On your bike! Callan teen cyclist encourages women to a happier healthier lifestyle

A Kilkenny teenager has been named as one of Ireland’s youngest cycling advocates.

Callan cyclist Zara Edwards (14) has been selected by Cycling Ireland to help promote all that is good about life on two wheels and to get more people into the sport. 

“I am so excited about getting this opportunity,” she said. “I can’t wait to promote the sport that I love and to hopefully get more girls into biking.”

Edwards began her mountain biking journey by getting up on the saddle at just 10 years of age. Since then, her passion has only grown for the sport. She has taken part in a number of events and races, such as the Grassroots Enduro Series and Callan Cycling Club’s 50km sportif where she was sponsored by Advance Cleaners, Wexford.

The teenager is looking forward to her future in cycling. Her sights are set high - she expects to be biking the Alps in the not so distant future.

She explains the myriad of ways in which biking has helped her such as building confidence, fitness and meeting great people.

“Biking is such an amazing sport for both mental and physical health,” she said. “Cycling is both an inspiring and accepting community. The sport has led me to new experiences as well as relationships I wouldn’t have made without mountain biking.” 

When asked how she felt about inspiring women to lead a happier and healthier lifestyle, she gave a humble response -“I’m so happy to have an opportunity like this to be able to promote the sport I love,” she said. “It’s amazing to see girls go from having no confidence to laughing on a bike. I hope that will inspire more women to get involved.” 

Zara Edwards is well on her way to inspiring trying something new, like biking which could open a whole new world for women of all ages. A great achievement for a young woman from Kilkenny.