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Our
aim is to work in partnership as part of a team, supporting and
helping each other by sharing our own experiences. We
all bring very different but complimentary skills to the
table which makes for a
wonderful working relationship
- At
the end of the day we all want the same thing, that being to get cycle training back out into the public domain
again, with no exceptions! Also several of us are now
working with the Institute of Advanced Motorists on their
cycling programme as well .. now that is something which is
long overdue!
Below is a list of
friends who have been instructors for some time now ..
however gradually, as cycling becomes more popular, more
instructors are being trained up and those whom I've worked
with and some I haven't, have now got together to form the
SW Cycle Instructors Co-operative, so whilst maintaining our
independence, we also respect each other and work together
as part of a bigger picture, not looking at quantity so much
as quality training ..
 I’m
Wendy
and mum of two – they are the reason I started
teaching as they themselves missed out due to a lack
of instructors in the late 90’s. At that point
in time National Standards, now called ‘Bikeability’
was only on the drawing board. During the
pilot I was also approached about becoming an
Instructor Trainer, which I formally trained as in
July 2011 and been Yorkshire's Cycling Team
Attaché at the UK School Games since 2009. More recently
I've qualified as a
Cycling Project's Wheels for All Ride Leader as well
as a British Cycling Coach able to deliver GoRide
and gained a FdSc Sports Coaching and Therapy
and BSc (Hons) Sports Performance
and Coaching whilst now embarking on my PGCE
incorporating various aspects of Bikeability. We are
also negotiating a disabled cycling facility in
Cornwall (golooksee
www.cycleability.org.uk) and RSCT has been approved by Cornwall
Council's Family Information Service and listed on
the
Get Active Cornwall
site .. I'm also a Level 2 British Cycling Track Coach
and a British Cycling Level 1 Ride Leader for Breeze
and Sky Rides.
 Dilys Gartside has been an instructor at least as long as I
have., possibly longer but she is in Southampton. This
year at last her endeavours have been recognised and she has
been named as CTC Volunteer of the Year SE 2008. She also worked with Dom Littlewood on "Dom's on the Case"
which was primarily down to Dilys
without whose help and co-operation, it probably wouldn't
have happened as she was the one who persuaded her
neighbours to participate .. she's also been an extra in
both the "Cycle Hero DVD" and "Midsommer Murders".
Her website is
www.cyclewisesouthampton.co.uk
Last year, led the largest group
of female
cyclists for the CTC's annual 'Five Miles to Fabulous' ride
out, so is well deserving of her award!
 Fiona Telfer-Brunton joins Rob and Wendy as a graduate in Sports Science at Plymouth University but to her credit, she
also took British Cycling SW Coach of the Year Award
2009 along side other coaches such as Mark Barry from Yorkshire, who is a former Olympian and Commonwealth squad member. In addition, Fi was Team Coach for the SW Road and Time Trials at the UK School Games
2010 in Newcastle and three weeks later, Team Manager for the SW team at the Inter-Regional
Track Championships. Furthermore she is the senior coach with
local club One and All, as well as Youth Coach and Women’s Team Manager. She is also looking into the possibility of becoming a National Standard Instructor as well so she can deliver Bikeability which would compliment her other skills. She can be contacted via email at
fiona@f1coaching.co.uk
and her new website is
www.f1coaching.co.uk
 Steve Masi is based in Hayle and already has his own
business, ‘Wheels on Wheels’, a mobile cycle repair workshop
which he already goes into schools to train the youngsters
to mend punctures and change their inner tubes etc.
In
addition, he
is also looking to gain his
Bikeability accredited. Furthermore he has now done his CTC/OTC Mountain
Bike course as
well as he regularly works with
children who need to burn off some surplus energy which
would otherwise get them into big trouble. Steve can be
contacted via
s.masi@wowcycletraining.org.uk
- He now has his own website
at
www.wowcycletraining.org.uk
- WoW as in Wheels on Wheels because of his being a
cycle mechanic but heck, it looks still good and now he is
an all rounder having qualified as an off road instructor as
well but is better known by his nickname of 'Mohican Man'
because of his helmet.
.JPG) Martyn Laxton is from
Devon, born and bred (some say thick in the arm and thick in
the 'ed .. his words not mine though!) Finally he is
in a position to do something for his local community in
terms of putting something back. Having coached and
trained all ages during his working life, primarily water
sports and taking friends' children up to Haldon Forest
mountain biking (way before the new tracks arrived when part
of the fun was getting lost in the forest) as well as being
in and been around the licensed trade, he's a fair all
rounder. He recently qualified as an NSI and trained
as an MTB Instructor with CTC/OTC as well. He got thrown in the
deep end metaphorically speaking, when he worked with Steve down at Plymouth Hoe and got
his feet wet for the first time! To contact him, his
email addy is
swervymervy@msn.com
 Bill Ward comes from Penzance, which is still his home
town., he's just finished his 2nd year FdSc Outdoor Education
student at Truro College, based at Tregye. His aim is to
set up his own business when he is suitably qualified in a
variety of sports but as a means of getting from A to B,
what better mode of transport which is both healthy and
environmentally friendly, than cycling. He can be contacted
via email at
BillyWard@mindless.com.
