Related content

Volunteering to take part in this year’s Macclesfield Bikeathon seemed like the craziest thing I’ve done on a bike since cycling in my mum’s brand new high heels when I was seven.

I hadn’t been near a bike since I was about 14-years-old and was nervous about the prospect of facing 26 miles of open road with the other 1,200 cyclists.

But after wobbling away from the start line and down King Edward street with all the other bikers I soon got into my stride and was speeding through the streets of Siddington with my keen co-cyclist and colleague Rhiannon McDowall.

Despite the wet weather it was amazing to see so many people give up their Sunday to raise funds for Macclesfield’s Park Lane Special School’s new sensory room.

The first few miles to the Siddington check point were a struggle and I was glad to stop and get a drink and give my weary muscles a rest.

As I continued through Lower Withington and Marton it didn’t do much for my ego when young children and pensioners started to overtake me so I stopped at the check points for a couple more well-earned breaks.

I’ve never been so glad to see Macclesfield town centre and could finally stop pedalling.

The day, exhaustion aside, was good fun and worth while as early figures suggest £25,000 has been raised for the school.