SURROUNDED by leafy green trees, lakes and flowers you feel a million miles away from the city centre.
But one of the top cycling areas for disabled and able-bodied riders is actually in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Holderness Road.
A gathering of keen cyclists, some novice, some pro, met at East Park in Hull to mark the launch of Sky Ride 2013.
The park is one of the popular locations for family rides and disabled riders and their able-bodied friends who want to enjoy a taste of nature without venturing miles out of the city.
Among them is Tony Saxby, 55, who took up cycling a few years ago.
"I'd always done a little bit of jogging and going to the gym, but it was a bit hit and miss and I could take it or leave it," he says.
"I'd always cycled, too, and I started to become a bit more focused and saw it as an opportunity to enjoy a sort of 'free gym'.
"I love the fact you can enjoy gorgeous countryside while keeping fit."
Tony, who works in East Park and cycles to his office from his home in Sutton Park, is now a Sky Ride leader.
He completed his training in May 2011 and now regularly organises routes for the Sky Ride campaign.
"One of my favourite rides is going down the old railway line on the Trans Pennine Trail to Hornsea, then across to Withernsea and back home through the Holderness countryside," he says.
"There is very little traffic on that route and a lot of it is off-road track.
"I like getting out and getting a bit of fresh air."
Tony will be leading his first Sky Ride route of the year on Saturday. It is for disabled people, who use specially adapted bikes rented from East Park's Aiming High project.
"You get people from all walks of life on the Sky Ride routes," says Tony.
"There is a real social aspect to the rides and a real comradery between cyclists.
"As a leader, it is my job to make sure everyone is safe and we have people at the back and front to keep an eye on the traffic – that allows the people in the middle to just enjoy themselves, chat and have fun."
Last year's Sky Ride Hull – the main event in the Sky Ride calendar – attracted 8,000 people to the city centre route.
This year's Sky Ride Hull will be held on Sunday, August 18, and see cyclists of all abilities take to roads which are normally packed with traffic.
But there are lots of different routes called Sky Ride Local, which are taking place before then.
These vary from family routes and cycles for novice cyclists, to longer trails for the more established rider.
Melanie Hudson, a recreation manager for British Cycling, says: "This year we have five extra disabled-focused rides and they are a mixture of inclusive and exclusive.
"The exclusive ones are aimed at building people's confidence.
"The inclusive ones mean disabled people can ride with their able-bodied friends.
"The longest one will be up the Trans Pennine Trail to Swine and back.
"It'll be really good fun and will be an enjoyable ride."
Compared with other cities, Hull has a great deal of people who cycle as part of their daily commute.
The landscape is a big contributing factor in this.
Councillor Terry Geraghty, Hull City Council's portfolio holder for public health, says: "We used to be known as the city of trolley buses and bikes – Hull is so flat, it is ideal for cycling.
"We had about 8,000 people at last year's Sky Ride Hull event and I am sure we can beat that this year.
"We don't want kids to be sitting in houses, playing computer games all day – we want families to go out together and enjoy a bit of fresh air.
"I want to make sure more and more people get active in their particular sport – I want to encourage that as much as I can.
"The more people we have out being active and enjoying sport, the fewer there are in the doctor's surgery."
For more information on the main Sky Ride Hull event and other smaller events in the area, visit www.goskyride.com and click on Hull.
Alternatively, type in your postcode to find your nearest route.
