With the Tour de France over and new cycle routes being built around Norwich, this summer is the perfect time to take up one of Britain's most loved sports: cycling.

One cycling enthusiast is Sophie Wright, 15, from Horsford, and a pupil at Hellesdon High, who recently came third in the national mountain bike championships in the West Midlands.

She said: 'I started competing as a cyclist when I was 12, although I have loved cycling since I can remember. I love the freedom and adrenaline, but winning is definitely the best feeling of all for me.'

She began competing after she discovered her talent by her love of participating in triathlons, and soon became regional champion in mountain, road and cyclo-cross.

Her best achievement to this day was coming second in a national mountain bike race in Sherwood Pines, Nottingham, against the top 18 under 16s from Britain.

Sophie said: 'This was a fantastic race, and it motivated me to get one step higher on the winners' podium.'

She also mentioned that her ultimate goal is to be in the Olympics for road or cross country mountain bike racing, as she's already on her way to the first step of the British Cycling Olympic development programme, which she hopes to be chosen for.

One thing that separates Sophie from her fellow cyclists is her relentless determination. This truly shone through when she had what could've been a fatal accident earlier this year.

She was training at the 2012 Olympic course and had a severe crash, resulting in her having a fit and losing consciousness, before an air ambulance was called.

Fortunately, she only came out with a broken collarbone and was told to rest for six weeks.

However, this didn't stop Sophie with her true fighting spirit from winning the title of regional mountain bike champion just three weeks after the crash.

To find out more about local group bike rides, visit www.goskyride.com/Norwich

Tallulah Self, 15, Hellesdon High School