Free cycle confidence courses and led rides this summer in Swindon

Are you tempted to dust off your bike this summer and try cycling? It’s a fantastic, fun way to get active and explore your local area and there’s plenty of opportunities this summer to get cycling for free! Swindon Borough Council are supporting the ‘Let’s Ride’ initiative, a partnership between HSBC and British Cycling to get more people on bikes. Let’s Ride is focused on giving everyone the opportunity to get in the saddle, no matter your age, ability or fitness level. These rides are not about providing how fast you are, rather a social way to explore and get a bit of exercise along the way. You don’t need an expensive bike or special kit to get involved (I personally think my 30-year-old Raleigh Caprice, a hand-me-down from my mother in law is the best!).

If you haven’t cycled for a while or are looking to learn for the first-time pop along to the County Ground Athletics track on a Friday morning between 10 and 12. There’s a free drop in session for anyone who needs a bit more support getting in the saddle. Bikes and helmets are available and the friendly, supportive instructors will ensure you’re looked after. There’s also a range of adapted bikes available to try, meaning that if a bicycle just isn’t for you there’s other options, including tricycles, recumbent, tandems and even bikes which fit wheelchairs.

There’s also free confidence courses being held throughout the summer in both Shrivenham and Wroughton. All are advertised on the Let’s Ride website and Facebook Page.

All set now? Check out the Let’s Ride website for a range of free led rides organised throughout the summer, from 3 miles to 30. Shorter rides tend to be flatter and mainly on traffic-free cycle paths whilst the longer ones start to venture a bit further out onto the quite country lanes in the surrounding area. There’s rides avaliable most weekends as well as during the week so head to the website and sign up to one now! Remember to keep checking as it’s continuously being updated as new rides are added. As a volunteer ride leader, I’ll be leading some of the rides, maybe I’ll see you on one soon?

Let’s Ride website: https://www.letsride.co.uk/