They have designed innovative computer generated light displays for the wheels of some of Blackpool’s new hire bikes. They also have a boom box bike playing themed music, which leads the procession. We coreographed some moves using the hire bikes and they looked amazing lit up against the dusk skies.

The actual event takes place next Tuesday, 31st August when over 10,000 riders will gather for a preview of the illuminations on closed roads.

All the Bike Club officers will be there and we will be joined by young people from Bike Clubs including the Windmill Group, the Boathouse Project and 45th Blackpool Scouts.

It promises to be a fantastic evening so if you fancy joining in the fun come down to St Chad’s (opposite McDonalds) by South Pier at 7 pm and ride along with us. You’ll be very welcome.

Riverside Youth Project new bikes and workshop

So far they have run a successful series of sessions with young people on day release from HMP Ashfield, the Young Offenders Unit where young people between 15 and 18 who have been remanded and sentenced. The have taken mountain biking trips to Ashton Court Estate and Leigh Woods.

In September, two leaders plan to attend a bike maintenance training, so as they can deliver bike maintenance sessions with the new equipment, and also maintain their new bikes. The group has good links with the local Police Community Support Officers, who have been donating old bikes for refurbishment.

They are doing this by teaching them bike skills and mechanical skills that raise their self esteem and confidence and also prove to them that they can work together and enjoy themselves. Often working in teams or with a hint of competition the young people come together every Monday over a 4 week period to learn basic bike maintenance ranging from fixing a puncture to repairing and replacing parts of the breaks and gears.

I joined them a couple of weeks ago and witnessed the epic smiles these children had on their faces for the entire time they were working on the bikes.  After fixing up the bikes, the children are then able to keep them, as a reward for turning up. I am not sure what was more inspiring – the Bike guru from Outspoken who had boundless energy to match the children attending or the smile and atmosphere the children brought to the place. The workers at YMCA Cambridge have done a great job to create such an atmosphere and stimulate these children’s minds so creatively.

Before to long I found myself cross legged on the floor working with two young people working out how we tension a chain on a BMX bike. This problem-solving was great for the young people and after a while we had worked out what tools we needed and which way to pull the wheel. The children challenged each other and through trial and error, and light hearted banter, we solved quite a challenging problem.

I am looking forward to seeing this fantastic group again some time soon. Their work is so important and it is great that Bike Club has made this happen. Looking forward to many more projects starting up in the same vein as YMCA Cambridge’s YISP programme.

The activities on offer were many and varied, designed to give all who came a taste of the excitement of the outdoors. So while some kayaked and built rafts on the lake, others flew down the zip wire, or tried out archery or high ropes. Yorkshire 4×4 were on hand, with their impressive display of off-road vehicles and Segways. There was even a bouncy castle, and a pretty decent bacon sandwich to be had.

But it was Bike Club who, with a little help, took a section of nondescript field and turned it into a playground for people of all ages and abilities, to try out some fantastic pedal-powered creations, including KMX Karts and a Megabike.  There was much excitement around the bicycle powered scalextric race, for a fantastic prize of a cycling goody bag including Cateye lights and a CamelBak hydration system, provided by Zyro.

The arrival of a very plush 38ft motorhome hinted that our celebrity guests weren’t far away, then the Nigel Mansell Positive About Youth Cycle Challenge rolled down the drive to a warm welcome from the crowds. The group cycled 1300 miles in 13 days raising money and awareness for UK Youth, as avid Bike Club Blog readers will know.

Nigel, his two racing driver sons and Magnus Backstedt (on Twitter) of Tour de France fame plunged straight into the action, despite having 80 miles in their legs that day already, with loads of energy and commitment. Magnus took on all comers in the slot car race, and Leo Mansell was keen to show off his racing pedigree in a pedal kart, but didn’t quite take to cornering on three wheels!

Thanks to everyone who made this great day happen, and especially those who made it possible for me to enjoy it too.

The Bike Bike Bash takes place at Avon Tyrrell in the beautiful New Forest, Hampshire, on 21/22 August 2010. It describes itself as  “The UK’s chilled out mountain bike festival”. The focus is on fun and relaxation with races, games and activities.

Add a real ale festival and a music festival and you have the making of a great weekend. What a way to end the summer!

By the look of al4d’s photos, the highlight of last year’s event seemed to be the lake jumping.

If you like the look of all this, full details are on the Big Bike Bash website.

Have fun!

Well, according to reports by the Telegraph and the BBC, yes they are.  Apparently, there is a new cyclist in town: the middle-aged man in Lycra, or MAMIL for short.  This new breed of cyclist is eschewing the traditional mid-life crisis purchase of a soft-topped sports car and is instead buying a bike, donning figure hugging Lycra and taking to the streets.

What are the reasons for this?  Is it men who simply refuse to grow-up?  Could it be that they are becoming more environmentally conscientious and are simply doing their bit for the planet by choosing a greener option for their journey?  Or is the answer a straightforward one - more people are realising that cycling is a great way to get fit, get to where you need to be and have some fun at the same time?  The reason I ride my bike is for all of those reasons as I’m sure it is for most other people, middle-aged and male or otherwise.

