A rather dodgy start!
Probably (and quite rightly) it wouldn’t be allowed today, but my 1st experience of going on a bike was when I was very little; with my dad on his bike in the 1960s – En route to work, my dad took my brother to school and me to my nans for day care. My brother was on the child seat on the back of his bike while I was on a tiny seat on the crossbar, with serious instruction to “keep still”.
Growing up
I grew up in Nantwich, Cheshire, like many kids in the 1970s I enjoyed the sense on freedom when playing out on our bikes, we might not have gone very far but we all enjoyed exploring and staying out all day. In the holidays I loved borrowing my Gran’s ‘Sit up and beg’ bike to ride around the country lanes where they lived, it was way too big for me and VERY heavy, but that didn’t stop me.
Later my older brother had what I thought was a dream bike, a 5-speed racer, a flying machine. When he grew out of it; I begged my mum and dad for me to have his bike, but oh no, ladies don’t ride bikes with a cross bar! They did however, buy me a ladies tourer, fixed single gear. Despite the lack of gears, I learned techniques to get it to go as fast as I could. One day on the way to school when I passed the usual queuing traffic at great speed – I was told I looked like a ‘flying Crow’, with my head down, pointy beak and open black mac flapping like wings behind me as I flew past all the slow-moving traffic!
So, college years in Devon and early work years in Lincolnshire time went by with bike rides put on hold. I always talked of bike riding… as the next bike I had was in the late 1980’s when I was gifted a 21-speed mountain bike. Just what I wanted but unfortunately the version I had was bright Orange & white and SO heavy it was like an Anvil and that became its name “The Anvil” it was even heavier than my Gran’s ‘Sit up and beg’ bike. I lived in Leicestershire then and generally went out on my own on the network of field roads. I thoroughly enjoyed it but couldn’t persuade anyone to go out with me. After a few slips (none serious) I lost my confidence being a lone cyclist in the wilderness wasn’t for me and the bike didn’t come out again for some years later…
Challenges
In 1994 I’d moved house to Yorkshire and had a new job. My work had put a team together for a “60 mile (97 km) Charity bike ride” – Manchester to Blackpool – I eagerly volunteered to be part of the team. Yes, you’ve guessed it, training began on “The Anvil” this time including the unescapable hills of Yorkshire. I put the effort in with a new incentive. I quickly realised it’s not the miles you do it’s the number of times on the saddle that make the difference. I started to work out a few regular routes to get my training on track. I must have looked funny, there were kids stopping on street corners pointing and shouting,
“Look at that MUM on that bike!”
The 60 mile Charity event went well. All I aimed to do was finish and I did that, I wasn’t last either! I’ve no idea of the time it took; all I remember was how hard it was and how I felt at the end of it. I was given a T-shirt and awarded a shield for taking part. It was monumental for me to have achieved what I did and the feeling stayed with me for a long time after.
So still not being able to find anyone else interested in cycling “The Anvil” rotted in the cellar and it was scrapped when we moved house.
Decades went by with no bike, 25 years actually. I still talked about cycling, even my 50th birthday cake had a bike on it as one of my interests. Then in 2019 I decided it was time to get cycling again. Resigned to the fact I would be doing it alone I thought I’d look into getting an E-Bike as my logic was; I would always be able to get home with the assistance it brought. When I found out they came in folding versions, all the better, it meant I could put it in the boot of my car and would be able to vary my starting point and hopefully not lose interest.
So, the Volt years are here. I was very enthusiastic exploring the local area and getting used to my amazing little bike! I hoped there would be other people like me and searching online I discovered “Lets Ride” British Cycling and promptly joined up. From there I discovered “Ladies Breeze” rides, “Meanderers”, “Random Wheelers” and other mixed groups and as a result I was introduced to the “Bingley Belles” ladies only group – Riding alone was no longer a prerequisite – hurrah! Well until Lock-Down that is…
Lockdown
One good thing to come out of Lock-Down 2020/21 for me was quiet roads and time to explore my local area. Even though I’d lived in the area for some time, it’s funny how everywhere looks different by bike and just how curious you can be going up previously unknown roads and tracks just to see where they went. I often took my husband back to a place I’d found when exploring on my bike so we could walk together (he doesn’t ride sadly). Also, during the times we could do distance socialising Judy, Marie and myself would meet up and make the most of a few hours riding our bikes enjoying the amazing views, scenery and sharing routes with each other. I was beside myself with joy when I could actually share a route I’d discovered. It happened over time by adding a ‘little bit further’ to my route, resulting in the most extraordinary landscape and dramatic scenery I’d ever seen never mind ride my bike. When I look back on those times I remember sunny days and happy cycling memories that will likely stay with me forever!
Moving onwards and upwards
So apart from a slight blip towards the end of 2020 when I couldn’t cycle for 4 months after an unfortunate wobble, I’m back to it and enjoying every moment. I try to go out every week if I can. I prefer 3 cake rides – 20 miles up to the occasional 50 miles, but that would have to be in good weather.
If anyone is thinking about getting an e-bike just do it, you’re not ‘cheating’ you still have to work at it – I don’t have it switched on all the time, but it’s great for recording the ride stats and really helps with the many Yorkshire hills – I find I can go further, therefore have more fun adventures and feel more confident that at least I can get home!
Cycling really adds to my life, I love it! Helps keep me fit, get outside and meet other like-minded folk which is wonderful. And I’ve discovered the most amazing tea-rooms as a result of the many planned rides by exceptional ride leaders; with a lunch stop about halfway round! For me, being part of any group is an incentive, it increases your confidence and makes you feel part of something. The Bingley Belles are a welcoming group of ‘ladies only’ riders. You can choose the distance / difficulty (measured in Cakes of course) between “1 and 3 cake rides” and you’re under no pressure to do any particular ride, just whatever you feel suits your ability or preferences. But if you do want to push yourself and try a harder or a different ride to what you are used to, the ladies will encourage and support you every step of the way – and if there is an unfortunate incident with you or the bike you can rest assure you’ll be helped to fix the problem or get home safely. As the slogan says “we never leave anyone behind”
I’m looking forward to future adventures and adding some new routes. These days it’s more likely the kids on the street corners will say, “Look at that GRAN on that bike”!!