Accessible Cycling Sessions in Reading 28/03/2011
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Uncategorized.Tags: Accessible, adapted bikes, Berkshire, CTC Champions, Disability, Reading
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Young people are their families are welcomed to Palmers Park Stadium in Reading to try out a range of accessible bicycles. The session is run by dedicated cycle trainer Javed Saddique and trained staff at the stadium who work with the young people to build their confidence on a range of bicycles from tricycles to 2 wheelers while they have some fun!
The Accessible Cycling Session is a partnership project funded and supported by CTC Cycle Champions and Bike Club. Accessible Cycling was relaunched on the 7th of June 2010, where a range of new disability bikes were made available for young people and families increasing the size of the fleet at Palmers Park Stadium.
This session is aimed at families living with disabilities and – as I learnt from one of the participants – cycling is a fantastic opportunity for people to exercise and generally enjoy the outdoors even if they are restricted from doing other sports. One of the participants that regularly attends the session with his father told me that although he isn’t able to participate in any physical education at school he is able to use a bike.
The Accessible Cycling session runs on a weekly basis, every Monday from 5:00-6:00 pm at Palmers Park Stadium, Reading and is open for new families to attend.
For more information see: Cycle Champions Reading http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=5420
Accreditation for Bike Clubs in Beds and Bucks 28/03/2011
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, Leighton Linslade, Linslade.Tags: accreditation, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Toolkit, training, UK Youth, Youth Achievement Awards
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Leaders of Bike Clubs in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire came together with Cycling Development Officers to find out more about the accreditation that Bike Club members can access as part of the Bike Club membership.
The training day was an ‘Introduction to Youth Achievement Awards’ which are an accreditation programme run by Bike Club partners UK Youth. The awards are a flexible way for Bike Club groups to give their young people access to accredited activities related directly to their cycling activities. These activities can be extremely varied and span all sort of types Bike Club supported groups included those that are doing cycle training, media projects, bike maintenance, BMX bike recycling and so on.
The training day was a great opportunity for Bike Club leaders to meet together, learn about the best ways to introduce awards to their Bike Clubs and to feel more confident about starting to work with the awards.
To support Bike Club leaders UK Youth has produced a toolkit that gives an insight into how the awards fit into the qualifications framework and support ASDAN awards allowing them to choose the appropriate awards for their young people.
As part of the Bike Club membership groups benefit from access to a free place at a UK Youth run Introduction to Youth Achievement Awards training day, 20 free Awards booklets and ongoing support in delivering and moderating portfolios for the awards.
For more information about Youth Achievement Awards and UK Youth see:
Furze Down School win Modeshift ‘Cycling Initiative of the Year’ Award 03/12/2010
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Aylesbury.Tags: Bike maintenance, Bikeability, Buckinghamshire, Bucks, special school, training, travel planning
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Furze Down School has won the Modeshift ‘Cycling Initiative of the Year’ Award supported by Buckinghamshire County Council Travel Planning team and largely funded through the Bike Club initiative.
The commitment shown by Furze Down School to cycling has gone from strength to strength incorporating cycling as a physical activity and bike maintenance as a tool for alternative curriculum. The school has taken on a range of activities for key stage 4 pupils including Bikeability cycle training and bike maintenance workshops where staff have been trained to ensure the activities are sustainable. The Bike Club at the school has continued to take shape led by dedicated staff who have a clear vision for school travel planning and supplementary activities.
The award is a great achievement by Furze Down School and the Buckinghamshire School Travel Planning team, highlighting a successful year for cycling at the school which also involved a trip for pupils to Parliament to meet MPs and Nigel Mansell to talk about their appreciation for cycling.
Pupils are enthusiastic about their Bike Club so far and here are some of their comments:
“I can now cycle to the town centre from where I live.”
“I mended my friend’s bike when he had a flat tyre.”
“I can now ride my bike to Aylesbury town safely.”
“If my bike needed mending I would know how.”
“I mended my friend’s bike when he had a buckled wheel.”
“I am now able to cycle from Dinton to Aylesbury to see my friends.”
Modeshift is the national network supporting sustainable and active travel for young people and school communities by supporting those who are working with them to achieve these goals.
See this blog for more information about Furze Down School Bike Club activities.
From Parliament to Bikeability
Up for a laugh? OYAP Pimp My Bike Comedy ‘FUN Raiser’, Oxford 12/11/2010
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Aylesbury, Events.Tags: Oxford, Oxfordshire, OYAP Trust, pimp my bike
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Their ‘Fun Raiser’ has a great line up for you to enjoy with Huw Thomas co-founder of Downstairs at the Kings Head hosting the evening with top comedians Otiz Cannelloni, Mike Maier, Steve Best, and Oxfordshire’s very own Rob Deering entertaining an audience of 700 people.
They will also have a raffle with fantastic prizes including a Saracen Tufftrax Comp kindly donated by Madison.
