Breeze Group Rides – A night out with the girls, with a difference
Learning how to fix a puncture and give my chain a bath weren’t the only useful things I learned on my bike maintenance course. Chatting to one of the other ladies there, she told me she was about to become a Breeze Champion.
I’d not come across Breeze before but she gave me the low down and it sounded great. As soon as I was out of my overalls and back in the comfort of my own home, I checked it out.
The Breeze initiative was set up in 2011 by British Cycling. Its mission is to encourage more women to get out on their bikes, have fun and get fit. Through their website, you can quickly locate a bike ride in your area “organized by women, for women”. Rides are free and of varying lengths and degree of difficulty. There’s truly something for everyone.
I’ve clocked up quite a few solo miles on my bike in the last few months and thought something a bit more social would be fun. Interestingly the itineraries for most rides included a stop for coffee and cake – I was in!
My Breeze Ride
I chose something a few miles from home so that I could try a different route and enjoy a change of scene. My friend Gail came along too but spotted a problem with her brakes as soon as she got her bike out of the car.
As our fellow Breeze riders arrived, each one in turn gamely had a fiddle with the problem brake, rooted around in their tool kit and tried to fix the problem for her. And that was the spirit of the evening – a very friendly, sociable crowd who shared a passion for cycling. This was a night out with the girls, with a difference.
Our Breeze Champion was Carol. She expertly and cheerfully guided the contingent of 16 women around a steady ride of about 13 miles. Riders were of all ages and abilities. Most were Breeze regulars who confirmed that through the rides they had made friends and had fun while keeping fit.
I enjoyed cycling in a group for a change. There was all the fun of trying a new route with none of the faff of navigating. Breeze is a great initiative and something I’ll definitely be doing again.
For more information about Breeze and to find rides near you check out their website.
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