Hi my name is Sam aged 29 and until the September before last I hadn't really cycled since I was a child.

I decided that I wanted to buy a bike to cycle to the gym rather than use my car all the time. I started my search on the internet for a suitable bike; I wanted one that was going to be fairly light, easy to ride on the road and bumpy paths. After reading reviews I decided I was going to buy a hybrid. I didn't want to buy a brand new one as they are quite expensive so started looking on eBay for a good second hand one. Whilst searching I came across an advert that said they had originally bought the bike to ride London to Paris. I immediately thought "wow" that sounds like a great challenge. I looked up online and it said that with training beforehand it was possible for anyone to do... so I signed up!

I wanted to cycle with a group to gain my confidence so I looked up on the internet for local cycling groups. This is when I came across Portsmouth CTC. I noticed they ran a few cycle rides a week, one on a Wednesday and a few over the weekends. I have Wednesday's off so that was ideal.

I turned up one Wednesday morning and everyone welcomed me. I was scared that I wasn't able to do the distance as I had never ridden more than 10 miles before, but I surprised myself and managed to complete the morning ride of about 30 miles. I then started going weekly and with the support of everyone in the CTC soon gained confidence and miles. I was amazed each week I would go home so ecstatic of the distance I had managed to do each time. In April last year I bought a road bike as realised that I was only using the bike for road and was told it would help me for my challenge ahead. Over time my legs got stronger and one of the cycling members said I should go up into the faster group. Again I was unsure but after trying it out I realised I could do it!

My cycle trip to Paris soon came round in July 2015 - I managed to cycle 316 miles from London to Paris. It was hard work, with some very challenging hills and long distances to ride each day but after 4 days I eventually found my self underneath the Eiffel tower. Wow, such an experience and to think that a year before hand I hadn't ridden a bike in many years. It was amazing and I would like to thank the CTC for all their encouragement and support they gave me.

If you think you can't do it, think again. Cycling is not only great exercise but you get to see the country in a different way and you'll surprise yourself at just how far you can go.

How has being a member of CTC helped me?

A part of my working life has been with Sussex Police as a traffic officer and the last ten years, before retiring, I was involved in close protection security, this required the highest levels of fitness, so I started speed walking for 6-8 miles, progressed this and became a Nordic walking instructor.

Unfortunately, a few years ago I developed a serious blood disorder and was put on tablet form chemotherapy that I still take to this day. I retired at 65 and then developed a spinal disorder that over the past five years has deteriorated quite significantly and recently causing me to loose the feeling in both legs.

Two years ago I had to stop my Nordic walking due to my medical conditions and became concerned that my general fitness would go downhill, so I spoke at length with my Consultants who suggested I take up riding a bike, as this would not be load-bearing on my spine and would give me the exercise I needed.

In August 2014 I was recommended by a friend to join the CTC, and what a change this has made to my life. In September of that year I did the 30 mile Ruby run for the "Rowans Hospice", something I would never have thought I could do and over this period my fitness levels have gone up, my blood pressure has decreased and I now ride up hills that I would have had to walk!

An even bigger bonus with CTC, is I have met a really nice group of people to enjoy a Wednesday ride with and the most important factor is they all genuinely care, I'm never made to feel bad or I'm holding up the group if my health takes a downward turn due to pain or dehydration. No, there is always someone who will turn back and check to see I'm OK! I never feel concerned for my safety.

To be a member of CTC you don’t have to be a dedicated racing cyclist, they cater for everyone, as my case has proved and I have gone from riding 16 miles locally, to riding out to Arundel or Winchester some 68 miles return and I'm 70 with health issues, what more of a recommendation do you need.

I have always had a bicycle – cycled to school, cycled to college, to the shops, etc, etc. However, I had never really cycled any challenging distances or more challenging rides. When I met my husband we started to cycle together using mountain bikes both on and off road. Initially this was quite amusing (for me anyway) for all the wrong reasons – Bill had not been on a bike since he was a child and so was not that stable or confident initially. Several times I would turn round to see him upturned in to the mud. Fortunately never hurt apart from his pride!

We started doing more challenging rides and, when Bill moved to Hayling, we decided to cycle the South Downs Way over 4 days. We practised and, finally, we were off. What a trip we LOVED it!

We then saw the coast to coast ride (St Bees to Tynemouth) we thought that could be our next trip. We managed to persuade 4 other friends to join us. We used a travel company to book accommodation and bags were transported - maximum of 30 miles a day. We all succeeded and loved it. We had lots of coffee, cake and food stops! All of us have continued to cycle to a greater or lesser degree!

