LUCA Guest Blog by Katy Roberts: "I'm soft and I'm tough."
A big thank you to Katy for sharing her personal and very inspiring story with us. After reading, do head over to Instagram and continue to follow Katy's journey.
On June 1st, I set off on a journey to cycle around the coast of Britain—a 3,500-mile ride that would take just under three months. Most nights were spent camping, but whenever possible, I was welcomed into the homes of friends and strangers who generously opened their doors to me.
It might sound like I knew what I was doing, but before this, the longest I had ever bike-packed was three nights—and that was with friends. In reality, I’m a chronic overthinker. Overthinking has led me to talk myself out of jobs, hobbies, friendships, and countless opportunities. But this time, something was different. I had a bigger purpose, a fire inside me so strong that I couldn’t ignore it. That purpose was my dad.
In 2007, when I was 17, I lost my dad to suicide. Even now, saying or typing that feels bizarre and surreal. His death was a complete shock that shattered our world.
For years, I didn’t know what to do, how to help, or even how to exist in a world where my dad couldn’t. It felt like my life had burst. I just wanted it all to be a nightmare and for Dad to come back and make it all better. Everything was so sad and hard without him.
I was also angry—angry at the mental health system, at the lack of help my dad received, and at the support we should have had but never did. But as time passed, my anger shifted into something else: a realization that I could help, in my own way.
So, I planned this ride. I mapped out the entire route so that people could join me along the way. However, what I didn’t plan for was feeling lonely, scared, overwhelmed, my bike getting written off, going on antibiotics, the relentless British summer, and the vulnerability of being a solo female.
Being aware of being a solo female isn't something I've noticed too often... I'm very lucky - I live in a lovely town in Cornwall, I have a great community of male and female friends and I have a very safe and lovely life. So when it came to riding through some cities of the UK on my own, not being able to leave my bike when needing the toilet or to get food - I was suddenly very aware of being a solo female and at times feeling quite vulnerable. I had the realization that some women feel like this ALL the time and how lucky I am not have this feeling very often.
But this is a thing and I know a lot of women out there feel this a lot and it can be such a block for women doing things on their own - whether it’s traveling solo, starting a hobby, or breaking into a male dominated sport.
I know my ride was for my Dad and for all the men out there who typically don’t talk and open up about stuff and I can safely say the women I met on my ride definitely didn’t have this problem (ha). But I think it’s good to acknowledge where we differ and how we can help each other. The conversations I had with these women often revolved around identity, motherhood, the pressure to have children (or not), and the loss of freedom and sense of self that can come with it. We talked about the weight of societal expectations and how they impact us—whether it’s joining a group, taking on a challenge, or simply stepping into a space where we feel we don’t belong.
