MICK Cassidy is a former professional rugby league player, who is currently assistant coach at Widnes Vikings. When not involved in rugby he likes to get out on his bike. Follow Mick on Twitter @tricky1173

The Northern Echo:

Why do you ride?

There are a couple of reasons why I cycle, firstly the most important one is I wanted to take part in a the Manchester 100 charity cycle race, to support the charity Joining Jack.

The charity is raising awareness and funding research to help find a cure for duchenne muscular Dystrophy. This charity is very important to me as Andy and Alex Jack's parents are personal friends and Andy played alongside me for Wigan Warriors in the 90s. Jack was diagnosed in 2011 with DMD aged four. There are more details at www.joiningjack.org 

Secondly, being an ex-professional rugby league player has its drawbacks - my knees are shot, so I don’t do as much running as I used to, but I still like my food, so cycling is the best way to keep myself fit and de-stress.

What do you ride?

I currently have a Dolan Preffisio with Shimano 105-5800 groupset. I bought this bike in September with a view to commuting to work on a regular basis through the winter.

This bike is ideal for this. I coach at Widnes Vikings RL and live in Standish, near Wigan which makes a nice 40-mile round trip. What I love about cycling to and from work is the thinking time I get, especially when the team hasn’t performed that well.

Where is your favourite route?

My favourite route at the moment is a place just outside Wigan and Bolton called Rivington or Winter Hill as it is best known. It has some great climbs and fast flats.

From Standish, the route takes me past Fredericks Ice Cream parlour which serves the best ice cream and coffees and makes for a nice rest and refuel. The route I take is around 40 miles. It takes me through Euxton, Whittle-le-Woods, over Rivington and Winter Hill and, depending on how I feel, either back into the Wigan area or through Bolton and Westhoughton. I like having a rough idea of where im going, but generally I try to take a slightly different route ever time I go out.

What is your best cycling memory?

My best cycle memory is probably completing my first serious cycle race which was the Blackpool to Manchester ride for the Challenge4Change charity in Manchester. I love the banter and nervousness you get before the race starts.

What is your most important piece of equipment?

This has got to be my bib-shorts. When I first started cycling I made a big mistake and bought some cheap ones, never again.

If you could cycle anywhere where would that be?

Tenerife, I’ve been a few times for a holiday, but never ridden over there. I know the pro riders use it a lot for winter training and I would like to test myself on some of the smaller hills.