New beginner cycling sessions have been launched in Auchinleck to try and entice a whole range of new riders, from all ages and backgrounds.

The new classes will take place fortnightly, starting a beginner session before gradually becoming more difficult.

The difficulty of the sessions will increase in three stages, before being repeated for the second round of classes. All in, there will be six different classes across three degrees of difficulty.

The first class took place on Sunday, January 30, with the next due to be held on Sunday, February 13.

Places on the classes must be booked in advance by going to the Active Travel Hub Kilmarnock page on Facebook.

Each session can have a maximum of 10 participants.

Fay Podger, an officer at the active travel hub, says she believes these type of activities are becoming more popular, and she hopes it can continue to grow and ensure as many people as possible feel the benefits.

Fay said: “During lockdown, we saw how important cycling had become for so many people, so that’s why we’re trying to reach as many communities as we can.

“The sessions are designed to further their personal experience and knowledge for the cyclists coming along.

“That’s why they’re being done in progressive stages, so that people are able to build up their confidence and they can take on new routes or paths if they feel like.

“The first route is about getting your confidence of being on the road, and after that we add in a few more hills and tougher roads as we go along, so people can learn new things, but with someone able to assist them at the same time.

“Our volunteers having the local knowledge makes a big difference as well, because they obviously have a better understanding about what the roads can be like.

“The expectation is that we are able to link up communities and bring more people together.

“People have to bring their own equipment and book in advance, but we’re hoping to see a good turn out for this.

“The more successful these sessions are, the more chance we have of being able run similar activities in the future, so that’s why we want as many people involved as we possibly can.”