“I never imagined myself actually riding a bike, until all of a sudden I just had this urge in me to get moving.”
Naila recently started learning how to ride a bike by joining the ladies weekly ‘cycle skills’ group based at the Bilal Centre, Junior Sports Hub in Harehills, an initiative set up for the women in the Harehills community to come together and try out activities to boost their health and wellbeing.
I decided to come along to the cycling group because I’d heard from other ladies in the community that they were really enjoying learning how to ride a bike. They’d said that it was a lot of fun, good exercise and very welcoming. And It is!
Everyone is really nice, and it’s all ladies learning together with a female instructor, so for me, it was something I could feel at ease with. I was a little nervous beforehand, and the bike seemed big and bulky to handle at first. You have to get used to moving in a certain way to trust your reactions, but I was so surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The venue that we cycle in is easy to get to and well known in Harehills, and it’s a safe space indoors, so I feel very comfortable. I always go home feeling good for making the effort to get there.
Now I turn up each week with my little girl, Zimal, who is at home with me. It’s lovely to know that while I can join in and learn, Zimal can play on her own bike.One of the ladies donated her child’s balance bike and it’s the perfect mini size for Zimal, so now she likes to ride with me and it’s like we are learning to cycle together!
I know for me, it would have been more difficult to join in with if I had to sign up to to the group beforehand online, or turn up at a park where the presence of men can make it more complicated for us ladies, this is why it feels like such an easy group to be part of.
“They know some of us wear hijabs and prefer to learn with women only to feel at ease, so that’s really good for me to know they understand some cultural choices.”
I’m aiming high, as I’d like to be able to go to the shops and get my groceries because I know I can carry them in my back-pack. If I need to pick up a prescription, I can cycle there too. There’s so much I could do. I would never have imagined this before joining the cycling group, it’s opened up new possibilities for me which is truly exciting!