Women's cycling leader clocks up 1,000 rides

Vicky Smith has led 1,000 cycle rides for women

A cycling enthusiast is celebrating leading her 1,000th ride aimed at encouraging women to take up bike riding.

Vicky Smith, 54, from Winchester, leads free bike rides for women of all abilities as part of the Breeze initiative set up by British Cycling.

The rides - ranging from three to 40 miles in length - are aimed at training and supporting women who are new or returning to cycling.

She described the rides as "a chat on wheels".

Vicky Smith trained as a ride leader in 2013

Ms Smith trained as a ride leader in 2013 after being invited on cycle, having not ridden for the previous 30 years.

"It wasn't a thing for me to ride for fun - now it's become what I do all the time," she said.

"Women lose their confidence in their own ability and physical activity is much harder."

She said the idea of Breeze is to provide "a safe, community space" for women to get involved with cycling.

"We're aiming at people who don't think of themselves as a cyclist to come and join us," Ms Smith said.

"Whatever reason it is you don't cycle, we can help with that.

"By the end of it, you can see it on their face - confidence takes a while to build."