ROAD SAFETY & CYCLE TRAINING
incorporating ‘Bikeability’ and bringing Cycling Proficiency into the 21st Century ( www.bikeability.org.uk )

National and regional press releases in reverse order with the most recent first 

Road Safety & Cycle Training incorporating Bikeability, taking cycling proficiency into the 21st century

Cycle training with Doubletrees SchooL

15.00 - 22 May 2008

14 pupils at Doubletrees School have had access to cycle training, as a result of a grant that has been given to Cornwall’s Schools Sports Partnership from the Youth Sports Trust.  £80,000 has come into county and been split between the 4 Schools Sports Partnerships that cover Cornwall.  As a result, 14 pupils from Doubletrees have been able to have Bikeability Level 2 training – the new national training scheme taking cycling proficiency into the 21^st century. 

Instructor Wendy Creed from Road Safety & Cycle Training said ‘I am delighted to have had the opportunity to work with these students.  It has been extremely fulfilling and they also have enjoyed themselves.  I am currently working with Ian Tierney who is the founder of ‘Wheels for All’ and we are hoping to be able to open cycling up to everyone with special needs in whatever shape or form, within the county.

The instructors who will work with 'Wheels for All', the location and the premises are already in place, now it is just a question of funding the project and bringing in the specially adapted bikes so that there are no exceptions to the rule whatsoever.  I have already approached Lady Mary Holborow about it and like us, she believes this is a good idea., she also hopes to open the centre in the fullness of time subject to previous engagements and royal commitments.  There is no doubt it is the way forward and I have to say, it is these students’ individuality that puts the ‘special’ into special needs yet so often it creates fear and as a result they are not given the opportunities that the rest of us have, which is wrong. 

It is a shame that it cannot be incorporated into the Festival of Cycling at the end of June/beginning of July - that had been our hope and our specially invited guests would have included students from Doubletrees, Nancealverne, Pencalenick, Curnow and Foundation students from Truro College as well as other associated charities such as MIND, the Cornish Blind Association and Mencap day centres however once again, it seems that it is not to be.'

Ian Tierney from the Cycling Project said “We are excited to have the opportunity to expand the 'Wheels For All' network. We are always thrilled to encourage new participants in an activity that is fun and healthy. Cycling can be adapted so that everybody has the opportunity to engage with other community groups. There is currently no centre for disability cycling in Cornwall, this centre is a fantastic opportunity for the area.”

BIKE MAD MUM PEALS INTO TOWN

09:00 - 16 April 2008

Newquay Sports Centre with Cllr. Lambshead and Mary Murfin (CHSW), the End 2 End girls and again with Mary, the Mayor, former students and Si, our support driver after the sea mist came in

A mother of two has successfully completed a sponsored bicycle ride from John O'Groats to Lands End raising hundreds of pounds for local charities together with a fellow instructor from Wales.

On her way down to the most westerly point in England, Cycling Instructor Wendy Creed, escorted in by Pat Smith and Janie Cooksley, (the original local End 2 End girls on their own anniversary of them setting off themselves two years ago,) briefly stopped in Newquay to meet mayor Cllr. Patrick Lambshead and other supporters at the Sports Centre.

"I wanted to stop in Newquay because I've worked with Newquay Juniors now for over 18 months, going over a couple of time a week", the keen cycling instructor explained.

She continued: "I help other local schools with cycling too and Newquay Juniors are considering putting cycle training back onto their timetable come the new academic year, as part of their PE lessons which is fantastic.  As a keen cyclist, I thought that if I was going to take on this challenge, it made sense to do it for charities such as Children's Hospice South West."

Mrs Creed, aged 50, says the length of the mainland Britain 'wasn't a bad ride at all'. She said "we did an average of 50 - 55 miles a day and were on the road for 19 days although we did stay with friends on the way down.  It was an amazing ride with only two horrendous days when it was cold, wet and miserable but there were also a couple of days when we use our helmets to play ping pong with the hail!"

The websites where you can donate are: www.patchadams.org, www.justgiving.com/tcpreciouslivesappeal and www.justgiving.com/cycleend2end

BREAKDOWN, THEFT AND THE LACK OF A WELCOMING COMMITTEE DID NOT DISPIRIT CYCLISTS

09:00 - 10 April 2008

On their bikes from L to R are Wendy Creed, Simon Rollett, Ian Oats, Milly Marsh, Billy Ward
nearing the finish of their sponsored cycle at Lands Ends

Two cycling instructors pedalling from one end of the country to the other made it to Land's End, but to a much quieter reception than they had envisaged.

