Active ageing - it's definitely the way to go!

My feet didn't touch the ground today- back to back meetings, taster sessions

and manning a cycle promotion stand at the SportsPark at Reading University was the order of the day! It was certainly going to be a very active day for me......

I was pretty anxious about the weather and the potential non attendance of a group from Age Concern - but I needn't have worried, they arrived in plenty of time and were eager to try out the bikes at Palmer Park - for some, it was the first time and for others it was 30+ years since they last rode a bike.

The hour passed very quickly and the participants loved it and all were surprised that they had managed to do around 8 laps of the track - 2 miles, without much effort at all.

I'm hoping to get a regular slot with them, but in the meantime I will be signposting them to the weekly Cycling for Health sessions.

It was good to finally get an "in" at the University and a great opportunity to showcase my cycling projects and volunteering opportunities to the students, employees and residents living around the campus.

Burn Fat Not Oil is the University's theme for the next 2 weeks, with a great incentive scheme in place to encourage people to take to their bikes. A very positive session and I have a further meeting planned to potentially discuss a recycle project.

Can't wait.............!

Try cycling experience.........

In the build up to Bike Week, I have organised and funded 5 schools across Reading to have a ' Try cycling' experience and today was the first day!
Over the week around 1000 children will take part in both a fun playground cycling activity and a classroom based road safety activity - following the National Curriculum. They will try out an array of bikes - recumbents, tandems and for those who can't yet ride 2 wheels, there will be a selection of trikes and scoot along bikes, so everyone can join in with the fun.
I think you will agree- a fantastic opportunity to engage the next generation of cyclists'?
I'm hoping that they will be inspired to drag their parents along to the Family Cycle Festival at Prospect Park on Saturday?
In fact it would be great to see you all there - so make a note in your diary, as it promises to be a great day!

Grey skies.......

Oh dear, it's amazing what effect the weather can have on you - I have got use to the sun shining and pleasant temperatures. It was a shock to see the blanket of grey cloud over Reading and the rain falling this morning.
Though it didn't deter the die-hard Cycling for Health participants - all with smiles on their faces when I popped over to demo the electrically assisted bike.
It was good to catch up with Stephen - my volunteer who maintains the bikes and Binders Roszczyk - the coach, when we all took the new bike for a spin around the track.

This afternoon was taken up with preparing for the Forbury Fever event tomorrow, where myself and a Sport Reading colleague will be manning a stand to show case our walking and cycling programmes.
So, if you are at a loose end tomorrow - why not swing by and say "hello"

Happy cycling!

A generous donation....

I couldn't believe my luck when I received a call from Peter Brander - the owner of a local bike shop, Cyclezone. He had been given a Giant Twist Freedom bike and thought it would be a great addition to my fleet at Palmer Park. It is an electrically assisted bike - I know, not something I would usually look at, but if it gets people on a bike, then why not? It will be perfect for my cycling for health session, where we have numerous participants recovering from cardiac problems who need to take things very slowly initially.
On checking the bike retails at £1,950 - Wow!
I'll be running a demo session tomorrow and look forward to seeing it being used in earnest over the coming weeks.
Now, that's what I call great partnership working - don't you?

It's that time of year again - and I can't wait!

July's issue of Cycling Plus hit my door mat yesterday and had all the info on this years Tour - well, that and top ten secrets to riding faster (always useful!), 94 products ridden and rated and 6 superfast bikes reviewed. Essential for a self-confessed gear freak!
As I write, the 2009 Tour is shaping up to be an amazing race. Though I have mixed feelings of - despite being a huge fan, Lance Armstrong's comeback. Judging by the various Cycling Forums and if they are to be believed, some really don't want him on the start ramp in Monaco.
Whatever your opinion, it will make for some interesting viewing and I for one, will be tuned in everyday to watch what is, the most beautiful bike race in the world - "Bring it on!"

First Great Western - Reading station

I received an email yesterday requesting a meeting with the Integration and Retail manager at First Great Western - Andy Saunders. He was keen to meet up with me as soon as possible, so I managed to squeeze him in today and was eager to find out what was SO important. To be fair he had outlined what he was hoping to discuss - but I'm just adding to the suspense!
First Great Western are putting in for a 1 million pound grant from Cycling England and DFT - apparently there are huge money pots to be given out for rail/cycle integration to 3 lucky rail operators and the runners up stand to gain a considerable amount too. Andy was keen to see if CTC would be keen to work in partnership and ran passed some potential ideas that he had for Reading:

• Upgrading the Sheffield stands to compound cycle parking with swipe cards and CCTV's
  
• A retail unit offering cycle maintenance, accessories
• Folding bike hire/purchase scheme

Potentially a fantastic opportunity and one that would benefit Reading commuters immensely.
The application is due in 2 weeks and the result will be known at the beginning of July. I am going to help with the application as much as I can and one of my colleagues has already advised on the infrastructure. I'll let you know the outcome, as soon as I do.

Have a great evening......

Having the legs!

What a morning for cycling - why would anyone get into a car today, when they could cycle?
I had the legs today to challenge my fellow cycle commuters - but alas, didn't have the opportunity....! It's great what proper rest and sleep can do, I must have slept 20 hours over the last 2 nights....!
I arrived in Reading looking forward to the week ahead, with bags of energy and it was just as well as I had a very frustrating day.
For those of you who regularly follow my blog, will be aware of the pending BMX project at Waterloo Meadows and my struggle to get clearance for a container. The parks department have stipulated that it must look like a garden shed, be around 6ft tall and blend into the area, oh and I have to have an anti-graffiti schedule.....?
Oh boy! - it will be a miracle if this project gets off the ground. So, I kid you not, I have spent the day trawling websites for companies that clad containers in wood and that do not require me to sell a kidney in order to purchase it! The quotes were unbelievable - £4k! So, buying in some ship lap timber and the services of a carpenter for the day is the way to go - budget is back on track!
I have now passed on the 'political baton' to Sport Reading to fight my corner and I wait with baited breath.
The saga continues, so watch this space........!