Matt Langridge, 42 6/4… oh all right, 43½. Live in Marlow Bucks, work in High Wycombe.

Bikes: Commuter is a 2002 Saracen Morzine road bike, 8 speed double; Work is a Smith and Wesson Custom Hard Tail MTB, 9 speed triple. ‘Best’ bike is a 2003 Cannondale R800 9 speed double. I also have an old Raleigh CR1000 7 speed triple MTB (no sus at all) which I use when I go out with my kids and an older Puch road/tourer of some description, 6 speed double, Suntour mechs, Weinman rims and brakes etc, which is in bits as a rescue project. I want this to turn into my winter commuter hack.

.was riding an interest before it became part of your job?

Yes. I will put my hands up and confess to being a ‘born again’ cyclist. When I left school in 1978 I was the proud owner of a Carlton 5 speed road bike. We travelled miles every week between work and home until one of my workmates borrowed it and got the rear mech caught in the wheel, ripping the hanger, (which was part of the frame) off, thus killing the bike. Learning to drive and joining the Army then got in the way.

It wasn’t until about 7 years ago that I got back into regular cycling when I bought a cheap MTB for commuting. I am now hooked, much to the displeasure of my Wife and Bank Manager!

.do you ride much outside work or at the end of the day are you sick of the sight of the bike?

No, I love cycling. I commute in all but the iciest or windiest conditions, on safety grounds, not comfort. I also try and get out for a nice training ride as often as I can, though this summer has been a bit thin on the miles front due to holiday and work commitments.

.when/why did you join the police force and what took you to becoming a bike officer?

I joined the Police in 1988 when I left the Army. It was a career I had always considered, for the variety and unpredictability. I never know what I am going to deal with from one day to the next. I first toyed with the Cycle Patrol idea in about 1994 when, during some night shifts my colleague and I got the OK to come in wearing jeans and T shirts and to utilise some bikes from Property. We got out and about into the parks and alleyways, where vehicles were unable to reach and surprised quite a few people who were up to no good. We used MTB’s from property because the bikes our Force used at the time were fine for riding on relatively flat roads, but were too heavy for hauling up some of the short but steep hills around High Wycombe.