Wendy Creed, from Truro, and Milly Marsh, from Wales, arrived at the finishing point on Friday after a 1,000 mile trip hit by a number of misfortunes. They suffered a burst tyre, a petrol leak, the theft of their satellite navigation system and having to get the RAC to break into their back-up van because the keys were locked inside.

As they drove down from Camelford, a speeding van coming towards them took off their wing mirror, but they were helped out by Nigel Wiggett, of Bridge Bike Hire who loaned them a vehicle.

Even the end was not without incident, as Wendy had been expecting some of the children she had taught to join them both in Newquay on Thursday and Land's End on Friday.  It transpired that the parent sending out the information mixed up the dates, and directed the children to Newquay on Friday and Land's End on Saturday - a day late.

"The person who gave out the information will remain anonymous, but turned up with her two children at Land's End on Saturday, 24 hours after us," said Wendy.  "Never mind, these things happen and one has to smile about it after some of the more disastrous events of the trip," she laughed.

"However we were joined by Si Rollett and Billy Ward who like myself, are both students on the Sports Science Access course at Truro College with Roj Knight of the Bike Barn, Ian Oats from Penzance and Amy O'Loughlin and Laura Marshall from Exeter, who are also instructors joining us.  Paul and Jules Rollason of Mackrelbus Graphic Design in Falmouth acted as our welcoming committee., Paul having done the JoGLE himself in 2005."

Wendy was raising money for the Patch Adams MD appeal because her daughter has been in America for work experience with him. Others were riding for the Precious Lives Appeal and the RNLI.

The websites where you can donate are: www.justgiving.com/cycleend2end, www.justgiving.com/tcpreciouslivesappeal and www.patchadams.org 

CYCLING: WENDY CLOSE TO FINISHING LINE OF 1,000-MILE RIDE

Date : 02.04.08

Coming home across the M48 Severn Bridge cycle path, crossing into Cornwall and with Janie and Pat cycling the penultimate leg

Two cycle instructors who set off from John O'Groats three weeks ago are due to pedal into Cornwall today and will be stopping in some of its main towns.  Wendy Creed, from Truro, and Milly Marsh, from Wales, are getting near the end of their 1,000 mile ride for charity. They are due to arrive at Camelford at around 4pm today after cycling down from Barnstaple.

Pat Smith and Janie Cooksley, the former End 2 End Girls, are due to join them setting off from a spot just west of Camelford at 9am tomorrow and should be joined by others cycling for the Precious Lives Appeal. They are all due to arrive at Newquay Sports Centre at about noon, where Wendy is hoping pupils who have attended her cycle training classes will come to meet them.  Newquay mayor Pat Lambshead and Mary Murfin, from the Precious Lives Appeal, are also due to welcome them.  From Newquay they will head down the A3075, through Goonhavern towards Carland Cross, and then into Truro College.

The last leg of the journey will begin at Truro College at 10.15am on Friday when they will set off for Land's End. After a stop in Penzance at the Tesco store they aim to complete the journey at about 3pm.  Wendy is raising money for the Patch Adams MD appeal because her daughter has been in America for work experience with him.

Websites where you can donate are www.justgiving.com/cycleend2end, http://www.justgiving.com/tcpreciouslivesappeal or www.patchadams.org

BURST TYRE AND PETROL LEAK WON'T PUT OFF CYCLING PAIR

Date : 27.03.08

Crossing into England from Scotland, the Forge at Gretna and later on, crossing back into England again from Wales

A burst tyre, a petrol leak, the theft of their satellite navigation system and having to get the RAC to break into their back-up van because the keys were locked inside, are just four of the problems that have faced two cyclists who are heading to Cornwall for charity.

Cycle instructors Wendy Creed, from Truro, and Milly Marsh, from Wales, set off on their bikes from John O'Groats two weeks ago on the 1,000-mile journey to Land's End. They crossed the border into England on Tuesday of last week. The satellite navigation system was stolen when their car was parked for just an hour in Plymouth just before they left for Scotland, costing them £300, but that was not the end of their problems.

