'I felt better about myself and knew that I wanted to start helping other people' says Andrew
We caught up with Andrew in Walsall to hear all about how handcycling has changed his life.
Andrew has a love of cycling that started 50 years ago when he cycled from John O’Groats to Dover, covering a distance of 902 miles in nine days on a bike he had built from the spokes up!
Unfortunately bad health impacted Andrew’s life with several heart problems resulting in depression, isolation, low energy and Andrew putting on weight. He didn’t want to die and knew he needed to do something to ensure that he could continue to be there for his family.
That’s where hand cycling came in!
Exhilarating, exciting, freedom!
Andrew remembered the feelings that the ride all those years ago had generated in him and knew that cycling was what he needed to get back into. He found out about adapted bikes and found handcycling.
Forget the shape of the bike you are riding, just give it a go and enjoy it.
"I was worried that people were looking at me when I first started handcycling but just do it! It can give you freedom and take you places you have never been before. You can get a decent cuppa in a nice café too!”
Andrew fell back in love with cycling and quickly realised that he wanted to help others.
Once I started to cycle again I lost weight, I felt better about myself and knew that I wanted to start helping other people through cycling as well.
Becoming a ride leader
Andrew is now a ride leader and regularly leads rides for various groups from the Arboretum in Walsall. He also rides with two friends and, despite his family thinking that each challenge will be the last big one he takes on (having tackled Ride London four days before having a pacemaker fitted), there is no holding Andrew back!
“I'm planning my next long ride in summer next year, 200 miles in four days. I cycle with two friends in our group called the bone rattlers! We all take tablets so we ‘rattle’ and our bones are getting old so we are the bone rattlers!
With the right company and right surroundings you can achieve anything!
Andrew is a member of Cycling UK and has found the information and support really useful in his own cycling journey. Also the benefits he has through membership such as third-party insurance and discounts on cycle insurance.
“If I wasn’t a member of Cycling UK I wouldn’t have the insurance for my bike, there are a lot of insurance companies that don’t cater for the bike I ride but Cycling UK do!”
Without Cycling UK Andrew would have found it harder to get back into cycling and to find out about bikes that would suit his needs. Cycling has made a huge difference in Andrew’s life he is independent, in better health and has met some great friends along the way.
Cycling changes lives, so can you
You can help change lives like Andrew’s by supporting the Cycling changes lives, so can you appeal. Donate now to help create happier, healthier and greener lives though cycling.
Your donation today could give someone back their confidence and independence tomorrow.
Cycling changes lives and so can you
Cycling has the power to improve health and wellbeing, give people a vital means of transport, find new friends and learn new skills.
Together we can create happier, healthier and greener lives through cycling.
Whether your cycling passion is to support people to better health, to get more people cycling, to have safer and more accessible cycling for you and your family or to improve the environment, your donation today will ensure that cycling can continue to change lives. Please support our winter appeal today.
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