Bill wants to go on and get more experience working
with foundation students, so plans on working with Matt Wilmott, at his invitation as well. He has worked with me on the LEAPActive
week as well as with children who are home educated in
Penzance.
 Louise
Summers is the latest instructor to qualify having trained
last Autumn. Louise is is a qualified secondary school
teacher (P.G.C.E.) with over twenty years experience of
working with youth and community groups in Cornwall, London
and the West Midlands. She holds a full motorcycle license,
is a Sustrans volunteer ranger and enjoys cycling on the
cycle network as it takes her family to lovely places they
couldn't see by foot or car and has a website,
www.cyclesmiles.org.uk.
Louise is promotiing cycling because it's .. easy,
fun and free as well as good for the body and soul and eco
friendly. She is also hoping to set up a Junior School
Fun Cycling Challenge in the not too distant future.
 Rob Cockings now lives in Probus but remembers St Mewan
Primary School well, having attended it as
a child. He just graduated having done
his BSc (Hons) Personal Trainer degree, having upgraded from
an FdSc. A few years ago,
another student on the same course, in his early 20s learned
to ride a bike as part of the course having never even sat
on one previously. Now with Rob trained
up, should history repeat itself, there is now help to
hand. Rob can be contacted via
rcockings@cornwall.gov.uk. when he is not running a cross
country training session for pupils at Probus CP. He's
also an experienced marathon runner and heavily involved
with Truro Running Club as well as being a Level 2 UK
Athletics Coach and working for the Cornwall Sports
Partnership as Duchy Athletics Club Coach Coordinator.
He also has his own website now at
www.1etal.org.uk
 Karen Westbrook is the face behind Frills Driving School
from Grampound., she was also a Cyclewise Instructor in the
dim, distant pass but recognises that cycling will be the
way forward, so embraces Bikeability whole heartedly. She has instructed both my two and although my
youngest still has to go for his test, my daughter passed
first time which says it all. Now Karen is ‘thinking Bike’
as well as car (her driving school is still active) and
having worked with her, the way she give constructive
feedback as well as encourages and praises, will help to
spur people onwards and upwards. Karen
works in conjunction with Rob Cockings, in fact they have
taken on the Roseland together living on the doorstep and
working in tandem so Karen can contacted via
karen@frillstuition.org.uk,
her website needless to say, is
www.frillstuition.org.uk.
 Gary
Moger is the latest person with cycling at heart to
swell our ranks but from a different angle.
Gary is one of the most highly qualified Bike
Mechanics you can get and we are so lucky to have
him locally. At Revolve they are committed to
all things bicycle and the joy of riding them. They
have over twenty years experience in the bicycle
industry from managing workshops, setting up
recycling projects to working for bicycle companies
like Kona. Whether it is a full-suspension MTB race
set up, the latest race kit, or a recycled Claud
Butler from the eighties, they have the experience
to help. Primarily they aim to offer expert
professional advice and service to encourage cycling
at all levels, whether that is a simple repair,
stripping a bike back totally or running 4 hour or 2
day maintenance courses for you to learn how to do
it yourself. Revolve also has worked with Cycle
Systems Academy, based in London, teaching their
first courses in professional bicycle mechanics, and
helping them become City & Guilds accredited. Based
in Devoran, his website is
www.revolvebicycleworks.com
 Andrew Holdstock lives in Totnes
and professionally,
is a Maths Teacher as well as having qualified as an NSI
himself .. a novel way to have extra maths tuition perhaps??
He and his wife have a caravan down in Portscatho and we work together if I'm running a course when
he comes down just as I go to Dartington to help him when he
takes his class out on a field trip if I am available. We've both found
that working with each other on each others home territory,
we can learn from each other and it underpins why
local knowledge is all important in planning sessions,
especially route planning for those wishing to cycle to
school/college and/or work.
.jpg) Penny
Allen was the first independent instructor to swell the
ranks
from just across the Tamar, in
Plymouth to be more accurate although she teaches in the Saltash
area as well … When we met for the first time she
told me that
it was when like myself, she was
looking for cycle training for her youngest, she
couldn't find anyone to train her which when she realised
there was a need for it in Plymouth. She has been
working with the Callington Sports Partnership
delivering cycle training to primary schools, and is
hoping to develop more training in Plymouth schools in
the future. Penny is a keen road cyclist, and if at all
possible always try and cycle to wherever she is
delivering training. Check out Penny's website at
www.penactive.com
 Amy O'Loughlin also formerly
known as
Lily-Peds,
is a
young lady from Exeter who operated a cycle rickshaw for
which Ames, as Head Peddler had got her licence to carry
passengers until the new ruling came in so for a while
offered a green
alternative to transportation, proms, school runs, birthday
rides etc … you name it, she'd peddled it and
have also
branched out to offer those who want to do the pedaling
themselves as a sustainable option. As a
fellow
Bikeability Instructor she also offers up
to date training for
all ages and all
abilities in Cycle Training through Cycle Exeter
although these days she is only home during the hols
having gone to London to start her degree course.
