Desola Adesanya, one of the founding members of the City Cyclers Club, shed light on the club’s participation in the 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon and its broader mission in an interview with Sports 247.
The club focused on cycling and seized the opportunity presented by the marathon to incorporate cycling into the event.
They cycled through the 42km course starting from the National Stadium Surulere and ending at the Eko Atlantic City.
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Adesanya explained that the City Cyclers Club is not only about cycling but also emphasizes social responsibility and community engagement.
On Saturdays, club members ride with community members to promote fitness and help individuals achieve their fitness goals.
Additionally, the club extends support to traffic wardens and roadside cleaners by providing gifts, food items, and water, fostering a spirit of solidarity and assistance within the community.
“Every Saturday we ride with members of our community to build their fitness and also to reach their fitness goals.
Some Saturdays we also reach out to the traffic wardens and the people cleaning on the roads.
We share gifts, we share food items, we share water, and anything they might need, we do that as well. And we’re generally just a networking and the fitness club.”
Established in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, City Cyclers Club emerged as a means to maintain fitness while adhering to social distancing protocols.
Adesanya highlighted the club’s role in combating isolation and fostering connections during a challenging period of lockdowns and restrictions.
Despite the club’s success, Adesanya acknowledged challenges such as membership turnover due to members leaving the country, necessitating continuous recruitment efforts to sustain growth.
Nevertheless, the City Cyclers Club remains committed to its mission of promoting cycling, fitness, and community engagement.
In addition to regular cycling activities and community outreach, the club also offers cycling lessons through four cohorts annually, catering to individuals with varying levels of experience.
Participants learn essential cycling skills, including road confidence and balancing, enabling them to join the club and partake in its activities.
While the club has yet to participate in major tournaments, it has undertaken long-distance intercity cycling events, including a journey from Lagos to Ibadan.
Adesanya revealed plans for future endeavours, including a potential cycling trip to Ghana, demonstrating the club’s ambition and commitment to exploring new challenges and opportunities.
Overall, the City Cyclers Club serves as a beacon of fitness, camaraderie, and community service, embodying the spirit of inclusivity and empowerment through cycling.
