“Remember, remember! The fifth of November, The Gunpowder treason and plot; I know of no reason Why the Gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot!”

The Lewes Bonfire Night, #LewesBonfire, is the most famous Bonfire Night festivities, with Lewes being called the bonfire capital of the world. A remembrance of history evolving mainly from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and Guy Fawkes (Guido Fawkes) and the Seventeen Martyrs burnt at the stake in Lewes, Sussex during the period of 1555–1557. It also remembers the Protestant Reformation in 1517, which was a schism from the Catholic Church. Nowadays, #LewesBonfire features a ‘free expression’ of local problems or any reasons of grievance, which will be blown up at the end of the processions by the five Lewes Bonfire Societies, culminating with a magnificent fireworks display!

This year, I decided to join the Bike Train from the Level to Lewes Bonfire - A fun festive ride organised by Brighton Bike Hub and Cranks, with music, at a gentle pace, promoting sustainable transport initiatives of the 'Lewes Road for Clean Air' community group with the aim to increase the uptake of cycling and enable a shift away from car dependency.

Bike Train’s marshals, Sarah, Gav, Maria and Stefania encouraged other GoodGym-ers, including new comers Patrick and Amanda, to join the fun by offering their help and budding up each other as well as other less confidents cyclers, and so by creating a safety-in-numbers environment for everybody to take part!

It was a great experience – Très Bon! Very GOOD, GoodGym!

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“I change my behaviour” “Better in a group” “I have to plan a well-lit route” “Scared” “Goodgym helps to motivate me” “My superpower is fear” “No headphones” “Everyone should feel safe to run at night”

These are just some of the things we wrote on our #LetsLiftTheCurfew flag, as we joined This Girl Can’s campaign to raise awareness of the concerns and fears many women face when it comes to getting active in the darker months.

Together we ran one mile to meet local councillor Tim at our meeting point in Hanover, where we were put to task helping to clean up graffiti, cutting back bushes, and picking up litter. When our work was done, we gathered to reflect on how we feel when it comes to running in the dark. From feeling scared and self-aware, to planning safe routes and not wearing headphones - it was clear that the darker months can make keeping fit more challenging for some of us. However, we all agreed that running in groups like GoodGym really help to alleviate those fears, and we’re super grateful for the safe, friendly, and inclusive community we’ve made together.

For more information on how GoodGym are supporting the This Girl Can #LetsLiftTheCurfew campaign, read the story here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/stories/this-girl-can-x-goodgym

Welcome Charlotte and Mariangela - come back next week!

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This past weekend was one of those weekends I am puzzled on what to do (rather than don’t 😊) as a passionate GoodGym-er to shine my free spirit in and out, while having a great fun with other active women fellows and inspiring organisations in Brighton & Hove, .. and in London😊

We participated to a fun-packed interactive weekend together with Brighton Multiculture Women Cycle Club and Sussex Blazing Saddles, which was combining a bike-ability workshop on Saturday for local women and girls with a rehearsal and performance, on Sunday, fulfilled with dancing moves choreographed by Southeast Dance. This itinerating performance is a heritage project designed to shine lights on the historical moment women in the 1890s transformed their clothing & society to be able to ride bicycles. In Brighton, nowadays, that’s also a way to incentivise every woman from a diversity of backgrounds to have a go riding a bike and to overcome the stereotype that cycling is not easy when you are used, or just like, to dress a shirt.

While having fun ourselves this weekend, new members Mariangela, Maria, and Stefania, Cicely, Julia and Poppy and other beauties shone their love for cycling and braved riding in circles and uplifting the two wheels as part of a dancing choreography and public show in Brighton.

On Sunday (also), Richard and I cycled to Stanmer Park to help Brighton Permaculture Trust and to enjoy their celebration of apples and autumn! Volunteering at Apple Day is always most welcome, and I could not resist the call at the Fruit Factory’s scrump stall to make and sell juice, cider and other fruity stuff – with the background music of Steel Tribe. This GoodGym community mission is one of Tahita’s favourite, and I wanted to cheer a half-pint of cider as a tribute to her great contribution to Brighton Task Force – Grazie, Tabitha! Lets’ bring GoodGym in Amsterdam area next year!

Meanwhile, on Sunday (yep, also), Frannie, Nicky, Olivia, and other GoodGym-ers run together in London during the Vitality Wellness Festival, landmarking the icons of the big British City and braving their unique resilience to achieve their personal best even if not in ideal weather conditions but, certainly, in great company of John and others who have been running with GoodGym since not a long time ago.