 One of the Steves I first met in my home town in Dorset. Now whenever I go back to see my
parents, we tend to meet up at the local coffee
shop there and have a brainstorming session. He's no fool and has a wealth of
experience to be drawn upon. Steve is one half of the partnership
behind
www.urban-glow.com
In fact he's got a new
product for cyclists being released in the autumn,
meanwhile he had a prototype of an existing product made
up for us which we wore when we did our E2E a year ago
now! Steve is
also an instructor and heads up
Wessex Cycle Training.
Sadly the other one, has gone home to Hertfordshire
 Richard Cooper is
owner and director of
http://www.ridingabike.co.uk
in middle England - he lives in St
Neots but works in the surrounding counties, including
Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Herts but curiously not
Northamptonshire as yet. Steve Allsop also works
with him sometimes and between them, they make a superb
team .. I had the privilege of actually meeting them
finally over the summer half term when we worked
together., Richard is also a Sustrans Ranger and does
quite a lot with the Bedfordshire Unitary Authorities -
don't ask, I always thought the idea of a Unitary
Authority was for there to just be the one!! Steve
lives in Bedford itself and can be contacted via email
at
s.allsopp@btconnect.com.
 Milly has his webby at
www.millypeds.co.uk
– he recycles bikes and aims to
construct whatever is needed, wherever feasible, to make
cycling available to anyone who wants to give it a go.
He was also my
End to End
cycling partner in the spring of 2008 when we arrived
at John O'Groats in beautiful sunshine and left an hour
later amidst a hail storm - Milly
has a wonderful collection of Crazy Bikes that he bought down for
the launch and the best thing about them
.... 99.9% of them have 3 if not 4 wheels, hence are
relatively stable
which in turn means ANYONE can have a go!! He
has also qualified as a National Standards Instructor and has worked with the
Welsh Assembly - Milly is hoping to qualify as an off road instructor
shortly
as well!
 Alan has
his own tree climbing company and can organise
activities from
tree climbing to all ages, from individual climbs to
small groups such as birthday parties, families,
stag/hen do’s or large groups such as corporate
events, camps, schools and festivals. They also
offer tree camping in tree hammocks for a special
experience not only climbing the tree but sleeping
in it too. There are various sites where it is
possible to climb around Cornwall or if you have a
suitable tree they can come to you. In the
summer Alan is also hoping to train as an NSI
himself, as currently he currently cycles with his
children to school each day. His website is
www.mighty-oak.co.uk
- there’s all sorts of
ways they can offer you a tree climbing experience
and soon he will be able to combine it with cycle
training as well so a truly green experience.
 Matt Wilmott teaches in St Blazey. Professionally he is an ASD teacher who takes the
more able childrenon the Sustrans cycle paths around Eden most weeks. His
students get a huge joy from these cycling sessions which
boosts their self-esteem as well as fitness. His training
now empowers him to open up cycling to the lesser abled
students on school premises in the playground as well, which
is his Plan A. Plan B
when we get the Kernow Wheels for All project off the ground,
when his experience working at Doubletrees will prove to be
invaluable and someone we can all look to for help and
guidance! Bill,
myself and several other instructors in county are all
planning to work with him at some point in the future for
precisely that reason. Matt’s contact is
matt@swcycleinstructors.info.
We
also now have links to the
Cornwall MTB Club
who are affiliated to the CTC ... check out their
website - They are a friendly bunch of bikers and
justifiably proud of their easy going, relaxed
attitude which makes their club what it is.
They always do their best to make everyone feel
welcome and have members of all levels, young and
old, no one is left out. They've built up both their
club and reputation over time, so go along and be
part of their up and coming group. They're
located around the Truro area and ride at various
locations each week with the rides being set by a
different group member each week, which keeps the
riding style varied and interesting. They meet each
Sunday at the time and location displayed on the
'Meet Sheet'.
Although these are all are
instructors etc. from the SW it isn't limited just to this
area - we are all part of a bigger team and I also work with
other instructors like
Steve Rowsell
who operates in Herts,
John Brady,
who was
originally from Callington,
Heather Pearce, Anne Banks,
Liz Mincer,
Liz Bowgett,
Tom Crispin,
Richard Cooper,
Dilys Gartside,
Ian Davey,
Ruth Ashford,
Janet Paske,
Francesca Flaxton,
and
Jill Henderson
amongst others., by brainstorming and bouncing ideas off each other, sharing
information between ourselves, supporting each other across the miles.
 Trevor is someone I've not seen since the summer of 1971
our having both grown up
in Dorchester. He's our secret weapon and a father himself
- we wouldn't have
achieved as much as we have in such a short space of time,
even less have our website up and running which again he
masterminded
... and if I do something daft in IT terms, it'll almost
certainly be Trevor who finds the solution and bails me out
!! Thanks heavens for the cyberspace era ... I'd be in
serious trouble without it, that's for sure as it keeps the
communication channels open! And at last I am allowed
to put a link to his website .... check it out on my new
Cycling Holidays page.
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