Bike ride organisation 'seems to bring out the joy'

Debbie Pentland and her husband volunteer as riders - known as pilots - for the bikes

A woman who volunteers for a company providing bike rides to socially isolated people has said it "seems to bring out the joy in everybody".

Cycling Without Age was set up in Portsmouth and Hayling Island in 2019 and matches isolated people with competent cyclists.

Debbie Pentland, who volunteers alongside her husband, said it was "important" for people with a range of disabilities to get outside.

Nicholas, who is blind and uses a wheelchair, said he spent most of his time "stuck" indoors until he was put in touch with the group.

"It can be a very long day when you're indoors, on your own, with nobody to talk to. It can be soul destroying," he said.

"So just to get out of the house for a few hours, enjoy the weather... it's wonderful."

Nicholas said the bike rides were "wonderful"

Another regular user, Pessie, said the bike rides enabled her to visit her husband and son's graves at the local cemetery.

"I can hardly walk," she said.

"If I don't go the cemetery, I feel more upset.... it's nice to go with somebody, and I'm so grateful to the bikers."

'Smiles on their faces'

Currently, the service does not run on the weekends, but organisers said they were looking to train more riders - known as pilots - so the trips can happen more often.

And the company has recently secured three years' worth of funding from local groups around Portsmouth, which volunteer Adrian Saunders said meant the organisation could now get a coordinator to arrange the rides.

Mr Saunders said volunteering for the charity made him "happy".

"I've got to see people having smiles on their faces and that's what makes it humbling for me," he said.