Riding as part of a group is a great way to get active in the great outdoors and British Cycling has come up with a programme designed to encourage women to do just that.
Breeze was created in 2011 to encourage women to get fit and have fun on their bikes. So far it has attracted more than 130,000 riders. The initiative gives women the chance to either discover or re-discover a love of cycling by taking part in local, sociable and fun guided rides, all led by women for women.
Breeze offers free, year-round women-only led social rides
The rides are led by volunteer Breeze champions who organise fun, social bike rides in their local area for women to take part in. Breeze offers free, year-round women-only led social rides run by volunteers, aimed at a range of abilities from beginner upwards, with a focus on enjoyment.
Whether you’re a lapsed cyclist, you want to improve your on-bike confidence, increase your miles, take on a challenge, or just have a laugh with other like-minded people in your area, there’s sure to be a ride for you.
Sue Jennings, a local Breeze Champion in Plymouth, leads a number of free rides for women every week. When Sue retired at the age of 64 she took the opportunity to get back on her bike. One day, on one of her trips up the Plymbridge Trail she saw an advert to become a volunteer Ride Leader and decided that this would give her something to do. She wasn’t wrong, and since then has led almost 250 rides, helping others to keep active and boosting her own health and wellbeing whilst doing so. Sue said:
“My own level of cycling has improved tremendously and I have been doing cycle touring holidays. The people who regularly come on my rides have gained confidence in their cycling and some ride to work whilst others take part in cycling events and holidays.”
Her passion to get women back on their bikes is infectious and at the age of 71, Sue proves that age really is no barrier, still regularly leading two rides each week. Sue has become a real advocate for women’s cycling in the city, working as a Sustrans volunteer ranger and as co-chair of the Plymouth Cycling Campaign.
Luckily for Sue, she doesn’t work alone; there is a whole army of Breeze Champions who put on free rides almost every day of the week, so there really is something for everyone.
Booking is essential and details of all rides can be found on www.letsride.co.uk. If you would like more information please contact Plymouth City Councils Sports Development Unit on sportsdev@plymouth.gov.uk or call 01752 307008.
Below are listed just some of the rides on offer…
June 4 – Easygoing Bike Space 2pm
June 16 – Easygoing Plymbridge Woods 10.30am
June 26 – Easygoing Plymbridge Woods 6.15pm
June 13 – Steady Coypool 10am
June 22 – Challenging Coypool 9.30am
June 24 – Challenging Rockets & Rascalls 9.30am
