Anchor Hanover sets brand new Get Set, Cycle target

Residents of Anchor Hanover, England’s largest not-for-profit care and housing provider, have smashed their target to cycle 2,102 miles across the summer – the same distance as the Tour de France – as part of Anchor Hanover’s Get Set, Cycle challenge. 

Inspired by their success, an ambitious new target has been set – to cycle 24,901 miles, the circumference of the Earth. Anchor Hanover is calling on the public to help meet this goal, by clocking up their own miles, as athletes from across the globe take on their own cycling challenges in this year’s Tokyo Olympics.

The challenge relaunches off the back of research exposing the transformative power of physical activity during the pandemic, and the importance of keeping up good habits post-lockdown, to maintain and improve the nation’s physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Get Set, Cycle aims to unite the nation in a shared love of cycling, and help maintain wellbeing and strengthen community connections following a year of social restrictions.

The power of exercise

With the pandemic bringing about significant changes to many lives, people of all ages found comfort and purpose in staying active. Anchor Hanover’s research found that a third (32%) of the nation are exercising more since the pandemic began, with 67% of older people having either maintained or increased their levels of exercise since March 2020.

Whether for getting around or to stay active, cycling in particular has proven to play an important part of many people’s lives during the pandemic. The sales of adult bikes skyrocketed* and cycling was the second most preferred form of exercise throughout.

The benefits of staying active in a challenging time are clear, with 59% of older people saying it helped them to stay physically healthy and improve their mental health, and 44% saying it gave them a sense of purpose and fulfilment. 

However, the UK is at a crucial turning point when it comes to maintaining the good habits developed in lockdown. One in five of the nation (21%) are already exercising less since restrictions started lifting.

Get Set, Cycle

Get Set, Cycle aims to provide an accessible and inclusive solution to keep up positive fitness habits, whilst uniting people through a shared passion following a year of social restrictions.

The public can join the Get Set, Cycle challenge by posting the number of miles they’ve cycled on social media, using the #GetSetCycle hashtag. Find out more about the challenge and how to get involved at anchorhanover.org.uk/getsetcycle

Get Set, Cycle was inspired by how Anchor Hanover’s residents embraced physical activity during the pandemic. Having access to specialist technology that enabled residents in care homes to cycle, regardless of their ability, had a particularly positive impact on wellbeing. This technology includes adapted bikes, specialised foot pedals that mimic the movement of cy-cling, and Memoride – a virtual reality tool that can project local roads and locations from residents’ past – allowing them to literally cycle down memory lane.

Jane Ashcroft CBE, Chief Executive of Anchor Hanover, said: 

Across our services, we see the transformative power that staying active has on our residents’ wellbeing and sense of fulfilment. Regardless of their previous experience, or the mobility challenges for some in later life, residents have embraced specialist technology enabling them to cycle, and this has inspired the Get Set, Cycle challenge. It’s a fun way to keep up good fitness habits and bring people together, following what has been a challenging year for all. We’re calling on people across the country to get involved and help us cycle the circumference of the Earth and log their miles, cycling or walking, using #GetSetCycle.