Spring, spring – it’s on its way

Well the sun has shone today, the warmest day of the year and it was great to be on the bike today, even had the shorts on! I was doing some cycle training today in a lovely primary school on the outskirts of Salisbury. Part of our route to the training area was across the water meadows and from there we got a magnficent view of the cathedral spire which stood proudly in the spring sunshine.

I have been busy working with British Cycling putting together a series of rides in Bath for their Skyride programme this summer which is a scheme to increase the profile of cycling and get more people out there enjoying this recreational pursuit.

At Off Cycling www.off-cycling.co.uk we have a maintenance course coming up next month and just hoping that the weather will stay fine particularly over the Easter period.

Happy Cycling

Salisbury City Church take to the hills

The first led ride of the year was taking a group of members from Salisbury City Church on a circular off and on road route up the Woodford Valley.  Despite the cold weather the wind chill factor was about minus 6 centigrade the group made it to the first stop a lovely old traditional English pub situated in the heart of the Woodford Valley. Here we tucked into some good old English fayre plus a pint or two. Even in the chillest of weather this valley is such a wonderful tranquil place as the River Avon meanders its way along to the cathedral city of Salisbury. It was pleasing to note that for some members of the group they found some new tracks they had not been down before so lets hope when the weather warms up they will explore them again.

Visit www.off-cycling.co.uk for your cycling needs

Not time to turn right yet

Guess who is at the back?

Nearly there

Boost for womens cycling

Received some good news yesterday in that British Cycling are putting together a new initiative to get more women cycling. Their target is to get 80,000 women cycling over the next four years. They are hoping to get 20,000 women cycling at least once a week every year for four years.

BC have been awarded over £900,000 from Sport England to help achieve these aims. They are hoping to put together 1000 female cycle champions to deliver rides, prepare routes and to play an enabling role to get women cycling.

At Off Cycling we are preparing to do our bit to help but on a much smaller scale and certainly without the funding BC are receiving. Look on our website at the scheme ‘Pedal Ready‘ we are running designed to help women get cycling

Happy Cycling

2011 is here and and a great time to get cycling

Happy new Year to all my family, friends and fellow cyclists.

Well 2011 is with us and just completed the first ride of the year. Did a 20 km off road route tried some new tracks which were really good. Had a beautiful buzzard fly close over my head and saw a variety of wildlife, unfortunately no deer which was a shame.

Turned on the radio this morning and first thing heard was the rising fuel costs so what better time to get out for some more cycling. It might not be any coincidence but I spoke to my brother-in-law over the Christmas period and he said that his cycling club have had a 50 percent increase in membership over the last couple of years – that is great news. With the numbers of participants in local Skyrides encouraging though room for improvement it seems that cycling is on the up and why should it not be – it is a wonderful recreation.

This year certainly looks an exciting year for Off Cycling, we have a number of exciting projects coming up including an activity weekend with a difference, hoping that will run later in the year so keep an eye out for that. Hoping to have the new website up and running in the next couple of weeks.

ITO does that mean good news?

Just heard some very good news today, as I was informed that Wiltshire Council has been awarded ITO (Instructor Training Organisation) status to help develop both new and old cycle trainers. The fact that they have been given this, may possibly mean that the childrens cycling scheme ‘Bikeability’ will continue for the forseeable feature. I have been told that funding is there for four years which is very encouraging.

The Sky’s the limit

As you may be aware I have been doing some promotional work with British Cycling and Sky this year to raise participation within cycling. Sky have set an objective of 1m new cyclists by 2013. I have just been updated with some figures and for this year throughout the UK cities that took part there were 11,035 Sky ride local participants.

I must admit on first reflection the figures are probably down on what I thought might be reached. However, it is only the first full season, so I would expect more next year, that is if the right promotional and marketing work is carried out.

There are plenty of people out there who are returners or who never seriously taken to cycling, well they are the ones that are missing out. With its health and environmental benefits, financial and social, it is one recreation which is great to participate in. So if you know a friend or even yourself that would like to take up cycling again, watch out the local skyrides near you and sign up. You will not be disappointed.

 

Is Bikeability in for the long haul?

Have just received a letter from my local MP replying to my concerns about the demise of Cycling England and the prospect of losing the funding for Bikeability. This is a scheme that began in 2007 and it is an upmarket version of Cycle Proficiency as it provides the opportunity for young children and adults to experience working with a professional cycle instructor and experience cycling on quiet and more busier roads. There are three levels.

I am involved in the scheme working primarily in Wiltshire primary schools and I really think the scheme is brilliant for children as it provides them with a life skill and gets them to have some proper cycle training. There is funding for 2010-11 but then the future is uncertain. Instead of Cycle England administering the scheme it looks as if the scheme is going to be under the wing of the DoT and then the funding will be put into the Local Sustainable Fund, so who knows what is going to happen with it after that.