'm in my early 40s and just started road cycling, I'm bit overweight and do straggle very often. Your story puts things into perspective and it's very motivational!

Great story to hear!!! Changing ourselves is not an easy road, it takes time and dedication, but the journey is worth the price. I went back to riding 2 years ago at 63 and dropped 40 lbs, found new active friends, and changed my lifestyle. You are a power of example. Ride on!

Very inspirational and I hope your story reaches a broad audience. Cycling has been part of my life since teenage years and it continues to be the bedrock of my physical, mental, and spiritual health. May your journey continue!! Cheers!!

So nice to hear your story, a bike saved my life after a workrealated spine injury I bought a MTB and got back up from an inactive and painful life.

You are such an inspiration-after being an avid cyclist for years I had gotten away from it due to arthritis and weight gain- I got inspired again at 57 and bought a hybrid when I took that bike in for a tune up I saw a ni e fatbike, took a test drive and loved it and even attempted and finished a gran fondo on it when every one else was spandex clad and on expensive gravel bikes, decided to do it again so bought the expensive gravel bike for myself lol. Still slow but loving the road at 63

Very inspiring! And whether or not one is dealing with weight problems, cycling is life changing. Just being out in the fresh air, seeing the scenery, getting some exercise, it beats any virtual reality. And you can make it as challenging or relaxing as you want.

Katie, you continue to be an inspiration! You work to include everyone and your videos reflect that. You even share the less than fun times you experience. You keep inspiring and I’ll keep watching!

Thank you for this video. I am recovering from 20 years of an ED. I’m happy that my Ed team are using my love of the bike to help me learn to nourish myself, still have a long way to go but it’s nice to work with a team working with sport rather than against it!

Congratulations Katie! You're a great example of perseverance and determination, you proved what hard work and a love of cycling can do for each and everyone.

I didn’t know this was the video I needed when I woke up today, but it was! Thanks for sharing.

Ahh what a story Katie! just found your channel. Amazing journey and fair play to you. I love your enthusiasm and I 100% know that feeling of getting on a road bike for the first time and you're instantly hooked. The way it felt, the precision, the control and the speed. It's truly one of the best ways to get fit. Im a PT based in Dublin and now I hope to encourage some of my clients to buy a bike and get out into those mountains with me! It just might change their life in the same way it's changed ours. I'll share your channel with them for some inspo! Keep up the great work. Respect from Dublin :)

Hi Katie, this popped up in my feed today - just wanted to say how brave you are talking about recovering from an eating disorder, and your achievements on a bike are incredible - chapeau!

Incredible story thanks for inspiring us, this video gives us hope

Lovely story. Thank you for sharing.

WOW ! caterpillar -> biking -> beautyful butterfly ! Thanks for giving me inspiration and motivation. I am a biker since 13. As a young man i climbed the hills and left my mates behind. My weight was 70 Kilos. But i played (european) football too, got some injuries and some weight, but it was no problem at all. Then the corona-time hits me hard. Sportfields had been closed and with a knee injurie i could not bike. After corona was over i broke my arm. Wiight went to 88 Kilos. Then i was near to give up, because the hills had become mountains. I set myself a goal. I will go bikepacking from germany to the southwest of france in September. I am biking every day to get fit. It works. Im loosing weight. Its a very hard time for me and it needs to allways focus the goal. You are the best example for the lifechanging power of biking. When i suffer, i will think of you. You did far more than me, so how can i give up... One time i would like to meet you in the alps.

Hi Katie. I am 69 year old. I have an electric bike. I love riding it. I don't use the pedal assist until I come to a hill. I have strengthened my endurance. I usually come up with some excuse to ride to town to get something. I have a stationary bike that I used maybe once a week. Now, I try to use my ebike everyday that doesn't rain. Thanks for the video!!

I've been heavy most of my adult life (and in my mid 50's now), broke my foot and did some damage to my hip last year and gained a ton of weight and my physicians assistant asked if I considered riding a bike... Got a Trek Dual Sport in March and lost around 25 lbs so far... Loving it. Think I found you by accident on RU-vid and your an inspiration. Thanks for all you share. Hope to get a road/gravel bike next to take me back to what I rode when I was younger (teens to early 20's).

