Four years ago Jane Pickard was shy, housebound and depressed – going on a cycle

ride couldn’t have been further from her mind. Jane, now 48, from Newton Aycliffe said:

“Something needed to change and by pure chance I happened to hear about my local Get Active cycling group and that I would be given use of a bike and helmet and given some coaching free of charge. I felt I had nothing to lose by giving it a try. People were very friendly and welcoming and I was given some instruction which was very necessary as I hadn’t been cycling for many years.”

Jane’s life has been transformed – she not only goes on weekly bike rides but has taken the training necessary to become a coach herself and even met her partner Ian Maitland through cycling; he is also one of the cycling coaches and both will be delivering new Back On Your Bike’ beginners’ programmes backed by Sport England and Durham County Council. Part of the ‘Move into Sport’ 12 week courses to offer the instruction, equipment and camaraderie to be able to progress and enjoy sports like cycling, but also including table tennis, golf, angling, rowing, dance and many more.

‘Back On Your Bike’ programmes will operate in Newton Aycliffe, Barnard Castle, Bowburn, Sedgefield, Murton, Chester-le-Street and Stanley.

For more information about other Move into Sport courses visit http://www.countydurhamsport.com/physical_activity/move_into_sport or follow Move4Life on Facebookwww.facebook.com/moveintosportcd