"The tyre on my bike exploded when I was parked outside a superstore," said Wendy. "Security staff heard the explosion and thought a shotgun had been discharged."

"Then we locked the keys inside the van and the RAC had to break into it. There was then trouble with a fuel coupling and it drifted to a halt on a roundabout. Again the RAC sorted it out."

Milly, 51, is riding for the RNLI's Train One, Save Many appeal to raise funds for the training of volunteer lifeboat crew. Wendy, 50, is supporting the work of Patch Adams MD, who is building a no-charge hospital in West Virginia.

Wendy and Milly hope to reach Barnstaple on Tuesday, April 1, and arrive in Cornwall the following day, stopping at Camelford overnight. They should be in Truro on April 3, after a stop at Newquay to meet the mayor, and arrive at Land's End the following day.

During their ride through Cornwall they should be joined by local cyclists raising money for the Precious Lives Appeal.

Wendy is raising money for the Patch Adams MD appeal because her daughter has been in America for work experience with him.

The websites where you can donate are www.justgiving.com/cycleend2end or www.patchadams.org

Those local cyclists who join them during their ride through Cornwall and the south west, will be doing so raising money for the Precious Lives Appeal which now has it's own JG page at http://www.justgiving.com/tcpreciouslivesappeal

CYCLING INSTRUCTORS IN 1,000-MILE CHARITY RIDE

09:00 - 21 February 2008

Two cycle instructors, one from Cornwall and one from Wales, are busy training to ride their bikes from John o'Groats to Land's End for charity. Wendy Creed from Truro and Graham "Milly" Marsh from Lampeter, South Wales, will set off on Tuesday, March 11, and hope to complete the 1,000-mile route a little more than three weeks later.

So who are we? Well Wendy is a cycle instructor in Cornwall and is at the moment studying for a Sports Science Access qualification, which will hopefully lead to a degree.  ‘Milly’, or Graham to give him his grown up name, is a cycle instructor in Wales and was formerly a psychiatric nurse. He recycles bicycles and also has Crazy Bikes, unusual designs of bike which don’t actually look like they’re rideable! Find out more at www.millypeds.co.uk

One is supporting the work of Patch Adams MD, who is building a no-charge hospital in West Virginia. The other is riding for the RNLI's Train One, Save Many appeal to raise funds for the training of the charity's volunteer lifeboat crew. Wendy, 50, and Milly, 51, are no spring chickens, but, as cycling instructors, they hope to safely ride an average 50 miles a day. The end-to-end challenge was Wendy's idea.

"But we do need help with both practical and financial support.  We are looking for companies that can provide items like bottled water and high energy snacks or contributions towards the fuel costs for the support vehicle or the overnight accommodation in youth hostels.  Ultimately, we would like to achieve a four figure sum for both Patch's G!I build and the RNLI." 

Wendy is raising money for Patch Adams MD's appeal to build the Gesundheit Medical School and Clinic because her daughter has been in America for work experience with him and is shortly going on a humanitarian clowning trip with Patch and friends too.  She faxed him for advice Easter Day 2006 in the morning, that afternoon the phone rang, it was Patch and since then Andee has been out every year to the land where it will all happen in West Virginia and last year, Wendy and her son joined her for a visitors weekend to get a good understanding for moments like this.

So how can you help? Well its simple really – either visit www.patchadams.org and click on the donate button to support the dream and help build the Gesundheit Institute's Clinic and Medical School, or follow the instructions to donate to the RNLI at http://www.justgiving.com/cycleend2end and give us the financial incentive to ride ‘End to End’ successfully.

Wendy and Milly hope to reach Barnstable on April 1st in the afternoon and cross the border into Cornwall the following day, April 2nd, stopping overnight at Camelford.  By April 3rd they should be in Truro via Newquay where Wendy and Milly have both taught.  They then make the final big push supported by Wendy's friends and fellow cycling instructors, lecturers and peers from Truro College on Friday 4th April and picking up more friends as they ride towards the finish line including the children that Wendy has worked with previously.

Those local cyclists who join them during their ride through Cornwall and the south west, will be doing so raising money for the Precious Lives Appeal which now has it's own JG page at http://www.justgiving.com/tcpreciouslivesappeal

Anyone interested in corporate sponsorship can call Wendy on 01872 240939.

