We’re pleased to welcome Izabela Murtagh, a new Carradice Ambassador, whose riding is defined by curiosity, consistency, and a love of long distances.
Originally from Poland, cycling has always been part of her everyday life, first as a way to get around, then as a practical solution while studying for two degrees simultaneously, and later through work and study in Germany.
After a short break from cycling during a PhD in Sydney, the habit returned to Edinburgh, where an 8-mile commute to Heriot-Watt University, largely along a towpath, quickly became a daily ritual and a baptism of Scottish wind and weather.
Izabela's appetite for long distance riding is legen-dairy. Image: Izabela Murtagh
A job change soon extended that commute to 16 miles each way. What started as a short-term experiment on a £50 second-hand mountain bike became a long-term commitment. Ten years on, daily cycling is still the norm and the foundation for a passion for long-distance riding.
Audax is now her favourite way to ride, supported by regular commuting that keeps fitness high year-round. A Carradice Pendle with Bagman has become an essential companion, used daily for commuting and on events from 200km right up to 1200km, including Paris Brest Paris and B-Hard 1200.
Simple, reliable, and easy to access, it carries everything needed and sometimes a slice of cake home too. A Lowsaddle Longflap now adds flexibility for lightweight touring.
Inspired by a love of exploration shaped by bushwalking in Australia and hillwalking in Scotland this ambassador enjoys quiet roads, route planning, and linking forgotten lanes and old railways.
Looking ahead to 2026, plans include the Easter Arrow to York, several 400km and 600km events in the north west of Scotland, a 1000km ride on the west coast, and plenty of monthly 200km rides, along with whatever spontaneous adventures arise.
We’re proud to welcome an ambassador who embodies the Carradice spirit: practical, self-sufficient, and always curious about what lies beyond the next hill.
