It’s never too late: meet the adults making big changes later in life
Share:
Some people never learn to read or swim or even cook as children - but with the right spirit there’s still time to make things right. I was 44 when I learned to cycle. I grew up in Yorkshire and when I was about five, my younger brother had broken his leg falling off a tricycle. We never had bikes after that – and like many girls my age of Asian heritage, I wasn’t pushed to do sporty or outdoor activities.
![[Donna Ferguson]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/03/04/Donna_Ferguson.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
It was only after I had children myself that I started to feel I had missed out. I also realised cycling was a good skill for my daughters to have and so when my girls got bikes, I decided to learn to ride as well. I knew our local community sports organiser was a keen cyclist. She offered to teach me and some of my Muslim female friends on a course called “sofa to saddle”. It’s like “couch to 5k” but aimed at people who have never ridden before.
![[Simba Kachere shot for OM]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ff926a14b22d1e45291ab0cd61cab629d4349e1d/0_726_5504_6880/master/5504.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
I’m a plus-sized individual and if I’d been learning on my own or on the street, I would have felt embarrassed but in a group, at a cycling track, I didn’t feel that way. We were all in the same boat. Learning how to use the pedals and keep my balance was really scary. At first, I felt an intense fear that I would fall. I saw some of my friends giving up and, being quite a large person, I felt vulnerable and found it challenging. But being in this group also gave me the fire to achieve what I had set out to do. When I felt despondent, the thought of being able to ride alongside my children helped me to keep going. I kept that vision in my mind.
![[Andy Scott shot for OM.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f44fadba191b1867e65d4f2d05fff1a93eb44519/0_1010_15702_9424/master/15702.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Share:
More for You
Top Followed
Trending
You Might Also Like
