The Early days
My first ever experience of cycling was when my parents bought me a bike for my 7th birthday back in 1973; it was a red Raleigh 14 – an odd-looking bike with a large saddle bag at the back. My initial reaction to this new bike, as a 7-year-old, was ‘I don’t like that’ and my parents, quite rightly so, scolded me and sent me to bed! Over time, I learned to love my Raleigh 14 and pretended it was a horse or a dog carrier (we had a Jack Russell cross terrier and I would put her in the saddle bag dressed in a pink dress and ride her around the streets where we lived). There was very little worry about traffic back then and we would ride with little thought for cars or helmets or safety generally. I eventually outgrew my Raleigh 14 and my next experience of a bike was when I was 30, when I purchased a bike that wasn’t a lady’s bike and really wasn’t the right geometry for my small frame and I struggled to reach the handlebars. I then purchased another bike when I was 40 (Trek), this time I was careful to choose a ladies’ frame, this suited my frame better and some of you will recall, I still had my ‘trusty’ Trek when I joined the Bingley Belles some 16 years later.
‘Me’ time and Bingley Belles
I joined the Bingley Belles as I wanted to do something for me on a Saturday; my husband would disappear off for the afternoon to watch rugby and I found myself moping and moaning that he was out every Saturday and I was at home – surely there must be something better to do with my Saturdays. My son suggested I do something for me, so I did a bit of thinking and googling and found the Bingley Belles cycle group – the Belles interested me as it didn’t sound like a super serious cycling group, more a social with a variety of rides to choose from, dependent on experience, ability and need and the rides were graded in cakes – even better! One of the first rides I took part in was a 2-cake ride from Hirst Lock – I was quite nervous and anxious about joining in and didn’t really know the area or terrain, but there was nothing to be anxious about – everyone was very friendly and welcoming and I’ve not looked back.
I’d been out on rides a few times, mainly 2 and 3 cake rides, and following a conversation with Anne Thompson outside Betty’s in Harrogate on a 3-cake ride, I decided to change my old, heavy ‘trusty’ Trek for a Giant LIV drop handlebar bike. Goodness knows what I was thinking, I’d never ridden a drop-handlebar bike before and there was very little forethought or research to be honest (I wouldn’t recommend this approach), but hey-ho, it worked – I love my LIV and I’ve since ridden it on lots of rides. I do tend to enjoy the 3-cake rides the most, I like the challenge, the distance and, dare I say, the hills too – I’m rubbish at down-hilling and tend to ride at the back.
Sportives
In 2023 I rode ‘Le Petit Depart’, Yorkshire Dales Sportive, my first ever (38-mile) race in Skipton – although I was quite anxious and nervous, it was fab day out and the scenery was amazing. I’ve since toured, with family, over 3 days from Bangor to Liverpool and from Holyhead to Llandudno (via Beaumaris and Bangor) and more recently entered the Wetherby Wheel 100k cycle sportive to raise money for the special school I work at (Chellow Heights School – Bradford).
Learning to look after my bike
Not only do these wonderful ladies’ cycle but they’re keen to maintain their cycles too, and, thanks to Nicola, I’ve also learned how to carry out some basic maintenance (i.e., clean my bike properly to ensure its in tip-top condition and looking sparkly) – who’d have thought a bike chain didn’t have to be grey and grubby
Keep on going
If anyone had said to me, on my first day out riding with the Bingley Belles, that I’d be cycling the miles I am at 59, I’d have laughed; yet here I am cycling alongside some wonderful, likeminded women. What’s to lose, get out there and give it a go, its great fun, an opportunity to make new friends and its good for the soul! Enjoy.