It's a fantastic feeling when you do your first pedals. It boosts your confidence levels and gives you a sense of great achievement
Meet Inverclyde Bothy and discover how you can get involved in walking and cycling activities and discover the benefits for your mental health.
What activities do you offer to help boost people's mental health?
The Bothy is helping people in Inverclyde to get back on bikes and our sessions are usually tailored around their needs. We offer 1:1 sessions or small group sessions and meet for social bike rides every fortnight leaving from the Dutch Gable House. People can use their own bikes or borrow bikes from Community Tracks. I also teach people how to learn to ride a bike, how to become more confident in riding a bike on roads and we also offer e-bike try outs. We also run bike maintenance sessions where participants can learn new skills.
Why is movement important for our mental health?
It's a fantastic feeling when you do your first pedals. It boosts your confidence levels and gives you a sense of great achievement. The same goes for being on a bike in general, being outside does so much to improve your mental health.
What is your message to encourage new people to get involved?
It is never too late to learn to ride a bike and you can still learn it as an adult. It's worth coming along and give it a go. It can be sometimes difficult to join something new, but everyone who takes part in our cycling sessions is enjoying it.
Comments from our participants:
"Being on a bike puts a smile on my face"
“Thank you so much for being so patient with me. I really enjoy coming to my learn to ride session”
“I think you are doing a fantastic job. You are such a good teacher, and your people skills are amazing. Everything you explain to me makes sense and I like how we progress each session”.
“Thank you so much for helping me get back on a bike after my injury and for suggesting to me that an e-bike would be ideal for my injury.
“It was great getting out today. I really enjoyed the ride, and I will definitely come back”.
"It was brilliant ! I really enjoyed it and feel more confident to do basic safety checks on my bike and I would def give fixing a puncture a shot now!
Author:
Chris Park
Publish Date:
May 10, 2024