When it comes to safe cycling you are never too old to learn some new tricks. That was the message from York's University of the Third Age today (Tuesday, June 25) as members limbered up to take part in one of City of York Council's much-lauded cycle training classes.

The council's road safety training co-ordinator Mieke Jackson is more used to working with school children and bicycling professionals like police teams and the city's cycling paramedic but tomorrow she is teaming up with the over-50s to offer her expertise.

Mieke has been invited by the city's U3A branch to help boost grey pedal power in the area. The York U3A group has recently launched a cycling group and is encouraging members to get back on their bikes.

Iris Wells, a local U3A member who approached the council for the training, said, "The U3A is a voluntary body set up for retired people who are keen to exercise their minds and bodies. We have just started a cycling group in York and this training session provided by the council will enable our members to feel more confident about getting back on their bikes."

Mieke will be staging the training session at the Millennium Bridge tomorrow afternoon with experienced U3A cyclist Ken Thompson. They will be joined by Diana Thompson, who is in her 50s and septuagenarian Barbara Davies - neither of whom has actually ridden a bike for more than 30 years.

The two ladies are keen to get involved in the new U3A cycling group which is staging gentle rides out into the countryside to encourage members back on to their bikes.

Their first trip was to Naburn and the group is planning another one next week (Friday, July 5) to Beningborough Hall.

Ken Spence, the council's road safety officer, said, "Road safety training is very important to people who are either new to or returning to cycling.

"Groups of all ages are able to benefit from the expertise within the team and the training that we offer gives the skills and confidence needed when cycling both on and off-road routes."

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