As a kid in the 1960s growing up in Birmingham my parents never had a car, my dad always cycled to work and we did a lot of walking and using the buses. 

Having sisters and a brother, I remember we had a shed of bikes, and my first bike was a 14” 3-wheeler with a big metal boot on the back, and then growing up I had a mix of bikes cobbled together from bits and pieces and playing out on bikes was a big thing. Happy days.

I guess my proper cycling journey started when I was about 10 or so. My dad decided to take my brother (who was 5 years older than me) cycling to Weston-super-Mare from Perry Barr in Birmingham for a weekend trip, and thought me too young, so, in defiance, I cycled to Birmingham airport, about 12 miles away, disappearing for the day. Oh did I get a shouting at from my mother.

Inevitably, I eventually followed that with a ride to Kenilworth Castle with a mate about 25 miles away.

I enjoyed cycling.

Skip a few years and reminiscing to my wife, Jill. I mentioned I’d never had a new bike as a kid, she presented me with a bike as a surprise for my 40th birthday and I eventually got back into cycling, graduating to cycle touring around North Wales.

The success of the British Cycling Olympics team in 2012 meant there was plenty of sponsorship money about from the TV network Sky, so I was persuaded into doing a British cycling ride leader course in 2013 and I did what was known as led sky rides for a couple of years. The mission then was to get a million more active cyclists and meant leading members of the public on safety risk assessed routes and getting paid for it. It was an exciting time and fun.

For some 10 years before I retired, I had switched to working nights and sleeping days and cycling took more of a back seat against other activities. Now 68, and after suffering from a stroke once I retired at 67, I knew it was important for me to look after my mental wellbeing by staying active and getting out the house. Luckily, in April 2025 I found The Active Wellbeing Society’s cycling session in my local park, Victoria Park, and decided to go along. Straight away I knew this session had the potential to change my life.

Knowing the cycling routes around Tipton, I thought I could be an asset, so I renewed my British cycling ride leader license with a view to expand the cycling group. Leader to participant ratio is at 1:8, so in August 2025, I persuaded John, a participant, but now a friend, to take on a British Cycling activator role, which when passed, would mean we could expand the group to 16 participants.

Knowing TAWS’ brief is to facilitate activities and hopefully let them become self-sustaining. I think we were set.

For the last month or so, TAWS have stepped back from their facilitator role, and I now lead the event with John. So, whereas the rides were run for an hour and typically 3 miles long, the core group of 5 or 6 have graduated to riding 12 miles today on a mixture of minor roads and off road towpaths for 2 1/2 3 hours which has been very rewarding. It is still a fledgling group consisting of people who are free during the week, but with some promotion I think it will grow and include weekends.

This activity has changed my life now, I feel myself buzzing sometimes promoting this feel-good factor. The session has not only improved my physical and mental wellbeing, it has also allowed me to make new social connections, all whilst rediscovering the thing I love, riding my bike.

The Black Country, and especially the Tipton network of traffic-free green spaces, is a fantastic area for cycling and I’m feeling really lucky to be involved in helping to deliver cycling activities from Victoria Park. Having the bike hub in the park with 20 or so bikes available to loan really makes the activity accessible to so many more people and I’m looking forward to sharing some great adventures with those looking to join in.

To continue with my recovery, I have also trained to be a walk leader and run leader, and hope to set up new walking and running groups as a result. This week, John and I are looking forward to facilitating the ride for men’s mental health being run by Sandwell mental health team and hoping it might develop further.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and I hope it can inspire and help others to get out and enjoy your local green spaces and be active. Happy cycling!