This invasion of MAMILs had not gone unnoticed by my local BBC radio station in Sheffield and I received a phone call from one of their researchers asking me to pass comment on this phenomenon on their breakfast show.

And did I do it?  Of course I did, it was too good an opportunity to turn down, and I’d be looking for every chance to shamelessly plug Bike Club as well.

Click here for the link to the show and fast forward to 1:34.40 for the start of the piece.  The link should be available for a week so enjoy it whilst you can.

The bicycles are being managed by Wheels for All, a national inclusive cycling project. Wheels for All are running free training days to enable as many leaders as possible to be able to use the bikes with their groups.

The bikes are located at St Paul’s Adventure Playground, and last Friday I brought them out for a ‘Let’s All Play’ Inclusive drop in play session for young people. The bikes were a great success, and gave young people with low confidence a chance to try something new.

There are several more opportunities to use the bikes through August. Today, Monday 16th and 23rd August at 11- 3pm, anyone of all ages can pop down to St Agnes Park outside the playground to try the bikes. On Friday 27th August the bikes will also be available for young disabled children from 9.30am until 1pm at the adventure playground.

If you are interested in using the bikes with your group or children you know, or getting some training so as you can deliver sessions, please contact Lizzie Evered, lizzie.evered@bikeclub.org.uk, 07825 983465

Once this class graduates the bicycles and equipment will be kept by the club so Lawrence Weston Youth Action can run their ‘Duke of Edinburgh by bike’ courses in future years. The Bronze group is heading out to Woodhouse scout camp in Almondsbury. The Silver group will begin their trip with an overnight stay at Woodhouse before setting off once more to Weston Lodge Farm in Portishead. Both groups are travelling along cycle paths and quiet country lanes.

Pete De Boer, Senior Youth and Community Worker, Bristol City Council said: “Over last few months these groups have learnt how to repair punctures and they’ve studied the highway code to learn how to ride safely on the roads.” The group are riding Trek mountain bikes, loaded down with tents, sleeping bags, food and spare clothes. Connor, from Lawrence Weston, aged 16 said: “We’re taking a Trangia [an alcohol-burning portable stove] and we’ve got noodles and pitta bread for dinner, along with fruit, pasta and cereal bars.

Cllr Jon Rogers, Bristol’s Executive Member for Cycling City attending the send off. Cllr Rogers said: “Cycle expeditions are a fantastic way for young people to learn more about travelling regularly on two-wheels. We hope that this Cycling City grant will not only set these young people up with a taste for adventures by bike but also future young people in communities around Bristol.” The group received a sum of £8,852 for the bicycles and camping equipment from Cycling City’s community grant and £1,303.50 from Bike Club. These bikes will remain at Lawrence Weston Youth Centre for young people across Bristol to use.

Cycling City currently offers a small events grant for groups and individuals wanting to put on cycle-related events. Interested applicants should contact simon.carpenter@bristol.gov.uk or visit www.betterbybike.info/funding-community-events for detail of how to apply. , who work with schools and community groups to offer extra curricular cycling opportunities.

Lizzie Evered, local Bike Club Development Officer, said: “I am really pleased we’ve been able to fund and support this project. Carrying out the expedition by bike is a great opportunity for young people to take up a new challenge and stretch their horizons. It is brilliant that this group from Lawrence Weston are blazing a trail for many more cycle expeditions across the city in the future. “Bike Club hopes to offer wide ranging experiences for young people across the city. Interested parties should contact Lizzie Evered, local Bike Club Development Officer on lizzie.evered@bikeclub.org.uk

(Top picture (l-r): Amy Parker, Sarah Goreeph, Connor Fraser, Peter De Boer, Becky Nash, Thea Cook, Ella Gossling, Laura Perks, Cllr Jon Rogers, Lizzie Evered)

(Middle picture (l-r): Sarah Goreeph, Connor Fraser, Thea Cook, Amy Parker, aged between 14 and 16, from Lawrence Weston and Sea Mills) (Bottom picture (l-r): Laura Perks, Rhian Findlay, Ella Gossling, Becky Nash, aged between 15 and 16, from Pill)

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

BBC Three Counties Radio’s Luke Ashmead was on hand to interview Nigel Mansell and you can see some of the pictures by going to this LINK.

The day was filled with enthusiastic members of the public enjoying the cycling activities on offer and the opportunity to meet Nigel Mansell in person.

The event was a huge success thanks to the support of volunteers on the day who manned stalls for the Woodcraft Folk’s Roadcraft Bike Club and Leighton-Linslade’s BuzzCycles Community Club.

The day was well attended as young people were able to enjoy testing their skills around the Go Ride Skills circuit run by Barry Gilzean (Go Ride Officer) and on the Cycle Play Site BMX Track with a CTC officer to offer advice and tips. There were Free Bike Checks offered by Go-Cycle Leighton-Linslade run by Sam Darling of MBRS and Bedfordshire Police were on hand to offer security tagging for bicycles.

The peloton left Leighton-Linslade to a great cheer wishing them well on the final leg of the mammoth 1,300 mile UK wide Bike Challenge in support of the UKYouth ‘Positive About Youth’ Campaign.