Get on your bike this autumn

With a promised Indian summer – there are plenty of opportunities for new or returning cyclists to get on the saddle and join a group.

Ride in the Park  – based at The Park on Daventry Road – runs sessions on Wednesday evenings and alternate Saturday mornings.

John Bennett who leads the group explains: “We cater for all ages and abilities, we have members aged from four to 80. We have a number of bikes including trikes, a recumbent bike, trailers and a buddy bike for people with cerebral palsy.”

He says on Wednesdays the Pedal, Ready, Go! sessions from 5pm – 6pm are open to all and are more focused on new or returning cyclists.  They help people  gain confidence in short sessions, with advice and guidance from trained instructors.

Alternate Saturdays are when the group goes “Out and About!” – meeting  9am at The Park Centre. Cyclists who are ready are taken out on easy rides using  local cycle paths in and around Bristol.

The new Hengrove Family Cycling Centre has also been running some activities for over 55s  including local rides, taster sessions, and one-to-one cycling lessons  as well as Dr Bike maintenance sessions. 

There will be a  taster session for the Celebrating Age Festival on Tuesday 27 September from 10am – 12 noon ,encouraging returners to have a go on traffic-free tracks, run by a National Standards qualified instructor.

The Centre also runs Inclusive Bikeability Open Sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am-1pm, Wednesdays 1-3pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm.

For more information about Ride in the Park contact John Bennett on  0117 903 9770/ 0773 7019116,  email john.bennett@theparkknowle.org.uk or visit http://www.arideinthepark.org.uk/

For the over 55 session at Hengrove Family Cycling Centre contact Fiona Lewis at Life Cycle UK  on 0117 353 4580 or office@lifecycleuk.org.uk.  For more details about  sessions at Hengrove Family Cycling Centre visit http://www.betterbybike.info/start-cycling/get-confidence/family-cycling-centre-hengrove