A keen competitive club cyclist in my youth 89-93...I took the sport back up in 2011 and I have never felt better...cycling every week and entering regional and national cycling events has opened up new levels of fitness that I thought were long gone and 40!!

I have made new friends joined a regional cycling club The Manchester Wheelers and entered rides across the country as far as Scotland. Recently, with a group of friends, we have started our own cycling group, produced our own kit with members in the North west and a few in Australia.

Entering events is the key. It gives you motivation and a target to train for. In studies undertaken this is the main reason people train and stay healthy over the long term - without clear goals the rate at which people stop exercising is huge and the engagement with others is lessened.

So my advice:
Sign up for an event in whatever activity takes your fancy and stick with it...it can change your life...in many different ways