If you saw a former England rugby star cycling a sofa around Manchester last week, you weren't hallucinating. Joe Marler, 36, now a TV star from Celebrity Traitors, was in the city to launch British Cycling's new Sofa to Saddle campaign, in partnership with Lloyds.
Sofa stunt at Philips Park and Etihad Stadium
Marler cycled around Philips Park and the Etihad Stadium, raising eyebrows. He told the M.E.N.: "My Mancunian knowledge is appalling, but I've been here there and everywhere, and we ended up at the British Cycling HQ so I feel very lucky to have peeked behind the curtain. I think people were just baffled about who the unusual bloke was cycling around a sofa and going 'hang on it's that hairy bloke from Traitors'!"
He was joined by British cycling legend Victoria Pendleton for part of the route, who found the reaction hilarious. Marler said: "Victoria was like how does that feel you spend 17 years playing rugby and now most people just know you for being a Traitors hunter. It's bonkers, but there's worse things to be known for, it's good fun."
Campaign aims to get people cycling
The sofa stunt aimed to prove how easy it can be to go from sofa to saddle. Marler said: "I'll be the first to admit that my sofa is my absolute happy place, but spending over 18 hours a week on it is a lot, even for me. We aren't asking people to change their lives overnight or take on some gruelling fitness regime. Sofa to Saddle is about lowering the stakes and simply trading just one or two of those weekly sofa hours for a bike ride."
British Cycling, in partnership with Lloyds, launched Sofa to Saddle with a free app to inspire the nation to get on their bikes. Marler added: "In my eyes, and I am biased, it's better than couch to 5k as I'm sure there's a lot of people out there like me who are not a fan of running. But with this it gets you out into the great outdoors and doing the exercise we're all craving for."
Marler's cycling journey as a dad
Marler's relationship with cycling has grown since becoming a father of four. He said: "Now I've got a brood of four they all absolutely love getting out on their bikes, so for me and wife getting on our bikes and going out with all of them has reinvigorated my love and passion for it." He added: "Personally, I've always used riding as a way to clear my head when the noise gets a bit too much, or just to have a proper laugh going on weekend rides with the family. Taking the custom sofa bike for a spin around Manchester was fun, but the message behind it is serious: getting out on two wheels is one of the simplest ways to make your day better."
Research reveals high sofa time
Launched on the eve of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, research from British Cycling found the average Briton clocks up over 18 hours of sofa time per week. Yet 70% of the public admit they think they should exercise more but are held back by practical hurdles.
Celebrity Traitors return
Marler had viewers glued to their sofas last year in the BBC's first Celebrity Traitors series. As a faithful, he made it to the final before comedian Alan Carr revealed he was a Traitor. With a second series coming this autumn, Marler tipped James Blunt as a potential winner: "This time I'm looking to sit back and watching it as a fan. But when they announced the lineup straight away I was drawn to James Blunt. He's got a great mix of humour, friendliness but a bit of direct stuff from his days in the forces so he may have that competitive nature in him. I think he could be the dark horse."
Sofa to Saddle aims for a million more cyclists
The campaign aims to get a million more people on bikes by 2028. British Cycling research found 30 million people in the UK cycled at least once in the past year, four million more than in 2022. Tracy Power, Managing Director of the British Cycling Foundation, said: "We are delighted to launch Sofa to Saddle as we hope to see real-time change in not only the perception of cycling, but the numbers of people regularly cycling in Britain. People often describe physical activity as the perfect way for people to improve their mental and physical health, and cycling is no different. 37% of people who cycle at least once a week say they are happier than those who do less, so the more people we can encourage to cycle, the greater the impact we can have in tackling the nation's mental and physical health challenges. Our research highlights that the appetite to get on a bike is there, and it's proven to make people feel better about themselves. Now, we have a way to support and enable people to take those first steps in ways which work for them."
Jon Lane, Head of Brand Partnerships, Lloyds, said: "We are deeply passionate about our work with British Cycling, which allows us to champion everyone from absolute beginners finding their confidence to the future Olympians of tomorrow. Sofa to Saddle is all about celebrating those everyday journeys. We know that getting on a bike can work wonders for both physical and mental wellbeing, and this app is designed to dismantle the common hurdles that keep people from giving it a go."
British Cycling and Lloyds have launched Sofa to Saddle, a free eight-week app-based programme. To start your journey, download the Sofa to Saddle app today.
