“It’s been life-changing!”

Ellie got in touch with us last year to join our Start Cycling with Cake Confidence course and to get some Car-Lite Living support.

She said that she wanted to improve her mental wellbeing, do something out of her comfort zone, enjoy a different form of exercise and possibly meet fellow new cyclists. 

Ellie had an initial advice and cycle training session with a qualified cycle trainer, then a series of buddy rides with our Cycle Coach, Sarah. They rode some of Ellie’s regular journeys together – first to Tadcaster Road Post Office, then into town and finally a countryside jaunt out towards Beningbrough.

Ellie said to us afterwards – “I cycled to the Post Office on Tadcaster Road this morning as I needed to drop off a parcel. I followed the exact route you showed me and feel so proud of myself for cycling on the roads! Really enjoyed the buddy ride through town yesterday too. I really feel like I’m conquering my fears.”

“I’ve absolutely loved it. It’s been life-changing. I can really feel my confidence growing. I feel like I have so much more freedom. I’m so much more comfortable, not just on a bike, but in general.”

“I have history of anxiety, and it’s been brilliant for my mental health. I’ve also had lots of comments about my new physique, which is all down to cycling as I try to cycle for at least 20 minutes every day.”

“I’ve been getting out as often as I can. I cycled to Naburn Lock and the riverside vintage cafe for cake, I’ve been down to Bosun’s riverside cafe in Bishopthorpe, and in the autumn, I cycled along the Solar System Greenway to Riccall and found lots of weird and wonderful fungi along the way. I also really enjoyed the group ride to Moorlands nature reserve.”

A year on, Ellie is still enjoying cycling everywhere! Here she is recently, a happy and confident cyclist, underneath an old oak tree on the Solar System Greenway.