Back in the saddle: Some of the riders at the first Confident Cycling session on 2nd July hadn't ridden a bike for more than 50 years
The latest addition to Age UK Enfield's extensive Fit for Life programme is a weekly session for over-50s who would like to gain (or regain) their confidence on a bike (or trike) so that they can start benefiting from this healthy and enjoyable leisure activity and means of transport.
"Confident Cycling" sessions launched in Pymmes Park at the start of July. The project offers tailor-made training for older people by two cycling instructors plus weekly supported bike rides.
For people without their own bikes there are six road bikes available for loan plus two trikes for people who aren't able to use bicycles because of health conditions or risk of falls.
Rides start from the visitors centre in Pymmes Park and will be held every Friday at 2pm – 4pm until 3rd September 2021 for year 1.
Mark Huggard, manager of the Fit for Life project, hopes that in year 2 it will be possible to advance onto smaller side roads as participants get familiar with the bikes and used to cycling on roads. As confidence grows, the sessions will move onto bigger roads, including those with cycle lanes, and then longer rides, including to the Lea Valley and other local places of interest.
Purchase of bikes and payments for instructors are funded from an external grant, which Mark says means that more people can benefit from it:
"‘I'm delighted that Age UK Enfield have been funded by Walking and Cycling Grants London for this project. Cycling is a fun and healthy way for people to travel around their area, but all too often older people don’t have the opportunity or confidence to get on their bikes.
"Being able to purchase bikes and trikes that we can loan for the sessions means that no-one is left out of the scheme because they don’t own a bike, and employing specialist cycling instructors will enable beginners to learn, and people with some previous experience to build their confidence.’
The programme has been welcomed by Adrian Day from Better Streets for Enfield, a group which campaigns to make streets safer and pleasanter so that people who want to can switch some journeys from driving to walking or cycling - ways of getting around that have fewer environmental impacts and significant health benefits:
"We know that there are many older people who cycled when they were young and would love to get back on their bikes, especially now that the council has made it easier to cycle by putting in bike lanes and low-traffic neighbourhoods, but they might be nervous and need a confidence boost. Confident Cycling sounds like just what they need to get back in the saddle. And it makes perfect sense that it's part of Age UK Enfield's Fit for Life programme, since we now know that staying active is one of the keys to remaining happy and healthy."
