Community project gets adults back in the saddle

A North East community project is helping adults get back in the saddle with free cycling lessons, guided rides and bike repairs.

Full Circle Food Project operates the Cycle Hub, which supports people who may be returning to cycling after years away or learning to ride for the first time.

Free guided rides take place every Tuesday from 10.30am, covering around five to seven miles on routes designed to avoid roads wherever possible.

Bikes and helmets can be provided, helping make the sessions accessible to people without their own equipment.

The hub also offers free adult lessons covering basic skills including balancing, setting off and controlling a bike, with participants able to progress to road tuition when ready.

Sessions are generally delivered one-to-one or in small groups to provide additional support for less confident riders.

Participants do not need any previous cycling experience, with the project aiming to show that it is never too late to get back on two wheels.

Alongside training, its workshop provides servicing, puncture repairs, replacement parts and upgrades to help keep bikes safe and roadworthy.

Among those supporting the project is experienced cyclist Lee Malarkey, who has raced BMX since the early 1980s.

Lee competed nationally and finished second in the British Championships in 1984, as well as being ranked number one in the North East for several years.

He says the Cycle Hub is about much more than repairing bikes, with its guided rides designed to give adults who might be reluctant to cycle alone a supportive environment in which to build confidence.

Lee said: “It’s about getting people back on their bikes and giving them the confidence to enjoy cycling again.

“For some people, getting back on a bike after many years can be quite daunting. 

“Having somebody alongside you, a suitable bike and a safe route make a huge difference.

“And if the bike has been sitting in the garage for years and needs some attention, we can help with that too.”

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