Two Sofa to Saddle Successes - The Class of February 2022

Back in February we ran our very first Sofa to Saddle course. Taking place over three consecutive Saturday mornings our course aims to give new or nervous riders the confidence to take their bikes onto the road, - either riding solo, or in a group.

Lis Searle and Ian Rixon were two of the attendees. Neither had much experience in road cycling but were keen to get out on their bikes more and thought the course would give them the knowledge, confidence and impetus to make that happen.

Despite the weather being a little cold on a couple of the mornings, Lis and Ian attended each of the three weeks. The first ride out was just five miles, the second week was fourteen, and the third was twenty two.

When the course ended both joined K20 and started riding out with our K6 starter group. Week on week they started to see their strength, stamina and distance cycled increase.

Fast forward to July and we can now see them cycling serious distances.

On the 3rd July Lis took part in the Channel 100 Bike Challenge. This ride is a 100mile loop around the Kent marshlands and Lis completed it at an average speed of 11.6mph.

On 16th July Ian took part in the Dunwich Dynamo, the 124mile night-time ride from London Fields in Hackney, London to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast. Ian completed the ride in just over 9 hours.

The Club is immensely proud of both of them and it just goes to show you what can be achieved with determination, support and encouragement.