Blog Post
August 2025
The Joy of Cycling - Dennis
Dennis has always been an avid cycler. He started cycling in secondary school. Then he joined the Cyclist Touring Club (CTC) and cycled all over Scotland, competing in road time trials, road races, and hill-climbs.
Family life soon became his priority, and he was off his bike for well over 20 years.
In the early 90s, he re-joined the CTC and brought his fitness up to speed again.
12 years ago, he started a kids’ cycling club, which now boasts a membership of about 200! This was so others could experience the camaraderie he did in his younger years.
He even organised ‘Auld Guys’ bike holidays in the south of Scotland with a group of club friends, either cycling from home or basing themselves in a hotel and choosing daily routes.
At the age of 79, unfortunately, Dennis discovered a heart-rate issue, which caused him to have to cut back on his cycling. This is when he discovered Gear Up.
“As I was ‘gearing down’, Healthy Valleys came along with ‘Gear Up’ and offered an e-bike, which I have thoroughly enjoyed over the last few weeks. I can still get a good workout and ride as many miles as the battery will take me, which is a lot, but I can avoid the high heart rate problem by simply pressing a wee button on the handlebars!”
Cycling has been a big part of Dennis’ life. It has given him lots of friends, kept him fit, and he has been to parts of Scotland that not many people have. Gear Up has enabled him to continue with his passion.
The Joy of Cycling - Dennis
Dennis has always been an avid cycler. He started cycling in secondary school. Then he joined the Cyclist Touring Club (CTC) and cycled all over Scotland, competing in road time trials, road races, and hill-climbs.
Family life soon became his priority, and he was off his bike for well over 20 years.
In the early 90s, he re-joined the CTC and brought his fitness up to speed again.
12 years ago, he started a kids’ cycling club, which now boasts a membership of about 200! This was so others could experience the camaraderie he did in his younger years.
He even organised ‘Auld Guys’ bike holidays in the south of Scotland with a group of club friends, either cycling from home or basing themselves in a hotel and choosing daily routes.
At the age of 79, unfortunately, Dennis discovered a heart-rate issue, which caused him to have to cut back on his cycling. This is when he discovered Gear Up.
“As I was ‘gearing down’, Healthy Valleys came along with ‘Gear Up’ and offered an e-bike, which I have thoroughly enjoyed over the last few weeks. I can still get a good workout and ride as many miles as the battery will take me, which is a lot, but I can avoid the high heart rate problem by simply pressing a wee button on the handlebars!”
Cycling has been a big part of Dennis’ life. It has given him lots of friends, kept him fit, and he has been to parts of Scotland that not many people have. Gear Up has enabled him to continue with his passion.