WOW! What an amazing journey. You really are inspiring me to get back onto my bike again. Sadly I lost weight though cancer and as a result haven`t got the energy to cycle far at least at the moment. I did however cycle nearly to Portugal (on my exercise bike) while trying to get fit before my op. Your videos are amazing and really encouraging. Thank you and wishing you many happy miles of cycling.

An inspiration to many to just get out on the bike and ride, whatever the distance. Your content is encouraging and down to earth - thanks! Chris

I love and understand your passion for cycling, it a great sport. I used to be addicted to it years ago, MTB an Race, an I loved it. Unfortunately a serious neck problem stopped me from doing it but I am still a big cycling fan and your videos aways make me happy and remember me of the good old days. Thanks for sharing.

Woot woot Katie very good 🙂 !!! As a 59 year old cyclist I can testify that overall, road or mountain biking is unbeatable for fitness maintenance / weight control. Mix in some light weights & Isometrics + walking and you'll be the fittest person in your circles...

Hi Katie. I have been meaning to watch this video for a while, and I am so glad I finally have. This may sound ridiculous as I don't know you at all but, I would like to say that I feel proud of you and what you have achieved. It is also so good to see anyone promoting the improvement of personal fitness and health. Due to some health issues, I have been increasing my fitness by cycling, swimming and eating only what is good. It has been making more difference than I would have believed. It is always good to see incredible inspiration like yours. Thank you!

I'm 18 months into cycling and you've been a godsend ❤

Well done Katie. Thanks for sharing that. Your story is inspiring. Keep up the great journey..

Amazing! I am buying my first bike tomorrow and this is so encouraging

I’ve always been taken by how matter of fact you are about previous struggles with eating disorders and being overweight. You keep it real and express your feelings so clearly. It resonates with me because my girlfriend developed an eating disorder many years ago and it was devastating to watch her and everyone around her suffer. The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming. I will always live with guilt that I somehow contributed….what could I have done differently! She recovered as do many others but I worry so much about the pressure we put on people nowadays. The callous comments people make online must be horrific for sensitive people. Words have an impact and I’m sure yours help! You’re a good person KK!

You are such an inspiration! Since I have started cycling I have quit smoking and lost 85 pounds! I absolutely love riding my bike! i mainly do mountain biking.

Katie you are indeed an inspiration. now i am sluggish this afternoon... no excuse time to hop onto my bike... getting a few flats recently. so i stuck some gatorskin tires on my everyday ride. despite having a TINY under seat bag

Katie, I love your videos and how you've become an outstanding cyclist, far beyond what I will ever be. Keep inspiring!

After watching your vdo, you inspire me for cycling, i started from 5 - 20 km...its awasome experience when we spent hours with ourselves.. Cycling improve my mood, .its keep me fit...my goal is to achieve 100 km..need your blessings...keep inspiring us.. Thanks for your vdo..You are amazing ❤

Legend...I started on Zwift on 22 Dec 22, lost 11 kg, so looking forward to getting my back wheel back on and seeing the results on Strava on some of my old routes when I cycled a tiny bit. Great channel, keep it up. Trev

Followed your story for years, you are a true inspiration. Watching your videos got me to do the deloitte ride across Britain although I failed on day 6 just short of Edinburgh. Keep just being you!!

Yup! Cycling is the best way to get around, see places and people, stay fit and healthy. I biked 3 weeks in Corsica last year. Ate tons of great food (Corsica is sort of part French part Italian!), great wine and managed to lose 8 pounds doing it!

Yay im in Adelaide and getting back on the bike just very recently.

Greetings from Chile! first time watching you. About a year ago i started to bike commute every single labor day, and previous to that i made some changes in my lifestyle, both in nutrition and bike exercise, and thanks to that i dropped my weight from 90 kg to 70 kg. There's still work(out) for me to do, but in the meantime i hit a milestone with that. My goal is to go down to 65 kg, and stories like yours are inspiring for me to achieve that, and maybe inspiring for a lot of people out there. Thank you!

Lovely video Katie, congrats to the fantastic development you've managed to handle. A true inspiration video for anyone. I am a beginner, bought my first gravel bike less than one year ago. 1300k done and getting more and more satisfied. Used to run maras, halfs and 10k for like 15 yrs, but my knee prefers biking now.

What an incredible journey, Chapeau.

