At first I wasn’t keen on coming to the hop on sessions. Relieved to see so many others just like myself who were ready to conquer the world of cycling. However, as I tried and tried to begin to cycle, it just wasn’t happening for me. It seemed so difficult, yet my youngest eight year old happily cycles an adult bike, so there should be a very small chance I could someday learn. I was nowhere near giving up. After few good sessions of bike riding maybe, I thought it is not for me. Then one of the instructor’s gave me a little confidence boost and that day, without giving up, I suddenly began to cycle without support. That feeling was absolutely wonderful, just like I was a five year old again. I was so satisfied with myself. All thanks to hop on. Especially Fozia and Shahida. Couldn’t have done it without them.

Fozia, I just want to say a HUGE thank you to you for organising such a beautiful day out for me and my girls.

We’ve never been to Sherwood Forest before and couldn’t believe how wonderful and scenic this place was. What made it even more lovely was the company of everybody else.

5 weeks ago we weren’t even bike riders, so from that to cycling in Clumber Park was a huge achievement!!

Fozia your a great teacher, you’re so cool, calm and collected and showed professionalism and friendliness throughout the whole trip.

I felt like I had lost out on all those years off not cycling until I joined the group. So Thank you for igniting this passion!!

I am already making plans to go out with my husband and kids to Clumber Park and experience the whole adventure again!!!

Since joining the cycling group, I have grown in confidence. My last experience of riding a bike was as a child.
So when this opportunity came my way, I didn’t think twice. It has always been a dream of mine to get back on a bike.
One of the main factors for me was being provided with a bike and helmet to do this.
This definitely was a key factor as it gave me the opportunity to give cycling a go without investing in such things.
Since joining the group, my love for cycling has grown. Fozia and Shahida have been a fantastic support and I really appreciate the time and the effort that they put into running this.
Cycling has really helped build on my confidence and stamina. I am looking forward to investing in a bike so that I can share my love for cycling with my children.

I initially started my cycling lessons with much trepidation although it was an ambition of mine to learn how to ride a bike.

Unsure of whether at my age I’d be even able to balance on a bike, let alone ride one, I was given some confidence to join, by the fact that it was an all ladies group and run very locally at a convenient time on the weekends.
Fozia and her team were very patient and instilled confidence in all the ladies, working very well with all the different abilities within the group. It took me a while to simply just balance on the bike but when I eventually succeeded, I felt an immense sense of achievement. My confidence developed as I managed to stay on from one end of the hall to the other. More challenges came when trying to turn corners, knocking into walls, cones and into each other. Bumps and bruises galore!

We started practicing outside the centre after a few months and it was a different feeling altogether. It was great to feel the fresh air on my face. Our confidence grew with great teachers who supported us with words of encouragement constantly. A few months and we were riding quite well!!

When Fozia asked if we wanted to on the Greenway, we were all very nervous. Very much out of our comfort zone, riding in public. I could envisage falls and grazed knees!!
We started our rides on the Greenway, learning different skills all the time. Learning when to change gears, being constantly aware of others on the Greenway and huffing and puffing uphill. And of course, there was the epic fall…war wounds!!!

My confidence has grown week by week and I love the freedom I feel whilst riding. I have have had such a positive and wonderful experience whilst learning how to ride a bike. I’d say this was all down to the tutors who have supported us all throughout this journey and made it fun!!

The journey that started off to learn how to ride a bike has ended up with us all making friends for life!!!

I was not confident at all coming to cycling, a friend of mine convinced me to come. I was nervous as I haven’t ridden a bike in over 20yrs. Fozia made me feel welcome and put every effort and care and most of all listened to me about feeling nervous. She showed me the steps on how to get on and off the bike, helped me to ride and within a short time I was riding, it’s an amazing experience and I thank Fozia for helping ladies like myself in achieving this.

I am an older lady (not mentioning my age) who could not ride a bike until I joined the sessions held by Fozia.
The sessions were held locally, which was brilliant, in a comfortable safe environment. The actual lessons were catered to individual needs which was great as some made quicker progress and some needed more practice to build confidence.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions which has given my confidence a huge boost that now I’m able to ride a bike on the greenway with the support of Fozia who has been an inspiration to Asian women and girls in showing us that whatever our age or ability we could reach our goals. The best thing is she is constantly pushing us to aim higher. I’m surprised that I can do nine miles on a weekend.
To better things!!!

All I know is that I am buzzing at the prospect of riding every week. I get the whole eye roll from my kids because it’s all I talk about these days. I didn’t have a clue what I’d signed up for, who the group was run by or who else was going. After having torn the cartilage in my knee, I had given up on netball 3 years ago and had felt deflated at the lack of sports/fitness activities left for me to choose from. Needless to say, I truly feel like I’ve developed wings, and that was after the very first lesson. I am so very grateful for your ability to teach what you’ve probably done hundreds of times before, with the utmost patience and compassion of the true professional you are. Your simple explanation of riding techniques has made the difference of giving me the confidence to weave through a crowded park on a blissfully sunny afternoon like a pro. (well in my mind anyway!). I just could never have done it without you. As much as I am aware of how funny we may come across to onlookers, with our middle-aged frames and hijabs flapping under our helmets, just know for sure that we are all incredibly grateful for this flight of freedom you have rekindled in us and the ability to let the kid in us surface again!