Projects like these are so meaningful. Having the opportunity of being able to learn how to ride a bike or further enhance skills in a safe space.
Boosting self-esteem / confidence, making new friends, promoting movement, and being active have overall positive health benefits.
Everyone’s resilience and determination were prominent. The individual progression and team spirit of encouraging one another was so heartwarming to see.
Apnapan is privileged to have been able to deliver this project and look forward to delivering more in the future. We are truly grateful to have been funded by Cycling UK through the Big Bike Revival programme.
Thank you to all the participants, instructor Arjun at Love Bikes, Simon at St Mathews Big Local for the venue, and to Sharen from Cycling UK for all the support.
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#gainconfidence
[Music] Uh, I always wanted to learn how to ride a bike. I’ve never ever ridden a bike in my 63 years and this is the first time I had this opportunity came across and I was over the moon and I started it and I can ride now. I’m so happy and overwhelmed with myself as well. So I wanted to learn because I learned it long time ago in India. I want to try again because I haven’t ridden a bike for a long time and I wanted to know if I could still do it and I managed it because I seen it from my doorway. I just lived across the road so I just seen it from the doorway because I joined the other group as well. So I like meeting other people and like joining the groups and I like riding bikes. That’s the reason I joined. Um I’ve not been cycling for about 5 years easy. So I’d lost the confidence and wanted to restore that to be able to cycle whenever needed. Just wanted to learn cuz I always wanted to ride a bike but have never been able to do so. So this was an ideal opportunity to learn in a safe environment. Well, it’s I think it’s a wonderful opportunity. Um and uh being with India the Upnakan group I think uh we’re doing a lot of things that we never thought we could do it and when on the first day I never thought I’ll ever be able to ride a bike and now I can. It’s wonderful. I joined the cycling course because I felt that I’ve lost confidence in riding a bike. I used to ride a bike in my teens and since then I’ve just never had the opportunity. Um, but since riding the bike, I’ve gained that much confidence that I can take the bike and go wherever I want now. Uh, because I’m a learner, I don’t know how to cycle. And it was something that I thought I have to do. The company, the instructor, the actual grounds where we can actually learn. There’s no, you know, it’s nice and uh safe and um Indy’s done an amazing job coming and meeting friends and you know try to learn again. It’s nice company. Everyone’s nice with one another and I enjoy cycling. I enjoy meeting people. I enjoy talking people and I especially ride riding bikes. That’s why I joined the group. Um being around like-minded people, having the ability to ride my bike without being judged and having laughs, everything the group everything but still I have a lawn the whole uh group you know the everybody supporting each other and the support and the use of the bike um and the you know it being in the safe environment so it was good. So I felt comfortable uh doing this for the whole experience really meeting friends and it’s a great achievement isn’t something you think that you can’t do and then you’re able to do it. So it’s it’s a great opportunity um achievement rather. I enjoyed the company. Arjun was very good at teaching. He had a lot of patience and I made a lot of friends. I enjoyed learning and our instructor was really good. Arjun and Indie was quite good getting um this sponsorship which we all enjoyed of the six weeks we had and got progressed. I can ride a bike from where a non rider to riding a bike. Amazing at 63. Now tomorrow I’m going to be 64. So I’ve done it. It’s come useful when I can’t drive the car. When you break down the car, if you had a bike, you can go, you know, in the town or anywhere else, you know, or go with the grandchildren, have a ride. The benefits are I’m getting a bit more exercise than normal and I enjoy it. benefit was especially meeting people and for me it was for exercising and this was for me not difference I already do this group I already joined the other groups as well doing down here so just meeting people meeting new friends enjoy talking I’ve got my confidence back I can ride whenever I want and I just just love Well, if we just learn to bicycle, do some exercise and make friends, new friends, go out, enjoy with new family and friends. Uh benefit is that I, you know, I’ll be able to ride a bike. So when with the children when we go out and hire a bike, I’ll be able to ride on my own without them having to do a tandem for me. So yeah, I’m looking forward to being able to just ride and feel the air in, you know, I think it’s a good exercise all around and it’ll be lovely to um do uh cycling with friends and have a social thing as well as it’s good for your health. I found a lot of uh benefits riding the bike because I’ve got a bad knee. It helped me give that little bit of exercise. The benefits were now let us how to cycle and uh the instructor taught us uh all the little um like tips of how to uh cycle and do uh like get our feet off the ground cuz it was quite frightening at the beginning and uh falling and all of this especially at our age and enjoyed it. Everyone’s resilience and determination is noticeable. The individual progression and team spirit of encouraging one another is so heartwarming to see. Projects like these are meaningful. Having the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike or further enhance confidence. Boosting self-esteem, making new friends, promoting movement, and being active have positive overall health benefits. [Music]
1 Comment
❤ Amazing! Well done All! 🎉