Released 16 February 2008

    BikeRadar.com's internet article about Bikeability's big push? by Richard Peace

Bikeability, the official government cycling proficiency scheme, could be set to really take off, a year and a half after its official launch. 

The so-called national scheme has so far been tentatively rolled out – see www.BikeRadar.com ’s findings in this article – but Ruth Kelly’s recent announcement of £110 million extra cycling investment (of a total of £140 million) has the stated aim of providing cycle training for half a million children by 2012 and holds the potential to create an army of cycle instructors.

Bikeability, billed as the ‘cycling proficiency test for the 21st century’, began as a trial project in 2006, a joint effort from the Cyclists Touring Club and Cycling England. It is based around National Training Standards of three levels – basic control, getting out on quiet roads and full-on riding in all types of road conditions.  

There have been undoubted success stories.

Cycling Solutions are based in Liverpool and in their first year of operation trained 6,000 kids in just 9 months. According to the company's training manager Steve Fisher, Cycling Solutions is, "on target for training around 11,000 during the year ending March 2008. The numbers will increase next year."

Colin Langdon was instrumental in the formation of the company and formerly had experience with the CTC’s Cyclists’ Defence Fund.

They are actively looking for people interested in becoming accredited trainers. BikeRadar.com’s detailed trawl through the Bikeability website revealed Merseyside as a real training hotspot, with all local councils in the area able to offer full Bikeability training from Cycling Solutions.

Lone cyclists can get accreditation as Bikeability instructors too though. Wendy Creed established Road Safety and Cycle Training in the Newquay area of Cornwall and has been involved in the Bikeability scheme from its formative stages. Her unbridled enthusiasm comes over when talking to www.BikeRadar.com .

"The whole training process is spot on," she said. "I had to pay for my training but there are bursaries now which should open the process up to more people. I’ve been working with classes at Newquay Juniors for 18 months on level 1 and level 2 courses and have found it’s just what the kids both need and enjoy."

Some Bikeability providers have been a bit more critical of the process. Iain Taylor of Gremlins, Oldham-based Bikeability providers, commented: "Two main problems are the amount of paperwork necessary – parental consents, risk assessments and the like – and having to go out and persuade the schools a couple of months in advance to make time for cycling in their busy schedules."  

Our analysis of the Bikeability website showed almost half of the local highway authority areas detailed were still not accredited.  

The £140 million should more than help fill these gaps. CTC’s Senior Cycle Training Officer, Greg Woodford, confirmed this to Bikeradar.com

"I can’t see any reason why the target of training half a million kids by 2012 shouldn’t be achieved using this new money and the huge enthusiasm for the scheme within the cycling community," he said. "Although the millions haven’t yet been allocated, the main thrust will be to get level 2 training available en masse, to all kids want it right across England. Personally I’d then like to see more resources go into Level 3 funding (currently not directly subsidised by government funds) and if Bikeability could get onto the National Curriculum that would also help hugely."

There are still a few training bursaries available for those wishing to become accredited instructors and more bursary funding should be available in the 2008-2009 school year. See the CTC website for more detail. 

Released 04 February 2008

Launch of End-to-End Challenge together with an appeal for corporate sponsorship ..

Tortoises not hares – the middle aged cyclists going end to end for the RNLI

Two cycle instructors, one from Cornwall and one from Wales, are busy training to ride their bikes from John O’Groats to Lands End for charity. Wendy Creed from Truro and Graham ‘Milly’ Marsh from Lampeter will set off on Tuesday 11 March and hope to complete the 1,000-mile route a little more than three weeks later. One is riding for the RNLI’s Train one, save many appeal to raise funds for the training of the charity’s volunteer lifeboat crew. The other is supporting the work of Patch Adams MD who is building a no-charge hospital in West Virginia.  Meanwhile Wendy's daughter will be going to Haiti on a Humanitarian Clowning Trip with Patch and friends.

Wendy and ‘Milly’ are not spring chickens. In fact they are both over 50 but as cycling instructors they hope to safely and confidently ride an average 50 miles a day. The End-to-End Challenge was Wendy’s idea:

‘I’ve always wanted to do this; it’s been an ambition if you like. I decided to do it for charity because that provides a real incentive to achieve a successful ride. But we do need help with both practical and financial support. We are looking for companies that can provide items like bottled water and high energy snacks, or contributions towards the fuel costs for the support vehicle or the overnight accommodation in youth hostels.’

