About
The Breeze network from British Cycling is all about fun, local bike rides for women, by women – and there's a whole range of support, training and ride opportunities too. The network's informal and relaxed. It’s what you want it to be.
Breeze bike rides are free. Getting involved is easy. You can either use the Ride Finder to look for a Breeze ride in your area (more are being added all the time), or if you're interested in starting a group, why not become a Breeze champion?
Breeze is part of British Cycling’s commitment to getting more women riding bikes for fun, and encouraging more women to join British Cycling. Together we can change cycling for women. Be part of the Breeze network.
Made possible by Lottery Funding
Breeze bike rides are organised and supported by British Cycling. The network has been made possible by investment from the Active Women Campaign funded through the National Lottery and Sport England.
Thank you.
Latest news
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Cycle Your Heart Out in Richmond
Our first Breeze bike ride in Richmond Upon Thames is taking place in March. This is a heart shaped ride especially created by Cycle Your Heart Out, a website ran by Breeze champion Sarah Bayaidah.
Read More -
Breeze talks to one of the first female friendly bike shops
We visit The Ride Stuff in Rochdale to find out why they're 'Proud to support the Breeze Network'.
Read More -
More women on bikes is great business
We're launching a brand new partnership with the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) to promote female friendly bike shops.
Read More -
Milton Keynes cyclists urged to support world record
Cyclists in Milton Keynes are being asked to get on their bikes to help support a world record attempt.
Read More -
Cycling with style
Stylish girl-about-town-on-a-Pashley Jools Walker on why you don't have to sacrifice your personal style when you hop on a bike.
Read More
Your stories
Mother and cyclist Elaine Slater (above, centre) is showing no sign of slowing down for her age. Now aged 50 and preparing to become a grandparent for the first time, most mums might be harbouring dreams of putting their feet up. But Elaine, a British Cycling trained Breeze Champion, channels most of her spare time to help dozens more women discover the joys of cycling.
Elaine signed up for her nearest Breeze training workshop after celebrating her birthday. With a grandchild on the way, she realised she wanted to be as fit as she could for her age and help other women who feel the same.
“It’s not just about the cycling though,” explains Elaine. “The social aspect of Breeze is just great. Our post-ride chats have now become a part of the evening and it’s something we all look forward to.
“I’ve always been an active kind of person but discovering cycling took it to another level. With a grown-up daughter recently married and left home, and with time on my hands, I want to use my extra time to share my bike-riding passion with other women.”
Meanwhile Helen Mason (above, centre) says Breeze has offered her "a reason to get back on my bike". While both her husband and daughter compete in triathlons and are very fit, Helen is adamant: "I don’t do lycra and have no intention of starting!"
She loves her bike, but felt unable to keep up and wanted to cycle with like-minded people instead. So when she heard about Breeze, Helen was inspired to attend a Champion's training course. "It was brilliant, very relaxed, and even though I was the only one with an old-fashioned three-speed bike it didn’t matter because I felt accepted."
Now not only has Breeze given her the confidence to go out on rides with her daughter, but her mother-in-law has got in on the action too! "It’s given us all a new lease of life! And as if that wasn't enough, my mum has just sent her bike in for a service so she can join us too. It’s like a new craze that’s working it’s way through the ladies in the family!"
Rides
‘Bike rides for women? Great, but I’m not much of a cyclist. Are they for me?’
Breeze rides are for any women who want to get outdoors, have fun, be social and get some gentle exercise. Rides are between four and five miles. And they’re really local – in your neighbourhood, round the park or on quiet cycle ways and residential roads. This is no Olympic challenge and you’ll be riding with women just like you!
Our local Breeze champions will arrange a meeting place and plan a nice route, and then a small group of around eight of you will head out together. Bike rides go at a speed that suits everyone, so don’t worry – no one’s going to be left behind, and no one’s going to be upset if you feel like you’re going a bit slowly.
If people have time, rides will usually start or finish at a cafe or somewhere you can enjoy a tea or coffee and something to eat before heading home. When the weather’s nice and the ride is in the middle of the day, why not take a packed lunch and eat outside? It’s up to you.
The Breeze network is being rolled out across England over the next three years. Groups will be as local as possible. So if you live in the middle of a city that’s where our champions will arrange rides; and if you’re in a more rural area, then you’ll get to ride the lanes near you.
Above all, Breeze bike rides are fun. Of course riding a bike is healthy and good for you, but we’re not about cabbage soup diets and getting on the bathroom scales. Breeze is more a ‘slice of chocolate cake and some fresh air’ kind of healthy. See you on a bike ride soon.
The Breeze team x
There are currently active Breeze networks organising rides in the following areas. To find rides near you either click on the links to find their Facebook pages, or pop your postcode or location into our 'Ride Finder'.
South West
South East
West Midlands
East Midlands
North West
North East
Yorkshire
East
Champions
The Breeze network from British Cycling is looking for more inspirational Breeze champions. You don't have to be an expert cyclist, just enthusiastic and enjoy riding your bike! Three times more men than women currently ride a bike for fun, and we want to help close this cycling gap. Together with you, we're working to help thousands more women to have fun on a bike and feel the fun, freedom and fresh air that bike rides can offer.
If you're interested in becoming a Breeze champion, you'll take part in a fun one day ride leadership course, followed by a two hour workshop about the Breeze network where you'll have a chance to meet the Breeze team and other champions. In turn we'll provide you with free kit, British Cycling Ride membership (worth £24), and plenty of support every step of the way. Furthermore, to ensure you're able to deliver safe bike rides, British Cycling will contribute to a first aid qualification. Once you're trained you can organise, promote and deliver your own bike rides as part of the Breeze network. We ask champions to deliver on average 14 rides over the year to local women in their area.
We 've trained nearly 450 champions and we're aiming to increase that number to over 1,000 across England.
We'ill be announcing more courses in the New Year and they'll be starting in April 2012. In the meantime we welcome expressions of interest. Just complete an application form and return it to us at breeze@britishcycling.org.uk.
Once we have the course dates and locations confirmed, we'll contact you to see if you're available for the course closest to you. Click here to download more information and an application form to express your interest. Or call 0161 274 2117.
Breeze Likes
Breeze likes... The newly redesigned Patisserie Cyclisme site, full of recommendations of fab places to stop for cake and coffee on your bike rides! (Have you checked out our guest blog from Patisserie Cyclisme's own Louise Mullagh?)
Breeze likes... She Rides Brighton, a fab bunch of women getting on their bikes on the south coast. Go girls!
Breeze likes... Hiplok, the only bike lock on the market which is actually designed to be worn around your waist when you're on the move. Handy!
Breeze likes... Eggs for Action, a website put together by sports nutritionist Anita Bean (great name), with loads of recipes specially for cyclists (and runners, and swimmers).
Breeze likes... The brand new Active Hull website, full of loads of inspiring things to do for the women of Hull!
