Christine shares how she uses cycling to keep active and explore the local area

Audio-described (AD) version

How long have you been cycling?

I'd say I've been cycling about 17 years. We bought a motorhome and when we got it, we realised it wasn't that easy to park in places. So, we bought bikes and put them on the back of the motorhome so we could use them to explore wherever we stay.

How often do you cycle?

I use my bike several times a week. On occasion, I use it for small shops. So, if I'm just going for a loaf of bread and some milk, I'll take my rucksack or use my pannier that clips on my bike. I also use my bike to deliver medication to my sister who lives the other side of Ossett. I take my grandchildren out cycling regularly and I'm part of the Comets Cycling Group. It's a ladies’ cycling group based in Horbury, Ossett.

Why did you join a cycling group?

I joined it because although we'd been out cycling because of the motorhome, we’d been doing lots and lots of exploring on cycle tracks and I didn't feel confident on the road at all. The group allows me to go out with like-minded ladies and build my confidence going on main roads and learn how to cycle properly because I've never done the cycling proficiency test at school that teaches you things like how to go about crossing main roads, junctions and things like that.

So, the cycling group has built your confidence?

Yes, I feel very confident now on the road. It doesn't bother me at all. We cycle alternate Wednesday evenings, and we do a Saturday morning cycle which is a lot longer.

You also cycle with your grandchildren. Where do you go?

We like to use the Spen Valley Greenway a lot. We take picnics, we go to all the local places like Pugneys Country Park, Newmillerdam Country Park and Stanley Ferry. Anywhere there're lots of trees the kids can climb on.

They love the sculptures on the Spen Valley greenway. There's some sheep sculptures and things they can climb on and there's a little wood you can have a picnic in. We make it an adventure. It's not all just cycling. We go up to Sandal Castle, we go around Pugneys, then they play at Sandal Castle, then it’s back on the bikes and home.

Has cycling made a difference to your life?

I can say it has definitely benefited me health and fitness wise. When I retired, I made a pledge to myself that for any journey less than five kilometres, I would try to walk or cycle it.

And that was really for the environment. But also, we went down to one car, so I wanted to make sure we're not wasting time, effort and money going by car for very short journeys.

What motivates you to keep cycling?

One of the main reasons I started cycling was for my grandchildren. I want to keep fit for them. When I worked, I did a lot with older people and there was a lot about how important it is to keep fit in later life.

And I think that with so much stress and anxiety, wellbeing is important. I want to practice what I try to preach to everybody I come across, when I tell them you need to keep fit.

What advice would you give anyone thinking about cycling?

You need to be outdoors as much as you can, just wrap up, get out there. To someone just thinking about it, I'd say, borrow a bike, go out with your children. You see lots of people running alongside their children and you think get a bike, go with them. Just build it up and take baby steps to get confident. You can also join a group, make new friends with the same interests and just take it from there.

What three words sum up cycling to you?

If I were to sum up cycling in three words, I would say sociability, fitness and exploration.