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LOCAL EVENTS APRIL 2009
Celebrating Cycling Roadshows - 1st event this Friday
The Cycling Demonstration Town Team is setting up stall in Market Square, Lancaster to offer a range of free information and advice to help you get out and about by bike.
On the first Friday of every month, from April to October between 12pm and 4pm, the team will be available to answer all your cycling questions, offer top tips on how to get started and fill your diaries with fun events and organised rides.
Dr. Bike will be on hand to give your bike a check up and the Police will be available for security bike coding. Other transportation information will also be on offer in the square from Lancashire County Council’s Travelwise team and the Energy Efficiency Trust. Additional activities and the involvement of other organisations on the day will vary from month to month.
For more information contact the team on 01524 582392 / 582616 or by email to celebratingcycling@lancaster.gov.uk
4th Bike Film Festival at the Dukes
Tickets now on 'sale'
While talks/films in the gallery are free places are very limited so if you want to go please book now.
film festival poster
Auditorium Events:
SCREENING: Hell on Wheels Tuesday 14th April 7pm
SCREENING: The Long Road North Friday 17th April 7pm
Plus
SCREENING: The Age of Stupid Thursday 23rd April 8pm
FREE events:
MUSIC: Chill Out Tuesday - Pedal powered music Tuesday 14 April 6 - 7:30pm
TALK: Nowtopia: How Pirate Programmers, Outlaw Bicyclists, and Vacant-Lot Gardeners Are Inventing the Future Today! - Chris Carlsson - Saturday 11th April Time 6pm
TALK: Dave Horton – Ride: a journey through cycling - 16th April 6.30pm
SCREENING: Indecent Exposure to cars: The Story of the World Naked Bike Ride - Thursday 16th April 8pm (not 8:30pm)
TALK: Family on a bike: Pedalling the Pilgrim Way - Saturday 18th April 6:30pm
SCREENING:Seasons - Saturday 18th April 8pm
EVENT: Dynamo - Lancaster and District's Cycle Campaign: We’re all going on a CYCLING Holiday - Thursday 23rd April 8.30pm
Bike the Bay - Smartypants Challenge
Sunday April 11
A 5 mile sponsored family bike ride along Morecambe Promenade, in aid of Cancer Care. Starts VVV Health & Fitness Clun
Ends in Happy Mount Park for an Easter Extravaganza - Meet the Easter Bunny, Easter egg hunt and Easter crafts and games.Fancy Dress - prize for best dressed bike and rider
£5 to enter - kids ride free. All proceeds go to Cancer Care.
01524 381820 / www.bikethebay.org.uk
New Route and Family Bike Ride
Hest Bank - Promenade link to Canal towpath via Rushley Drive
A new toucan crossing has been installed on Marine / Coastal road to take people from the prom onto the shared use path going up the hill. Cyclists can
then turn right into Rushley Drive and onto the canal at the end of the street. Turning left will take you onto Carnforth , while turning left will you back towards Lancaster.
Join us on Sunday April 19 for the opening ride of this new circular route.
The opening ride of the district's new circular route connecting the Greenway, Promenade and Canal. This 11 mile route is almost entirely off-road and suitable for families.
Meet 11am on the Millennium Bridge or 11:40am outside the cafe on the Stone Jetty, Morecambe.
Birding by Bike - Spring
Sunday April 26
Join local birders on a bird watching tour of the Lune Estuary and surrounding farmland. A chance to hear and see newly arrived summer migrants and residents species, many of which will be in the throes of the breeding season.
Birds such as common whitethroat should be in full song and we will also be looking out for terns, egrets and a wide range of other interesting birds along the way.
Meet Millennium Bridge at 11am
KID'S & FAMILY CYCLING EVENTS APRIL /MAY 2009
Celebrate National Bike to School Week with 2 Family Bike Rides
Wednesday 22 April
Meeting 3.45pm and setting off at 4pm from the yacht club on Morecambe Prom (opposite the yacht club).
