Three years ago, mum-of-four Sam Quincey had never touched a bike - but now she’s leading rides across Greater Manchester.

She is among a squad of cyclists becoming the ‘pied pipers’ of two wheels - guiding rides, getting people fit and waging war on congestion.

The growing network is thanks to ‘Ride Social’.

With an emphasis on the ‘social’ and organised by British Cycling, it’s Britain’s biggest social cycling community, an online tool allowing cyclists to ride together and discover more, whether that is routes, places, or people.

The website allows you to organise your own bike rides using your favourite local routes, and also helps you to find new places that you wouldn’t otherwise have come across. You can share your ride for local cyclists to join and before you know it, you are creating your own cycling groups.

Buddies

In Greater Manchester, there are now 6,999 people or ‘buddies’ registered on the website, and 70,000 across the country. There are nearly 100 rides planned to take place in the area in the next few months.

Other programmes include ‘Breeze’ a programme for women cyclists led by Breeze Champions who organise fun, social, local bike rides with over 2,220 women from Greater Manchester having taken part in a Breeze ride this year.

You can also try a local ride in Greater Manchester with Sky Ride Local rides which are guided by friendly British Cycling Ride Leaders along scenic planned routes, and with different levels, there’s something for everyone – whether you’re building your confidence or already comfortable on a bike and looking for a challenge.

In all, there will be 300 of these rides across Greater Manchester and by the end of the year 22,000 people would have had an opportunity to get on their bikes across 77 routes led by more than 420 trained ride leaders and Breeze Champions.

Leading the way

Sam an asthmatic, took up cycling just three years ago and now she’s a leader.

She said: “My husband had been asking me for years to get on a bike but due to my weight I was always ‘if I ever do the bike will disappear’.

“But in late 2012 I was in the kitchen and just thought I’d have a go on one of the kid’s bikes in the garden - and I’ve never been off it since.

The customer service agent, aged 45, from Salford, added: “I’ve got two bikes now. Before I started I didn’t do any exercise - I was five stone overweight.

“I’ve lost two stone and I’ve got some to go. My health has improved.”

Sam started on the basic Sky Ride - eight miles - and progressed from there.

After getting more into the social side, she now guides rides.

She added: “I cycled 72 miles last week, I’ve shrunk three dress sizes.

“The thing about cycling is it’s not like running, it’s low impact, you get fresh air, you use your brain and think about what’s going on around you,

“It makes you feel young.”

Obsessed

Mum-of-three Joy Lummis, 51, from Tyldesley, is a bike volunteer for Wigan council, Breeze Champion and Ride Social volunteer.

Joy, who works as a cook for the council, said: “I started riding as an adult, and I’ve just become completely obsessed.

“Fitness has been a big factor and also the people I’ve met. I go out with my friends, find a route, and then invite others.

“It’s about showing people a new route that they didn’t even know was around the corner then they see their area with a fresh pair of eyes.”

Joy tries to ride her seven-and-a-half mile commute to work as often as she can.

She added: “If I’ve had a stressful day by the time I’m home I feel chilled out and ready to deal with anything.”

And Joy has advice for others.

“I’d say go to Transport for Greater Manchester, get trained up and feel more confident.”

Joy hopes the cycling revolution keeps going. She added: “When I went to Denmark cycling was so relaxed, they don’t feel threatened. I hope we can get more like that.”

Cycling is easier than ever

The Greater Manchester Cycling Partnership will make it easier than ever before for people to get on their bikes with the offer of at least 4,000 free places on organised bike rides on more than 300 Sky Ride Local rides, Breeze rides and Ride Social rides organised by British Cycling.

It's perfect for people who are building their confidence and are more comfortable having a ‘leader’ or those who prefer to take part in rides in bigger groups with matching skill levels.

It’s hoped as people gain confidence in cycling, they will choose to travel by bike over their cars.

Stewart Kellett, British Cycling’s Director of Recreation and Partnerships, is based at the National Cycling Centre.

He said: “What we have learnt is that we have to deal with some of the barriers in people’s minds. These include not knowing the great places to ride locally and not knowing the good routes. This means they don’t want to get their bikes out of the shed.”

He said technical troubles were also an issue - what to do if a chain falls off, if you get a puncture five miles from home.

The solution is group rides, led by more experienced cyclists.

Online revolution

Stewart added: “Two years ago, more and more people were using the internet to exchange details, routes and people started talking to us and saying why don’t we get an online tool so people can do it more formally.

“Now we have a situation in Greater Manchester where lots of people are instigating rides. All you need to do is put your postcode into the website and find people posting rides at different levels.”

He said: “Just like in the seventies and eighties more and more people were getting into jogging, now it’s the same with cycling.

“The groups vary in length and difficulty so it’s great for people coming into cycling.”

He said Manchester is moving in the right direction for cycling - but more needs to be done.

“Segregated cycle lanes do exist but they are quite patchy in places, but I know TfGM are keen to do a lot more.

(Image: Matt Ratcliffe)

“It’s about mutual respect too, the highway is for all users but the relationship between motorists and cyclists is not always the best.

“Both need to be considerate. And the safer you make the roads,

“We need to take the barriers out of people’s heads and social rides are a good way to do this.”

To join Ride Social visit ridesocial.co.uk and to find out about Sky Ride Local rides coming up across Greater Manchester visit goskyride.com