Next - My best mate and I had always had on a bucket list – cycling Lands End to John O’Groats. When I moved down to Hayling Island in August 2014 this seemed to be our opportunity as I would be working less and our dates could work – but how to do it!? Longer distances and stamina would be required and a decision about whether we could carry our own stuff. A trip to the Inner Hebrides with friends proved we could carry everything but we were still only doing 30 miles max a day.

I had spotted a Portsmouth CTC flyer in the local bike shop. I contacted the ride leader for that week via the website and asked loads of questions which he patiently answered! Finally with some fear and trepidation I went along on the Wednesday with my newish hybrid bike. I wasn't sure whether I would just go to coffee or the whole ride as I had only completed a maximum of 30 miles before. I completed the whole ride due to the positive encouragement and kindness of other riders. I continued attending whenever I could and even managed 70 miles including my cycle on and off the Island to the meeting point. I certainly would not have thought I could do this without being with the CTC.

I shared with one of the CTC riders my intention to cycle LeJog as it is called and the next week he kindly lent me a book about the ride! So that was it – had to be done!? Initially it was just me and my friend but we ended up being 5 carrying all our belongings with B&B’s booked on route. Finally July 2015 we set off. An amazing adventure over 3 weeks which was incredible and made even better by the raising of money for the Alzheimer Society. I really do not think we could have done it without the top tips I was given about on-going maintenance of the bikes by CTC members and the increase in distances that I did on Wednesdays.

We then signed up for another different sort of adventure: The Hayling Charity Cycle ride to Le Mans and back last year. Can't imagine not cycling now – I'd never have thought that I would consider cycling to Compton for coffee and think nothing of it. Step by step – or rather pedal? Amazing – thanks CTC!

Hi, my name's Andy Henderson. Today, I'm a keen cyclist but until a few year's ago I hadn't cycled since I was a teenager.

My first attempt to ride a bike as an adult came just six years ago. My wife, Margaret and I had just seen our youngest daughter off to university and it was time to move somewhere new. We sold our house in Ewell and moved into a flat in Gunwharf Quays that we used as a base for searching for a new home. The flat had a bike store we used for Margaret's and the children's bikes. We decided one day to take a trip down the prom. I don't think we could have gone much more than a mile, but it seemed a massive achievement at the time. Eventually, we managed to get as far as Southsea pier!

Our search for a new home ended in Bacon Lane, Hayling Island. We took over the keys on Christmas Eve 2007 and we've been very happy with the move. We've managed to make a lot of new friends in a short time.

As part of the move to the coast, I decided not to actively continue my IT company and thought it might be interesting going back to a 9-to-5 for a change. I ended up at SSE and - when it moved offices to Penner Road (round the back of Langstone Technology Park) - I saw my opportunity to start cycle-commuting. I bought a cheap full-suspension bike from Halfords and headed up the Billy Trail each day. 5 miles each way. I wasn't sure I could manage it at first, but it soon became a way of life. People noticed I lost weight, I felt fitter than I had in years. I don't think I'd have had the confidence to go far on the roads so I was fortunate I didn't have to use them much.

In 2012, I finally decided to stop working. I was uncertain whether it was the right thing to do, but took the plunge anyway. I'd heard about Portsmouth CTC from near neighbour Robert Sebley and decided to go one one of the easy rides. I really enjoyed it - both the company and being taken through low traffic routes into the South Downs Country Park.

I decided to try one of the longer rides with the intention of coming back after the coffee stop. But, when I got there, I felt OK and carried on knowing that the group wouldn't leave me behind. I must have done 60 miles that day on an inappropriate bike and no cycling kit except a helmet. It wasn't easy, but I got a lot of encouragement - and no-one looked down on me. Instead, I was made to feel very welcome.

Since then I've become a regular rider. I've upgraded to better bikes. I use more appropriate clothing and I've learnt a lot about riding and bike maintenance. I've also lost 25Kg in weight! With CTC I've done my first 100 kilometre ride, my first 100 mile ride and my first 200 kilometre ride. I've become a ride leader and I'm a regular Dr Bike mechanic at RideLondon. I've also managed four Hayling to 'Paris' rides and done the Isle of Wight Randonée.

Portsmouth CTC caters for a wide range of inclinations and abilities - get in touch if you'd like to find out what you can do.