Ride along the prom towards Heysham! Bring a snack or some money for refreshments.
Thursday 23rd April
Meeting 3.45pm and setting off at 4pm from the Millennium Bridge. Ride the River Lune path towards the Crook o' Lune and back. Bring a drink and snack!
Children and young people should be accompanied by an adult. For more information please phone Damian or Kathy on 01524 582654.
April & May Kid's Cycling Courses
All courses are at Salt Ayre Sports Centre and cost £6. Please bring a roadworthy bike, suitable clothes for being outdoors. Places can only be booked and paid for at Salt Ayre Sports Centre, Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm (7pm on Wednesdays) or by contacting the booking information line on 01524 842493, between the same times (telephone bookings for £10 and over only).
Learn to Cycle!
This course is aimed at children who use stabilisers or cannot yet ride. Pedals (and stabilisers) will be removed from the bikes so that the children can learn to balance before they progress to pedalling. Please bring a roadworthy bike which allows the seat to be lowered so that your child can get his/her feet flat on the ground. Children must be accompanied by an adult and the adults may be asked to assist.
Tuesday 07-04-09 10.00 – 12.00
Tuesday 14-04-09 10.00 – 12.00
Wednesday 15-04-09 10:00 - 12:00
Wednesday 15-04-09 13.00 - 15.00
Thursday 16-04-09 10:00 - 12:00
Thursday 16-04-09 13.00 - 15.00
Tuesday 26-05-09 10.00 - 12.00
Thursday 28-05-09 10.00 - 12.00
Friday 29-05-09 10.00 - 12.00
Friday 29-05-09 13.00 - 15.00
Cycle skills: 6-9
Cycle skills for ages 6 -9. This course will be all off road. It is open to all abilities and will be lots of fun.
Wednesday 08-04-09 13.00 – 15.00
Tuesday 14-04-09 10.00 - 12.00
Wednesday 27-05-09 10.00 - 12.00
Thursday 28-05-09 13.00 - 15.00
Cycle skills: 10-13
Cycle skills for ages 10-13. This course will be all off road. Participants will practice bike handling skills to prepare them for riding on the road. It will cover National Standards level 1 and those who pass will receive a certificate. It is open to all abilities.
Tuesday 07-07-09 13.00 - 15.00
Tuesday 26-05-09 13.00 - 15.00
On road cycle skills and bike ride!
On road cycle skills and a bike ride for ages 10-13. Children should have completed the off road cycle skills course before taking part in this on road cycling activity. It will cover some of National Standards level 2. Please bring a roadworthy bike, suitable clothes for being outdoors and some money or a snack for the snack stop.
Wednesday 8-04-09 13:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 27-05-09 13.00 - 16.00
"Get on Yer Bike!"
There's just a few weeks left of the cycling exhibition at the City Museum so if you've not been yet then check it out. The last day is Saturday 18 April.
Kids Cycling Activities - Friday 17 April
A mixture of fun bike crafts and bike maintenance. All sessions are free and will run from 10am - 1pm
To book please contact the CDT Team at celebratingcycling@lancaster.gov.uk or call 01524 582392/582616
ONGOING EVENTS
Women on Wheels Rides 2009
This year we are really keen to get more people to come along on these rides, especially new cyclists. So please bring a friend (or two)! The rides are fairly easy with a break at the halfway stage (usually in a cafe).
Ladies - Free organic Women on Wheels t-shirt for riders in March/April - well until they run out really!
March 1st - Crook o’Lune & Lune Valley
April 5th - Glasson Dock & Lune Estuary (THIS SUNDAY)
May 3rd - Sunderland Point
June 7th - Brief Encounters in Carnforth
July 5th - Hest Bank & Morecambe
August 2nd - Halton and the Bay
September 6th - Cockerham*
October 4th - Mystery Ride
No need to book - just turn up! All rides will start at the Millennium Bridge (Lancaster end) at 11am.
