LCH tells communities to ‘Get on Yer Bike’!

National Bike Week was originally started in 1923 by CTC, the UK’s largest cycling charity, and is now the UK’s biggest mass participation cycling event with almost half a million people participating at local cycling events taking place across the country.

As part of National Bike Week 2012, LCH will be encouraging both staff and patients to get involved in local cycling events happening near them.

Gavin McLaughlin, Development Officer for LCH’s Cycle for Health team explains, “The aim of the week is to promote everyday cycling for everyone, and to get more people cycling, more often.

“Cycling is a fun, healthy, environmentally-friendly and low cost way to make short journeys. Nearly everyone has cycled at some stage in life, but a lot of people lose the habit as they get older. National Bike Week is a great opportunity for people to have a go at getting back on the saddle and to rediscover the health benefits of cycling - whether it’s for fun, or as a means of getting around.”

Some of the key health benefits of cycling include: reduced risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes, reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and improved coordination, strength. It also helps to improve fitness and maintain a healthy weight.

For anyone interested in taking up cycling, LCH also provides the Cycle for Health initiative, a guided cycling scheme around Liverpool’s green spaces and parks which runs year round to help people get back into cycling, or to get them moving again after a period of illness.

These guided cycling sessions run throughout the week, are completely free of charge and last for about 1 ½ – 2 hours each. Bikes and equipment can also be hired free of charge.

The venues Cycle for Health operates from are below. Their sessions will also be taking place throughout bike week.

Monday, 10.00am - Otterspool Promenade
Tuesday, 10.00am - Croxteth Park
Tuesday, 1.00pm - Belle Vale Park
Wednesday, 10.00am - Walton Hall Park
Thursday, 10.00am - Sefton Park
Friday, 10.00am - Calderstones Park

Gavin McLaughlin adds, “Over the weeks, I get to see real improvements in the fitness levels of the people who join us for these cycling sessions, participant’s fitness levels.

"But as well as the health and well-being benefits, there is a great social side to bike rides, and many of my cycling groups now also organise their own cycle rides amongst themselves.”

If you have a patient or a family member who you think would benefit from taking part in the Cycle for Health scheme call: 0151 285 4975