IT'S been a tough ride for former serious cyclist Terry McHale, since a back injury left him unable to get on his bike.

But Terry is thrilled to be back on two wheels after winning a £700 battery-assisted PowaByke.

Terry, 59, of Welles Road, Chandler's Ford, answered a simple question to scoop the prize in the Winchester Festival of Cycling competition sponsored by the Hampshire Chronicle.

Terry was working part-time as a librarian when he injured his back after lifting something too heavy seven years ago.

He said: "I've been a cyclist all my life and when I was 40 I took up running. When I got to 50 I took up triathlon. At 52 I had my accident, which wiped me out completely, and since then I've not done anything because of back problems.

"This prize is absolutely brilliant because I don't have to provide the power to run this - I can actually use it and get out on two wheels again. It couldn't have been better."

Terry now swaps his car for the bike whenever he goes to the shops, swimming in Eastleigh and to enjoy his other major retirement hobby, photography.

There will be another chance to win and try out a PowaByke - which costs only 1.5 pence a mile to run - on September 22 during Winchester Alternative Transport Day.