Southern View: November 25, 2021

18
Thursday November 25 2021
ADVENTURES: Ray on the Benmore Dam during the Alps to Ocean Trail in 2017, and with Judith on West Coast Wilderness Trail in 2015.
Spin class cyclists gear up for off-road trip
CYCLISTS RAY and Judith
Blyth are scheduled to head off
today on a 160km off-road trail
tour, as part of a YMCA’s Life
Fit trip along Central Otago’s
mountain bike trails.
Ray, 79, who is the oldest in the
21-strong group, will cycle the
Roxburgh Gorge, Clutha Gold
and the Lake Dunstan trails over
three days.
Ray and Judith brought their
bikes in 2006 when Ray retired,
with the intention to stay fit and
get around Christchurch. A Life
Fit member for the last 15 years,
Ray has been on four previous
cycle trips with his fellow spin
class participants.
Ray and Judith are very fortunate
for the spin group, which
Ray describes as a mixture of
fitness and companionship.
“We just thank our lucky stars
that we have our health and are
able to do these things,” he said.
“As they say, you’ve got to use
it or lose it.”
Event organiser Jill O’Connor,
said the idea formed from a
desire for members to see cycling
as a lifestyle, not just a class to
take once a week.
“The goal has always been
companionship. We want our
spin members to feel confident
to go out biking on the weekend
with their grandkids and with
friends,” she said.
O’Connor said Life Fit realised
a lot of members were very fit
and proficient on their spin
bikes, but rarely went out on
their regular bikes.
“We find there is a huge sense
of achievement at the end of each
trip, and everyone’s confidence
just keeps building.”
Age is not really a factor for
the team and some of those who
find the trips harder are now using
e-bikes so they can continue
to participate.
The spin class undertakes a
six-week training programme
prior to each trip to get them
well adjusted to cycling outside
of the class and to ensure their
fitness levels match the difficulty
of the planned trips.
The programme prepares them
for riding on off-road tracks and
builds their experience of riding
in a large group.
The team of three support staff
are all experienced cyclists who
have previously led many Life
Fit cycle trips around the South
Island. They have been supporting
the participants through the
training programme and will
cycle alongside them on the trail.
Life Fit is a YMCA programme
targeted at older gym members
or those rehabilitating from
illness or injury. Members
focus on building stamina and
retaining strength through a
range of group exercise and
spin classes.
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