GoCycle Update No 6
Go Cycle is supported by Leighton-Linslade Town Council and Central Bedfordshire Council
GO CYCLE UPDATE ISSUE No.6 May 2009
I have listed the content below for your ease and reference, also have a look on our newly launched website for more details on news and events:
1) May Half Term Activities
2) Bike Week 2009 (13th – 21st June)
3) Cycle Training for adults
4) Bike Maintenance Courses
5) Wheelie Wednesday 10th June 2009
6) Vandyke Playing Fields
7) Event News & Reviews
8) School News
9) Infrastructure Delivery Team have Cycle Training
10) Cycle Instructors needed for GoCycle Leighton-Linslade
11) Summer Holidays
12) Loan Bike Scheme
13) Cycling Forum
14) Summary of Events planned for GoCycle Leighton-Linslade
15) Photography Competition.
Please forward this email to everyone who might be interested – they can email us to request their own future updates directly to their inbox.
Happy Cycling!
Alvina Farrow, GoCycle Promotions Officer (alvina.farrow@leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk)
Events and activities for you:
1. May Half Term courses
Friday 29th May 2009
Complete Beginners £5 per person 4 – 7 years 9.30 am – 10.30 am
Complete Beginners £5 per person 4 – 7 years 11.30 am – 12.30 pm
Biking Basics £7.50 per person 4 – 7 years 1.30 pm – 4.00 pm
The above courses will be held at Southcott Lower School, Soulbury Road, Linslade. If you would like information on the course content or to book a place you can look at course information and download a Booking Form from the website www.gocycleleightonlinslade.org or contact the GoCycle office by Wednesday 27th May.
2 Bike Week 2009 (13th – 21st June 2009)
GoCycle will be running the following events to celebrate Bike Week:
13th June Partnering Ride with Cycle Aylesbury
13th June Dr Bike – St Barnabus Village Fete, Linslade
15th June Bikers Breakfast – Leighton Buzzard Railway Station
16th June Evening Family bike ride
17th June Book display in Leighton Buzzard Library
17th June Dr Bike – Grovebury Road Industrial Estate18th June Dr Bike – Grovebury Road Industrial Estate
20th June Cycle for Life – Sponsored Bike ride, all abilities welcome to join in!
For more information or to register for any of the above events, please visit www.gocycleleightonlinslade.org or email: alvina.farrow@leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk
3 Cycle Training for Adults
We have adult cycle training courses running throughout June which cater for people with no road experience to Bikeability Level 3. Courses run most weekday evenings from 6.00 – 8.00 pm and on Saturdays between 10.00 and 12.00 noon. Training can be run at other times by negotiation. Courses cost £15.00 per person. Visit our website at www.gocycleleightonlinslade.org to download a booking form or contact GoCycle on 01525 635111/2 to reserve your place!
4 Bike Maintenance Courses
GoCycle offer Bike Maintenance Courses, if you or your family would like to get involved in learning how to keep your bike on the road – why not take advantage and book onto one of our courses, visit www.gocycleleighotnlinslade.org to download a booking form or contact GoCycle on 01525 635111/2.
5 Wheelie Wednesday – 10th June 2009
Our next Wheelie Wednesday will take place on Wednesday 10th June – 12.30 – 1.30 pm - Meet at the Market Cross Leighton Buzzard. (If you want your bike checked before the ride, please arrive 15 mins early).
6 Vandyke Playing Fields
The jumps at Vandyke Playing Fields are now complete and already in use, it is great to see so many young people enjoying themselves! – watch this space for information of the official launch of the cycling play facilities in Leighton-Linslade.
7 Event News & Reviews
To find out more about what GoCycle have been up to in the past few weeks, take a look at our Event News & Reviews on our website. We attended the May Fayre in Leighton Buzzard, held a security tagging and Dr Bike session at Leighton Buzzard Railway Station and were also at the May Fayre in Heath and Reach.
8 School News
All the Lower Schools in Leighton Buzzard, Linslade and Heath & Reach have now received Bikeability Cycle Training to Level 1 (off-road control skills) for year 4’s. Well done to you all!
There will be lots of activity in schools during the next few months with Cycle Training taking place at, Leighton Middle School, Linslade Middle and Gilbert Inglefield Middle School for the year 6’s. Brooklands Middle School will be receiving their Cycle Training in early September.
We are currently laying down plans to run a Community Cycling Club and would like to hear from you if you are interested in supporting this in any way. Contact Allison Jeavons either by email: Allison.jeavons@leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk or by phone on 01525 635114.
9 Infrastructure Delivery Team have Cycle Training
GoCycle ran a Cycle Training session for the Infrastructure Delivery Team, including its contractor AMEY - these included engineers, designers and Central Bedfordshire’s Local Authority officers who are in charge of implementing road designs etc.
The Cycle Training was followed by the beginnings of a discussion about the impact the new style of riding on the roads has on the needs of road users, including cyclists and motor vehicle drivers. Below are some comments from the team:
“Thank you very much for taking the time to offer such informative and practical training.