You're honestly such an inspiration! Thanks Katie 🙏

Excellent!!..My cycling story, cycled till my early teens (early 80s) than took close to 40 years off. Than started up again in my early 50s and a few years later I just got my first KOM ( 7/1/24) with over 1500 riders on this particular segment.

Well similar thing I had. I started with cycling in 2018. and I lost 20 kilos since then. I enjoy cycling and I enjoy it when riding alone, just bike and myself.

australia is amazing for cycle touring, in 2011 i did Perth to Sydney and then Adelaide to Darwin in 2014. you see so much more on a bicycle.

Thank you Katie. I’m hoping to get back into it again as I’ve stopped cycling over the past year…and gained 20 lbs. Ugh!

You go girl! These stories make me realize that I have been lucky doing cycling my whole life and have never, ever struggled with weight. Keep being an inspiration and attack those climbs, yeah?

Yes, I started cycling at 46. Commute was 40km, but I only commuted by bicycle home. Towards work I took myself and the bike on a train. I always loved climbing hills too, that was my favorite. I didn't understand how to train exactly and was coasting downhills, which is wrong. But I trained and trained for races, always failing - but eventually got my FTP up to 285W and could win races indoors - cat b on zwift. I never could do it outside, and part of that was just not having a way to bridge up. I did find two of the people I rode with back then had succeeded after 5 years or so, unfortunately for me, I was putting weight back on by 2020, and now have to regain the fitness, but i still love it, and will try again.

Wow Katie, you’ve come a long way I’m very inspired and very impressed. Very happy for you. You had fitness goals and you ran with it or can we say rode with it !!!! ☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻😀😀😀👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Great story and very inspiring. Cycling changes lives, it is fun, addictive and everyone can do it. I know people who have balance issues who ride trikes. Blind people who ride tandem. When I worked I started commuting to work, 50km a day. I saved a fortunate and the health benefits are great. Thanks for sharing!

Katie - congrats!!!. I started harder biking last year and since Nov 2022 I lost ca 10kg although my weight was in norm when I started riding. Now I feel better and stronger and any ascents are not a problem.

You are a very fit woman inside and out, and the bonus is your from Yorkshire 😊 and you are a inspiration to many and myself. 🙌🙌

Katie, Dovestones is a great ride....pop over to Blackstones and Cragg vale while you're at it....again awesome climbs. I'm local to it also!

Every time I hear you talk about your journey it lights up the engines. You have come a long way and it's exciting to see where you are going to go next. This year isn't over yet! Lots to conquer!

I remember the first time I rode my Raleigh Stryker when I found my balance. Saturday adventures on my bmx. Riding from Wigan to Burnley when I was 12 to see my Grandparents (my mum went mad). To my first road bike, a Peugeot. Now loving bike packing. Still hate hills though.

Wow, this is truly inspirational! Best parts about it are the friends and the feeling of awesomeness every time you get on your bike for a ride!

Kudos to you, both for making the effort and for posting the video. Keep it up and keep on going.

Very inspirational. I sort of did what you did but let it slide to the point where I need to do the whole thing again. Year 2001 I decided to do a solo LEJoG in 2002 so I rode 200 miles from home to my Father in Law's in 2 days with no training. I couldn't walk up or down stairs for a few days after. After a bit of training I did a B&B LEJog in 9 days, so I'd already bagged several 100 milers. I did a few years of social rides on Sundays but, in 2008 I got the AUDAX bug and completed a 200km. It totally wiped me out but I met some people who had done 2007 PAris-Brest-Paris (which seemed impossible). Long story short, I found myself completing 2011 PBP. 2015 was my last PBP (I bailed on the return leg, I'd just had enough of Long-distance). Then I got into serious WATTBIKE training and, at the age of 54 I got my best ever power:weight numbers. I was light, I had lots of power ... The whole World felt flat. Anyway, I moved to France in 2019 ... Covid ... no cycling .....food ...wine ...... weight ..... lack of fitness. 2024, very overweight, very underpowered, but I'm about to start the long road back. I'll never get my best numbers back. The World will never feel that flat again (I only ever rode Single-Speed at that time. No point having gears). Wish me luck. Having done this before I know how painful it's going to be.

