Women in Turkey are discouraged from riding due to cultural norms, so it wasn’t until 2003, after her family moved to London, that Sibel bought her first bike. She later joined Londra Bisiklet Kulubu (London Cycling Club). She has trained as a ride leader and cycle instructor. Last year she led an initiative to donate second-hand bikes to low-income ethnic minority women and provide free cycle training.

“I called the project beneficiaries to tell them that our cycling club is going to give them a bike, equipment and cycle training. When they heard the good news they were so happy.”