Why We Ride
Composer: Kirsty Martin with Rowena Whitehead
Performed by: ReSound
Lyrics: Kirsty Martin, based on the poem 'Why We Ride' by Hollie McNish with Inja.
Location: This piece and its historical context are closely linked with 104 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DP.
This is a recording by Historyworks of the 'Why We Ride' song:
Lyrics
Parkers Piece, Gonville Place, turn right into Regent Street
Sidney Street, Round Church, St. John’s, Trinity, Kings Parade
Trumpington Street, down the road to Trumpington High Street
The road is ready for me!
(And we’re away….)
This is why I ride, freewheeling – this is why I ride; I like to fly
This is why I ride, freewheeling – this is why I ride…
Life is much more fun, riding on my bike
Park or school or home, anywhere I like!
This is why I ride, freewheeling – this is why I ride; I like to fly
This is why I ride, freewheeling – this is why I ride…
All I need is the helmet on my head
Bike pump, backpack, water bottle, knee pads perhaps
Tyre tracks not too low, spokes not choked
Gears and brakes not jammed – and I’m ready to go!
And I’m ready to go – hurry up!
And I’m ready to go – come on everyone!
Parkers Piece, Lensfield Road, Fen Causeway, Newnham Road
Granchester Street, Eltisley Avenue and past the swimming club,
Granchester Meadows, carry on, to the tea gardens
The road is ready for me!
(And we’re away….)
This is why I ride, freewheeling – this is why I ride; I like to fly
This is why I ride, freewheeling – this is why I ride…
Life is much more fun, riding on my bike
Park or school or home, anywhere I like!
This is why I ride, freewheeling – this is why I ride; I like to fly
This is why I ride, freewheeling – this is why I ride…
I ride for one slice of freedom, walking seems so slow
Wheels fly in motion, and I’m ready to go!
And I’m ready to go – hurry up!
And I’m ready to go – come on everyone!
Parkers Piece, Clarendon Street, New Street into Fair Street,
Across Midsummer Common, mind the cows along Riverside,
to Stourbridge, watch the boats rowing down the river
The road is ready for me!
I ride for one slice of freedom, walking is so slow
Wheels fly in motion, and I’m ready to go!
All I need is the helmet on my head
Bike pump, backpack, water bottle, knee pads perhaps
Tyre tracks not too low, spokes not choked
Gears and brakes not jammed – and I’m ready to go!
And I’m ready to go – hurry up!
And I’m ready to go – come on everyone!
The world outside is ours – the marks say we belong
So we ride along the path – and the road is ready for me!
Life is much more fun, riding on my bike
Riding on my bike – anywhere I like
Riding on my bike…………………anywhere I like
Riding on my bike…………………hurry up!
©Kirsty Martin 2014, based on the 'Why We Ride' poem by Hollie McNish with Inja.
Historical Context:
From the “Velocipede” to the “Boneshaker” to the “Granta”, the family firm of John Howes & Sons supplied Cambridge with top of the range bicycles for 173 years. Established in 1840 on Regent Street, Howes & Sons were among the pioneers of 19th century bicycle design, supplying citizens with bicycles for racing, leisure, and work. They helped shape Cambridge as the cycling city we recognise today. It is alleged that this was the first bike shop in the country, developing out of a wheelwright’s shop who adapted tools to service the cycle rather than the wagon.
Howes & Sons’ success can also be attributed to their affiliation with University scholars and the Cambridge University Bicycle Club. Set up on the 28th February 1874, the club appointed John Howes (son of the original founder who died in 1849) as a supplier, repairer, and on-hand technician for race days. There were few other traders during this period and by 1887 only three other firms were registered. This had grown by 1896 to six but by 1913 forty six companies were trading in bicycles.
By 1900 cycling had grown enormously and it was much more accessible due to more reasonable pricing. The upper classes had turned towards motor cars, and those who could afford them, the motor cycle, but the bicycle remained for many of the population in Cambridge an accessible and affordable option.
The emergence and innovations of Howes & Sons, aided by the increased interest in cycling in the 1890s, ensured that the people of Cambridge had access to a range of cycling services and established the city’s identity as a cycling hub.
Many bike shops proliferate around Cambridge today, and the app song “Why We Ride” is located at the old Howe’s shop to mark the important legacy of this place for the city. The business continued to thrive through the generations but after 173 years of trading, the shop closed for the last time on December 31st 2013.
Image courtesy of the Cambridgeshire Collection, Cambridge Central Library.
To find out more about the history that has inspired this composition and its lyrics you can visit the Historyworks website.
Click on the film link below to access a fun film showing the route and the process of the Cycle of Songs journey:
https://vimeo.com/98585866
Infomation for Choirs:
Score: The score for 'Why We Ride' can be downloaded here.
Matrix: The matrix for 'Why We Ride' can be downloaded here.
You can download the complete lyrics here or you can read them further down this page. The lyric sheets for the seperate parts being sung by the Cycle of Songs Choir can be downloaded below.
To find a very rough demo of 'Why We Ride' listen here:
Seperate parts of the piece can be accessed below:
Children
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
Hollie McNish's poem and video 'Why We Ride: A Film by and for Cambridge’s Young Riders':
