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Think of a cycling club and you may recall lycra-clad, 50,000-miles-an-hour cyclists who sometimes seem to speak a little more plummy than most, but Preston's representative for British Cycling, Yvonne Ashcroft, has other ideas.Sean Yates quits as Team SKY Cycling coach .

Yvonne is a woman on a mission and that mission is to get women like you, me and countless others across the county, a little bit more interested in cycling.

She says: “What we're trying to do is to get a mix and match of ladies from Preston and the surrounding area to train up and become Breeze Champions.”

Currently three times more men than women who cycle and Breeze, a national campaign and the biggest programme ever to get more women into riding bikes for fun, encourages them to feel confident and comfortable about going on a ride.

“Basically what the Breeze project has to do is fit in with the Champion's lifestyle - they do it when they want,Latest Discount moncler jackets men Online!” says Yvonne.

“We have one lady who is on sabbatical from teaching who does a Thursday afternoon and we're working with UClan to help more students get involved and volunteer. Now, as part of their work ethic students have to do some volunteering to be on their CV - this is brilliant for us because what better way than to get involved with Breeze?”

But as the dark nights draw in and the colder weather makes staying indoors all that more appealing, Yvonne and her team are just getting started.

“People are gagging for Winter rides - they don't want the rides to stop,” says Yvonne, “We used to have a cut off point at the end of Summer and it just kept rolling.

“As long as people dress suitable to the weather and in layers, they love it.”

Breeze champions organise fun, social, local bike rides for women at a speed that suits everyone. And, as they often start or finish at a cafe, there is always coffee and conversation.Bruyneel exits RadioShack Cycling after armstrong report release!

Yvonne says, “The rides are always social and fun and a lot of our ladies have made new friends and the Breeze champions get a jacket, t shirt, first aid kit bag and a tool kit that allows them to upload all their rides to the website that can be tailored to their area.”

Yvonne, who is originally from Wigan but now lives in Morecambe,Superb range of Garmin Cycling products at Wiggle, the online cycle, run, swim & tri shop. doesn't just preach about the rides.

She says: “It does get addictive, it's my job but I'm out every weekend on the rides - my kids always moan at me - It's because we have so much fun.”

And it isn't just the social aspect that keeps the ladies coming back for more.

Many of the groups attendees have noticed significant changes in their weight, lifestyle and general well-being that can all be attributed to their new hobby.

“Two older ladies aged 75 and 78 have lost an incredible amount of weight,” says Yvonne, “not only have they got a new friend base,All Kinds of SAXO BANK Cycling Jerseys,Wholesale Top Quality and Lower price Team Cycling Jerseys . their medication has dropped, their ailments such as dodgy knees have eased up, It's just fantastic what can change just by getting out there.”

Though Breeze is only open to women, men can get involved with British Cycling Sky Rides that take place regularly around the country.

Yvone says; “We have women-only on Breeze rides because we realise there are women from certain cultures who don't socialise with men so we want them to feel confident in coming out with us.

“We have bases in Avenham, Haslam, Ashton and Grange park with hubs for the cycle leaders to store bikes, helmets and tools etc so ladies don't need to even have their own bike - there are no excuses, we've covered all bases!”

“Why are women still thinking they can't do as well as men? Some of our girls have gone from lending bikes from us to getting their own hybrid or road bike because they've gone on our rides It's all about progression and the ladies are really chuffed that they have got to places they didn't think they could get to.”