Saracen Tuffrax Comp adult Mountain Bike donated by Madison
Tickets are on sale now for a bargain price of £20 so don’t miss out! You can purchase them at the Pegasus theatre website: www.pegasustheatre.org.uk or call 01865 812150.
The Sheldonian Theatre, University of Oxford
7:30 pm Thursday 9th December
Doors open at 7pm
The Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
Tickets £20
Box Office 01865 812 150 www.pegasustheatre.org.uk
Young people get their hands dirty at Pages Park Youth Scheme 29/10/2010
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, Leighton Linslade, Linslade.Tags: Art, Bike maintenance, BMX, training, Youth Club
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Pages Park Youth Scheme launched as a Bike Club on Wednesday 20th of October with bike maintenance workshops. The workshops have given young people the opportunity to fix their bikes as many were not in a fit roadworthy condition and also to focus them on an enjoyable, engaging activity. 
The workshops provided by Sam Darling of MBRS UK Ltd are deliberately hands-on, giving the young people practical skills needed to regularly maintain their bikes and fix common problems they might face like punctures and brake failures. The young people are enthusiastic and energetic and approximately 30% have a disability which highlights how flexible and accessible the workshops are for young people.
The Bike Club at Pages Park will also incorporate an art project with poster and design competitions looking at bike design, cycling clothing design and also cycle safety awareness.
Pages Park Youth Scheme Leader Luke Del Greco says, “The group enjoyed all aspects of the training and not only did they learn about fixing and maintaining there bike they also learnt a bit about working together as a team”.
Leaders of the group are receiving maintenance training alongside the workshops to be able to deliver basic training for the young people in the long term ensuring the Bike Club can be sustained once the funding runs out.
Pages Park Youth Scheme is run on a weekly basis at Pages Park Pavilion Off Richmond Road, Leighton Buzzard on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:30 pm by dedicated volunteers that have shown a commitment to providing activities for young people in Leighton-Linslade.
For more information about the Pages Park Bike Club or if you’d like to join the group as a volunteer or participant please contact:
Bike Club Development Officer
07825983464
Tejesh.mistry@bikeclub.org.uk
Pimp My Bike… with OYAP Trust, Oxfordshire 11/10/2010
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Events, Girls.Tags: Art, Bicester, Bike maintenance, family, Fundraising, Graffiti, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Pilot
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Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership (OYAP) Trust has been working with young people across Oxfordshire on a highly innovative Pimp My Bike project. OYAP Trust has run a series of highly successful 2 day pilot courses for young people introducing them to the idea of ‘pimping’ their bikes ready to ride away in sparkling condition. The young people work with a bike mechanic learning to completely strip their bikes and put them back together to ensure they are mechanically sound. Then, with the assistance of a graffiti artist they bring their bikes to life with some audaciously stylish graphics. The project has been highly successful so far, blending bike mechanics with creativity through graffiti art and ultimately leaving the young people with a bike they can ride proudly around town.
OYAP Trust is the county’s voice for youth arts, leading thinking and developments that offer creative opportunities to young people, especially those at risk. They work on a premise of using highly innovative art projects to engage young people similar to the way Bike Club uses cycling.
The Director of OYAP, Helen Le Brocq has termed this type of innovative youth project as ‘irresistible engagement’, and from the success of the Pimp My Bike project so far, OYAP Trust has shown that this model could be developed across the country, and continue to benefit diverse groups of young people and families.
Bike Club is working with OYAP Trust to develop the Pimp My Bike Project to ensure it can become more sustainable and continue to involve young volunteers interested in art and/or cycling. OYAP Trust are showing their commitment to the project by seeking funding support from Bike Club and through other grant schemes.
With a history of successful fundraising events OYAP Trust have also put together a comedy night fundraising event on Thursday 9th December in Oxford to support the Pimp My Bike Project. The night will include a raffle of great prizes along with the chance to find out more about their work and to meet the OYAP Trust staff. More information about the Comedy Night will follow shortly.
Find out more about OYAP Trust and their Pimp My Bike Project. 
Leighton Buzzard TV Bike Club Meet Nigel Mansell 11/10/2010
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Events, Leighton Buzzard, Leighton Linslade, Linslade, Team.Tags: family, Film, Media, UKYouth
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Young people from the Leighton Buzzard Television (LBTV) Bike Club interviewed Nigel Mansell as he came through Leighton Buzzard on August 3rd. Nigel visited Leighton Buzzard as part of the UKYouth Nigel Mansell Fundraising Cycle Challenge to promote the charity’s Positive About Youth Campaign and Bike Club.
The community online TV show called Leighton Buzz has been set up to ‘provide information for the people of Leighton Buzzard and Linslade by the people of Leighton Buzzard and Linslade.’