'We have already been very fortunate in some practical help we have received and any companies who do support us will be added to the website as well as promoted in any paperwork we issue and to date include Hot Pursuit Cycles in Totnes, BikeEye in Milton Keynes, Pills2U from Hockley who have the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of GB Charter  and have provided support bandages as we are not taking any chances and QDP Sports and Leisure from Wellington.  Last but not least, Ultra Magic Balloons who will come down to Cornwall and do tethered rides for a small charge, when we can find a site for them to operate on.'

‘The more support we get, the more we can give to the RNLI and Patch Adams. Ultimately we would like to achieve a four figure sum for both so please visit the two websites where you can donate; http://www.justgiving.com/cycleend2end for RNLI donations or http://www.patchadams.org/home.htm to support the Gesundheit Institute’s work. 

En route initially they had hoped to take time off at Hadrian's Wall and Nantwich Canal Centre which literally has a lift for canal boats going from one level to another however then Wendy was asked to be a guest speaker at the CTC's Cycle Training and Education conference in Bath's Guildhall just after Easter which meant everything had to be bought forward and it would be the last leg from Chepstow onwards, when they can ease up a little so as still to arrive on 4th April.

Also once we get back into the south west and have friends riding with us, they have opted to ride for the Children's Hospice South West and there is another Just Giving page supporting the BBC Radio Cornwall and countywide appeal for the Precious Lives campaign at http://www.justgiving.com/tcpreciouslivesappeal.

Notes to editors

1. You are invited to meet Wendy Creed and ‘Milly’ Marsh on Tuesday 12 February in Newquay where they will be conducting a cycle training session. Please meet at the junction of Tretheras Road and Whitegate at 11.45 am.

2. The RNLI is a registered charity that continues to rely on voluntary contributions and legacies for its income, so it can provide its volunteer lifeboat crews, and lifeguards, with the best possible lifeboats, equipment and training.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Media Relations Manager for the south, on 07786 668847 or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Lifeguard Press Officer, on 07920 818807.

Cycle Training: A Piece of Cornish Heavy Cake!

Wendy Creed, Cornwall’s pocket rocket of Cycle Training (Principal Instructor for Road Cycle and Safety Training) continues to do great things for the County’s budding cyclists.

On August 31^st, with much pazzaz, the County wide launch of Bikeability took place at Newquay Sports Centre. Wendy managed to attract an impressive VIP presence, including:

·         Lord George, former Governor of the Bank of England
·         Lady Mary Holborow (Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall)
·         Mayor of Newquay
·         Deputy Mayor of Truro
·         Philip Darnton of Cycle England
·         Rob Fuller of CTC
·         John Franklin, Author of CycleCraft
·         Lots went on to entertain the crowds, including a MTB demo, crazy bikes tryout, rickshaw rides and a display of children demonstrating Bikeability control skills

To see some of the action go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uEHgs8NoWs:
For a Cornish Heavy/Hevva Cake recipe, go to:
http://www.jetemb.com/page.php?p=cornish_heavy_cake

 SUSTRANS Connect2 Needs Your Vote!

CONNECT 2 WILL REVITALISE WALKING AND CYCLING IN 79 COMMUNITIES across the UK by creating new routes for the journeys we all make every day. Crossings and bridges will be built over busy roads, railway lines and rivers, linking into new networks of local paths, to get you to where you want to go, so you will be able to travel in a healthy and environmentally-friendly way to the shops, school, work, and the park or to see family and friends,

BUT ONLY IF CYCLISTS VOTE FOR SUSTRANS’ £50M CONNECT2 BID, this December. Connect2 is up against schemes from three other organisations, for the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmark’s: The People’s Millions competition grant of up to £50m. A TV public vote - expected to take place on ITV1 in early December 2007 – will decide the final winner.

·         Online voting will open at 9.00am on Monday 26 November 2007
·         Telephone voting will take place over weekend 7th-10th December 2007

If you want Connect2 to win - please go to:
http://www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/  
and register today so you can be sent a reminder to vote for Connect2.
or text 'Connect2' to 80010

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