I think the success of any training can be measured in how much of that information is taken away and used to influence future decisions resulting in a more positive outcome.
I am sure I speak for everyone when I say that we are more appreciative of the problems faced by cyclists and, more importantly, how enjoyable and attractive cycling can be when routes are designed properly.
I am sure other officers in our department would benefit from this training, so perhaps we could arrange another session in the future.”
Highways Control Officer, Sustainable Communities
10 Cycle Instructors needed for GoCycle Leighton-Linslade
This job involves training people of all ages - from 4 years old to 94 years old in the skills of controlling their bike and riding on the road.
For further details go to www.gocycleleightonlinslade.org or contact Pauline.roby@leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk We look forward to hearing from you soon!
11 Summer Holidays
We are planning a comprehensive, fun packed schedule for the summer holidays under the banner of ‘Cycling Adventures’ - watch this space!
12 Loan a bike
If you are interested in loaning a bike, please see our terms and conditions on the website. www.gocycleleightonlinslade.org
Or alternatively….
Buy a second hand bike or give your unwanted bike a new life
– here is an offer …..
Linda Rowlands [linda_rowlands@yahoo.com] refurbishes and services bikes to keep them on the road and out of landfill. Mainly mountain bikes but we also get the occasional road bike. They go for between £35 and £55 depending on spec and condition.
We'd be very happy to hear from anyone who wants a refurbished and serviced bike. We're equally happy to take on unwanted bikes, even if only to be stripped for spares. We can pick up unwanted bikes if they are reasonably local LB, MK, Aylesbury areas.
Looking forward to hearing from anyone who needs a bike or has one to give away. linda_rowlands@yahoo.com
13 Cycling Forum
Have you thought about getting involved in the Cycling Forum? Now is your chance, email: llcyclingforum@aol.com or have a look at the Cycling Forum’s Yahoo Group: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/llcyclingforum . Esther Clarke, the Chair, looks forward to welcoming new members to regular meetings, activities and social events. Help make the Cycling Town work for you!
14 Summary of Events already planned for GoCycle Leighton-Linslade
Use this list to book your diaries so you don’t miss the GoCycle action!
More details in future email updates and on the website www.gocycleleightonlinslade.org
JUNE
10th Wheelie Wednesday, BIKE WEEK RIDE meeting at the Market Cross, Leighton Buzzard at 12.30 – 1.30 for a leisurely lunch time ride, take a break from the norm and GoCycle.
Bike week starts on 13th June
13th Meet the Aylesbury Cycle Crew – we will be taking a bike ride to Marsworth and meeting up with the Aylesbury Crew to celebrate the launch of bike week, why not pack a picnic and join us – all abilities welcome – see our website for further information.
15th Bikers Breakfast at Leighton Buzzard Train Station
16th June – Evening Family bike ride
17th Book display in Leighton Buzzard Library
17th Dr Bike – Grovebury Road Industrial Estate
18th Dr Bike – Grovebury Road Industrial Estate
20th Cycle for Life – Sponsored bike ride, all abilities welcome to join in! We will be running a sponsored relay bike ride on a quarter of a mile circuit, off-road. Each team will have a mascot which they will need to move around the track continually for 6 hours. We are recruiting 10 teams of up 20 people per team. All funds raised from this event to be donated to Cancer Research.
There will also be bike tryouts and Dr Bike along with an obstacle course for individuals to test out their skills, register your interest by contacting gocycle@leightonlinslade-tc.gov
JULY
8th Wheelie Wednesday, meeting at the Market Cross, Leighton Buzzard at 12.30 – 1.30 for a leisurely lunch time ride, take a break from the norm and GoCycle
11th Leighton Buzzard Carnival
GoCycle will be joining in the procession with a cycle float – come along by bike, forget about parking your car and have an enjoyable day out. We will have bike tryouts, Dr Bike, who will check your bikes over and also be providing security marking. They may even be an opportunity for you to test out your biking skills on an obstacle course.
25th Linslade Canal Festival
GoCycle will be holding the official opening of the Narrows Bridge at the Canal Festival, come along and have your bike checked out and tryout our new infrastructure! There will also be a ride for you to join in showing the new links.
AUGUST
Check out our website for cycle training during the Summer School Holidays! Whether you are a complete beginner or wanting to go onto the next stage we have something for everyone. Including mountain biking, BMX coaching and bike maintenance courses, don’t delay check out our website today.
SEPTEMBER
6th Century Bike Ride - For those of you who can go the distance, why not join the Cycle Town Team on 6th September for a 100 mile bike ride. See website for details.
OCTOBER
10TH Living History Day at Leighton Buzzard Town Centre. Come and visit GoCycle to get your bike check over ready for those winter months.
15 Photography competition
GoCycle will shortly be launching a photography competition – why not get a head start and take advantage of a FREE ‘Taster’ evening for beginners
How to use your digital Camera
Thursday 28th May 7pm-9pm
Beds Adult learning, The Riverside Centre, Leighton Buzzard
Places are limited – Phone Beds Adult Learning on 01525 375769 to book your seat
