It's never too late to learn how to ride a bike
Elaine Arkell had always wanted to cycle as a child, but wasn’t allowed a bike. When she turned 28 she was finally given her first bike, but after missing out on cycling as a child, she lacked the skills and confidence to use it. “I went out once on it and when I got to work everyone laughed at me” she said. After this, her partner at the time took her around Hyde Park corner in London, which made things worse. She describes the experience as “terrifying” and after that was far too nervous to try cycling again.
Now 50 years old, Elaine suffers from repetitive strain injury and chemical intolerance. She wanted to exercise outside to ease her symptoms, and found out about the ‘Agewell on Wheels’ project. It seemed the perfect opportunity to overcome her fears and rid herself of the traumatic memories of her earlier expeditions.
London Cycling Campaign’s ‘Agewell on Wheels’ provides cycle training and rides for the over 50s. Participants build up their confidence and control skills in a safe off-road environment before putting these into practice on the road. Elaine recalls the first time she went onroad with the group: “I was quite scared but I muttered to myself ‘little children do this.” Even when Elaine did come off her bike she got straight back on.
Some of the ladies who took part are in their 70s but it didn’t stop them all having a good time. As Elaine says: “I’ve been acting my shoe size, not my age.” Cycling has helped Elaine build up her stamina and she can now turn her bike around with ease. Her family have since bought her a bike which she considers to be “my favourite object, above all else.”
After attending the course, Elaine has offered to volunteer with the project. As she needs to work in an outdoor environment, she is thinking about becoming a cycling instructor. Elaine finds cycling a form of self-rehabilitation but also describes the experience as “life changing - it was the thing I always wanted to do.”
Elaine Arkell had always wanted to cycle as a child, but wasn’t allowed a bike. When she turned 28 she was finally given her first bike, but after missing out on cycling as a child, she lacked the skills and confidence to use it. “I went out once on it and when I got to work everyone laughed at me” she said. After this, her partner at the time took her around Hyde Park corner in London, which made things worse. She describes the experience as “terrifying” and after that was far too nervous to try cycling again.Now 50 years old, Elaine suffers from repetitive strain injury and chemical intolerance. She wanted to exercise outside to ease her symptoms, and found out about the ‘Agewell on Wheels’ project. It seemed the perfect opportunity to overcome her fears and rid herself of the traumatic memories of her earlier expeditions.London Cycling Campaign’s ‘Agewell on Wheels’ provides cycle training and rides for the over 50s. Participants build up their confidence and control skills in a safe off-road environment before putting these into practice on the road. Elaine recalls the first time she went onroad with the group: “I was quite scared but I muttered to myself ‘little children do this.” Even when Elaine did come off her bike she got straight back on.Some of the ladies who took part are in their 70s but it didn’t stop them all having a good time. As Elaine says: “I’ve been acting my shoe size, not my age.” Cycling has helped Elaine build up her stamina and she can now turn her bike around with ease. Her family have since bought her a bike which she considers to be “my favourite object, above all else.”After attending the course, Elaine has offered to volunteer with the project. As she needs to work in an outdoor environment, she is thinking about becoming a cycling instructor. Elaine finds cycling a form of self-rehabilitation but also describes the experience as “life changing - it was the thing I always wanted to do.”