The Cycle Path

Life Begins ... When you borrow your sister's bike

I only got properly into cycling when I was 40. My sister lent me her Claud Butler touring cycle, and I found out how easily I could travel on a good bike - particularly one with more than three gears, and without a child seat on the back or shopping in the front basket Since then I've cycled as often as possible, not only going out with local cycling clubs, or on my own to get me from A to B for utility purposes; but also on wonderful long tours such as from Le Puy to Santiago, all the way up Italy, and from Lands End to John o'Groats.

So what do I like about riding a bike? The cliche answer is 'the wind in my hair', and although that particular statement is true I rather spoil it by wearing a helmet. Actually, my love of cycling centres around being outside, exploring new places and countries, and travelling locally at a reasonable pace; fast enough to get to destina-tions fairly quickly but nevertheless providing that gap between leaving and arriving which gives me time to look around and appreciate the countryside. It's a feeling of relaxation, energy-giving movement, and peace.

I can understand why many people are nervous of enjoying all these benefits: it's because of their fears about traffic and I hate the pollution and congestion caused by over-use of the car. That is why I'm involved with the Stroud Valleys Cycle Campaign. We do our best to encourage people to make better use of their cycles: by working to get cycling routes built and improved. to make roads safer, to have good direct off-road routes built and maintained, and to get facilities like cycle parking sited near the shops and bus and coach stations.

And there are so many enjoyable things about the Cycle Campaign, as there are with membership of most groups with a common purpose: making new friends, social activities.... even the arrangement of an exhibition!

Sheila Booth is co-ordinator of Stroud Valley Cycle Campaign. She can be contacted on +44(0)1453 762233.
This article first appeared in "Flight of Fancy - Tour de Francy" a SVCC publication from December 2003.

Follow Duncan Mackay's LONG, SLOW & WIGGLY journey across the UK