Cycle Maintenance Courses
Brush up on your bike maintenance skills or learn something new. Courses take place at Pedal Power HQ, Ridge Square, Lancaster.
Next course(s):
Saturday 25 April - Maintenance Level 1
Saturday 30 May - Maintenance Level 2
Saturday 27 June - Maintenance Level 1
Call to book or to register your interest in forthcoming courses. Pedal Power 01524 65328
Cog Set's new season recommences
The Salt Ayre Cog Set, Lancaster’s cycling club for young people, will be recommencing their weekly sessions on Saturday 28 March 2008. The club, formerly known as Go-Ride, is suitable for all youngsters between the ages of eight and 16.
For the price of a can of fizzy pop and a chocolate bar, children can keep fit and healthy in a safe environment. The sessions will focus on essential bike handling skills for riding both on and off road.
Everyone is welcome, whether new to cycling or experienced in the sport. The sessions start at 10am and last for two hours. All you need is a working bike and a helmet. Children younger than eight are able to take part as long as parents accompany them for the session.
Based at the Salt Ayre cycle racing circuit, the club is run by qualified coaches.
Healthy Wheels (Saturdays)
If you want to get for for summer or you just fancy a leisurely ride why not pop along to Salt Ayre every Saturday morning. The free sessions start at 11am and last for an hour and a half offering you a great opportunity to get fit, meet new people and explore the local area.
Cyclists should bring their own bikes although there is the opportunity to hire one from Salt Ayre. Hire bikes need to be booked in advance from the CDT team (see contact details below).
The sessions are open to all abilities, however, they aren’t suitable for complete beginners (if you are a complete beginner please get in touch and we can help you get started). There’s no need to book - just turn up. Suitable for adults and older children.
For more information, please contact us on 01524 582392 - celebratingcycling@lancaster.gov.uk
Please note there will not be a session on Easter Saturday (11th)
LOCAL INFORMATION / NEWS
Bike It
As many of you will be aware Kathy - our Bike It Officer - is off on maternity leave shortly. However luckily for us her replacement has already arrived. He is Damian Bonsall and can be contacted on the same no as Kathy (01524 582654) and at damian.bonsall@sustrans.org.uk
Here is a short intro from Damian:
"I live in Kendal, am married with 2 teenage sons and a black cocker spaniel. I travel to work by train from Oxenholme, putting my bike on the train. I have been a keen cyclist for 25 years and also enjoy hill walking, running and all outdoor activities. I have previously worked in financial services but recently managed a project to embed Enterprise education in the secondary school curriculum. I have also been the Chair of school governors at a large primary school in Cumbria and have done volunteering with Young Enterprise.
I am covering Kathy Bashford's maternity leave and am really looking for ward to working with schools on fun ways of encouraging children to cycle to school with all the benefits for their health and the environment.
Cycle to Work Day
Lancaster University's Cycle to Work Day on 12th March, as part of One World Week, was a great success as cyclists enjoyed a led ride from Lancaster's Millennium Bridge and Chancellors Wharf to the University, via the very picturesque Western canal route. Staff members who either cycled or walked to work were treated to a breakfast which included a selection of pastries and bacon rolls for those who had worked up a real hunger on their ride in. Some fantastic prizes were won by those who committed to travel to work by bike or chose to walk via a free raffle.
The Estates Department at Lancaster University were the real stars of the day with a third of staff cycling or walking to work. Leading by example was Director of Facilities, Mark Swindlehurst, who completed a 20 mile return trip on his bike purchased through the University's tax-efficient Cycle to Work Scheme.
Dr. Bike was on hand to deal with all of those maintenance issues..and there were many! Some bikes hadn't seen the light of day since last autumn but were all brought back up to scratch through some minor surgery. The Cycling Demonstration Town Team were busy giving out hi-viz vests, maps and route information and general cycling advice at their info stand in Alexandra Square.