I wish there was more than one Like button! I took up cycling over lock down, found your channel not long after and you've been an inspiration ever since. Cycling has helped me lose around 20kgs and helped me find a new sense of adventure (I even climbed Dovestones for the first time last week!) Thank you for the content and sharing your story 👍

I have been a subscriber for several years and very much enjoy these inspirational moments. You are a true ambassador to the cycling world. well done!!🥰

Cycling saved my life. I love my mountain bike! I also love your bike adventures.

Katie, cheers from Los Angeles. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story!! You are an inspiration. Keep pedaling and be safe. Your fan, always.

So awesome Katie. You continue to encourage and inspire me. Thank you.

Katie, you are my inspiration - since I follow you on YT, I started to believe that I can do it also - now I have my favorite climb for everyday and I did a 800 km tour last year from Denmark to Belgium - so thank you - Sarah

Excellent Katie and Thanks! Your timing here is perfect for me and has me changing my eating regimen TODAY! I’m in my 60’s and a few years ago I ate cleanly, trained for, and ran two full (26.2 Mile) marathons. A lot has happened in my life since then but in short I’ve allowed myself to lose my focus, my fitness and eating plans have suffered, and I’m 30 pounds heavier than when I ran those marathons. Over the last few years I’ve taken up cycling but more recreationally than seriously. It’s time to get back in the horse (bike) and get myself refocused. Ironically and here is the funny part. Yesterday morning I made the decision to make some drastic changes then last night when I returned from a business meeting your video popped up on my stream. Accident? I don’t think so. Providence? If you ask me, I think so. Have an amazing week.

The best smile on the bike ever! Love your channel & adventures !

I was going to comment and ask questions but you have nailed everything yourself and I can only say "congratulations and well done", and I envy you. I have 2 bad knees now and my orthapedic doctor advised me NOT to run, so I need a bicycle too. I will use you for encouragement and I say "thank you".

Cheers, Katie! Love that you shared this journey. Bravo to you!

A true inspiration, and now an ambassador for the sport. So much ❤for you and what you do!

well at 68 I started cycling because of plantar fasciitis, can no longer walk the long distances Id previously enjoyed so had to find something else. Ive been cycling 7months and have reached my ambition of joining the local club C ride. I love it. Only regret is I didn't discover cycling earlier.

You are amazing Katie! Keep up the good work and keep on riding!😊

Another fantastic video KB, so good to see that you are not shy or embarrassed (and absolutely no need to ever be) to show where your journey started from and how you have changed over the time. Keep the amazing and informative content coming, we love all the variation and total honesty 👍👍👌👌

Wow. Way to go! You’re quite svelte now! You look great. Congratulations.

Katie I love your story & enthusiasm, you keep going, enjoying it all & I look forward to hearing more from you.

Wow ... what a great, inspiring story! Well done, Ms. Kookaburra!

I'm 5.6 and 95kg cycling keeps my weight steady but I'm not losing much. This video is such an inspiration for me to keep going, eventually I will get fitter 😁

I did my first group ride out last week on gravel. Only 5 of us. I too ended up at the back on my old mtb 🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️➡️🚴 Usually I just solo on roads on my racer. Doing a city group ride this weekend. Thanks for doing your videos Katie👏. They've kicked me from building my bikes up in the kitchen, to going back outdoors riding them, and I had a very very long break before this. 😊👍🚴‍♂️

Katie, thank you! I’d say that vid is the most inspirational 3 minutes (almost) on the internet.

Plus you gave us the best cycling related channel on youtube so thank you for that.Amazing story and journey.

Amazing story @Katie Kookabura! I’m definitely one of the people you inspired. I did this year my first 800km ride through France. Keep riding safe ✊✊✊🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️❤️🙏🏽

My first road bike is the exact same Giant Avail, and I still have it!

Biking recharges my soul. Come to CO and mountain bike with us. It's heavenly here!

Great video Katie, even in summary form your story is so inspirational. Although some of us long time followers may be familiar with it-it’s a great reminder of how to keep having fun, to keep going on our respective cycling journeys, and to continue helping those relatively new to the sport we love so much-as we once were, and continue to be! Thank you! P.s I still think your QOM video is one of the best on RU-vid!😊

I'm more of a runner than a cycler but cycling is amazing. Inspiring story, thanks for sharing