A FORMER stroke victim from Crewe whose 35-year-old bike has been repaired thanks to a campaign from a national cycling charity said she has been given a 'new lease of life'

Christine Cope, 51, experienced bouts of depression, panic attacks and feelings of isolation after suffering her devastating stroke in 2011.

A keen cyclist in her youth, Christine’s side effects rendered the idea of riding a bike again almost unthinkable.

“I went from being a confident, lively woman to someone who was timid and reclusive,” she said.

“My personality changed so much. Situations I had always been comfortable in suddenly became nerve wracking and I found myself getting emotional incredibly easily.”

Christine’s much-loved bicycle was relegated to the shed where it would remain gathering dust for four years.

Stumbling upon a Big Bike Revival event in Crewe, the sight of crowds getting their old bikes repaired by mechanics at CC Cycles’ pop-up shop got Christine reminiscing about treasured cycling memories from her youth.

Christine, who had recently started walking as part of her recovery and was beginning to feel confident enough to get back in the saddle, decided to take the bicycle to the store to see if it could be repaired.

Thanks to The Big Bike Revival – which was launched by CTC, the national cycling charity – and CC Cycles, Christine is now using it to visit her grandchildren.

CC Cycles, operated by Christian Concern from the St. Paul’s Centre in Hightown, Crewe, is just one of the centres to have seen hundreds of visitors thanks to its participation in The Big Bike Revival.

“I think The Big Bike Revival is a fantastic idea,” Christine said.

“It has given a new lease of life to not only my old bike but me, too, and the feeling of freedom and independence that I am now enjoying when riding it is absolutely wonderful.”

The Big Bike Revival is aimed at helping people to get their bicycles back into. The two-week campaign featured 1,600 events across England.