As part of their activities they have secured Bike Club funding to encourage more young people to get involved with their activities and to learn skills associated with broadcasting including interviewing, film editing, and camera work. The LBTV Bike Club will also be active in covering the activities of other Bike Clubs in the area to promote a wide range of cycling activities being enjoyed by young people across Leighton-Linslade. Their work is also being support by Go Cycle Leighton-Linslade who run a range of cycling events in the town.
Young people from the LBTV Bike Club made a video of the event held at Danes Field, Leighton Buzzard which attracted a large public audience comprising of cycling enthusiasts and fans of Nigel Mansell and Magnus Backstedt. Members of the public thoroughly enjoyed the event on the last day of the Bike Challenge as the peloton including the Bike Club team made their way to London for the final leg of the 1,200 mile tour.
Interested in learning more about broadcasting?
Grab this opportunity to join a truly unique Bike Club in your area.
See the Leighton Buzzard TV website and email Co-Chairman Ian Steele at LBTV for more information.
Website:http://www.leightonbuzz.com/
Bike Club Haddenham enjoy the Mayor of London Skyride 01/10/2010
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Aylesbury, Uncategorized.Tags: Buckinghamshire, family, Haddenham, London
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Bike Club Haddenham took 34 young people and adults to enjoy the Mayor of London Skyride where they were part of the estimated 85,000 cyclists that took to the roads of central London on 5th September to take in some of it’s most well know landmarks.
Members of Bike Club Haddenham started their journey from Haddenham, Buckinghamshire and travelled by train to Marylebone Train Station where they then snaked as a group across London riding through Hyde Park and joining the official Skyride route at Buckingham Palace.
Taking advantage of 15 km of London roads they looped around central London passing famous sites like Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square.
Francesca Flaxton Cycle Trainer, Haddenham Cycle Training and Bike Club Haddenham Leader said “it was a tiring day, but an amazing experience.”
Bike Club Haddenham hope to discover new Skyride opportunities across the country in different cities and in the mean time they continue to meet on the first Saturday of every month at the Haddenham Youth Centre, Buckinghamshire for a range of fun activities including Mountain Biking, BMX and Bike maintenance.
For more information see: Haddenham Cycle Training
Or contact Francesca Flaxton
Support Bike Club: Vote for Family Cycling Project at Stowe Gardens! 01/10/2010
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Aylesbury, Events, Leighton Buzzard, Leighton Linslade, Uncategorized.Tags: Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, family, Mountain Biking, National Trust, Trails
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Following the great success of the Fathers’ Day Bike Ride at Stowe Landscape Gardens the National Trust now hopes the make the 3.3 mile all ability cycling trail a permanent fixture. The cycle trail will be open to the public for free all year round and provides a valuable family cycling opportunity in the North Buckinghamshire area.
Stowe Landscape Gardens has teamed up with Bike Club, the CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation and Buckinghamshire Extended Services to promote this permanent family trail. The trail will be clearly signposted with way markers and maps of the cycle route will be available for members of the public at the visitor centre. Families will be able to enjoy the stunning views and monuments found at Stowe Gardens by bike before heading into the gardens or stopping at the cafe for a well earned cup of tea.
Vote for Stowe!
The National Trust has been given the opportunity to gain funding support for this family cycling project as part of the Bovril Great Outdoors Revival promotion. This project needs your support to meet the costs for making this fantastic family trail available all year round.
Quick and easy step by step guide to voting:
1. Go on their website: http://www.bovril.co.uk/revival
2. Select ‘Find a Project’
3. Search ‘Buckingham’
4. Click on the spade and Vote!
This project stems from the successful Fathers’ Day Family Bike Ride.
For more information see: Fathers’ Day Family Bike Ride
Travelling in Style. The Elangeni School Cycle Train in Amersham 13/08/2010
Posted by Tejesh Mistry in Aylesbury.Tags: Amersham, Buckinghamshire, Cycle Train, School
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Elangeni Primary School pupils in Amersham have been enjoying a new approach to travelling to school. Jane Hall of Amersham Cycle Training – a local Accredited Cycle Trainer and parent – has supported and trained volunteers to lead a Cycle Train from a residential area of Amersham approximately 3 miles to the nearby Elangeni School. The school has an extremely successful approach to cycling and it was encouraging to see the new bike shed completely full.
The Cycle Train currently runs once a week and showcases the easy, green and quick way of getting to and from school. The pupils showed confidence on the road and were highly visible in a group, affirming a ‘Safety in Numbers’ approach as demonstrated by the recent CTC campaign.
Bike Club is supporting the School’s cycling activities as they explore further creative activities like synchronised cycling and a bike recycling scheme. Along with volunteers, Jane has driven cycling at the school forwards and I look forward to seeing what they try next.
For more information on Cycle Trains see these example guidelines or contact:
Jane Hall, Cycle Trainer
Email: amershamcycling@btinternet.com
Company: Amersham Cycle Training
Telephone: 01494 724025
www.amershamcycletraining.co.uk