To find out more about how Lancaster University is making it easier for staff to cycle to work please visit http://www.celebratingcycling.org/lcc.
Lancaster University is just one of the employers the Cycling Demonstration Town project is helping out to get more people cycling to work. If you would like us to discuss how we can encourage more people to cycle to work at your workplace please contact our Workplace Cycling Officer, Matt Moran, on 01524 582616 or mmoran@lancaster.gov.uk.
OTHER INFORMATION / NEWS
Cycling makes you work harder
CYCLING to work could make you better at your job, a health expert has claimed. Public health guru Nick Cavill is urging businesses to get their staff pedalling in a bid to boost their productivity.
Stockport-based Nick, who works for transport body Cycling England, has carried out a study for the World Health Organisation into the benefits of commuting by bike. He will deliver his findings to health and transport experts from across the country at a summit at Bolton University.
He said: "There is some pretty good evidence that cyclists have lower levels of absenteeism. It is pretty obvious that fitter people are healthier and have fewer days off due to sickness. Studies in Holland, where cycling is extremely popular, showed that cyclists 7.4 days off a year compared to 8.7 days off for non-cyclists. It is difficult to measure at quality of life but there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest stress levels are much lower in people who cycle to work."
As part of his work with the United Nations agency, the health promotion consultant helped create a new computer programme which allows local councils to work out the health costs of building new cycle routes. He said: "It takes into account the number of people who will use a new route and the average length of journey. It basically shows you how the life expectancy and health of people will be improved by any particular route and will calculate the saving to the health service.
Planners currently look at whether a new route will consider the saving in journey time and other factors but this is the first time that they calculate the health benefits. The point is that the health benefits from cycling are so substantial that they should generally outweigh the costs of establishing a new route."
The government has recently given backing to the computer resource, and the expert hopes that it will lead to more cycling lanes and tracks being built.
The conference, which will be held at the university on April 7, is one of the country's top cycling events. Doctors, town planners, transport leaders and cycling enthusiasts will be taking part.
Organiser John Parkin, a lecturer in transport planning at Bolton Uni, said: "There are so many reasons why it's good for people to get on their bikes - cycling is a lot cheaper than running a car, it helps to keep you fit, it's environmentally friendly and it's a lot easier to park your bike. "There is a growing need for sustainable transport solutions, especially in urban areas where traffic congestion is now a major problem."
Also speaking at the event will be cycle campaigners from London, where the number of cyclists commuting to work has doubled in the last five years.
Women's cycle chic arrives in Topshop
The Cyclodelic brand of clothing and accessories will soon be available in the iconic young women's fashion store
Items from the Cyclodelic range of women's cycle clothing accessories will be available at Oxford Street’s Topshop flagship store on Thursday 9th April.
Designed and handmade by two female cyclists in their East London studio, Cyclodelic products are for "girls who cycle but who don’t have to forfeit fashion over function," says Cyclodelic co-founder Amy Fleuriot, a London College of Fashion student.
She runs the microbrand with textile graduate and ex-messenger Sarah Buck. The range features handmade capes, bags, satin cycling caps to customised bar grip tape, colourful U-lock holsters and jewelled reflective trouser cuffs.
Fleuriot says, “I am very excited about launching our Cyclodelic range at the Oxford Circus TopShop store bringing our cycling fashion range to what is the world’s largest fashion store. Cyclodelic has previously taken part in London Fashion Week, but it will be even more fantastic to see our designs displayed next to Kate Moss’ collection and bring our take on cycling feminine cool to a new audience."
Cyclodelic products often feature waterproof Cordura and reflective seams. All are colourful but don't feature what Fleuriot calls "unflattering fluorescent". Dawn Porter, journalist and TV presenter, is a fan of Cyclodelic. She says, “When you do something like buy a baby-pink Brompton bicycle, you can’t just leave it there – the accessories have to be as special as the bike."
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