22 replies to this topic

[weirdmusic]

The initial responses from the Burley Ladies Activity Survey (see topic) have been very encouraging.

Cycling / Biking has been flagged up as an activity with broad appeal - i.e. both sexes & all ages.

If enough people register their interest - there is a proposal to set up a series of bike events starting around Spring Bank Holiday.
The types of event envisaged are:

1. Training & coaching - to enable a novice to gain the skills & confidence to take an active part in any future events - whether road cycling, mountain biking or BMX.
2. Family bike rides.
3. Regular evening & weekend rides.
4. A mass participation charity event as part of Burley Festival August 2010

Even if you don't have a bike, you may still be able to participate as there is the possibility of hiring and /or borrowing what you require.

If your willing to help in the organisation of the above events, please highlight this, when you register.

To register email: events@burley-in-wharfedale.org - in the subject line put "cycling"; in the body of the email put your contact details & what your keen on doing.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

Might it be suggested who ever is running this exercise they contact Bradford's Rights of Way Unit and find where folk can legally ride in the area. Also, as a cyclist of many years, I would urge new wheeelers to enrole with the CTC - http://www.ctc.org.uk/ Cyclists Touring Club. Membership will give you third party insurance should the worst happen.
Be prepared!

[weirdmusic]

For women who would like to start biking, I've found a useful guide from Sustrans -
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/assets/files ... b_2010.pdf

[Sebastian-Smythe]

For women who like to start riding might I suggest the nearest equestrian establishment.
Far more invigorating, much safer for the single female once out in the countryside,
and helping to keep our precious bridle paths open.

What were you saying about the velocopede btw?

[weirdmusic]

weirdmusic said:

Training & coaching - to enable a novice to gain the skills & confidence to take an active part in any future events - whether road cycling, mountain biking or BMX.

Where I've said "novice" many people have taken that to mean schoolkids. But there already schemes available to schoolkids to learn to ride safely such as "Bike Ability". The training & coaching, I'm planning, is for adults who may feel they need to upgrade their skills.

If the last time you cycled was when you were a kid, then some proper coaching will do wonders for your confidence on the road or trail.

Remember to register email: events@burley-in-wharfedale.org - in the subject line put "cycling"; in the body of the email put your contact details.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

I hope you include good manners toward other road users in your training sessions.
Certain morons of the two wheeled variety are giving the rest of the cycling
community a very bad name. Happy Wheeeeeeling otherwise!

[nipper]

Hopefully the sessions will include not riding on the pavement!

[weirdmusic]

13 people have so far registered their interest - they represent approximately 24 people - a mix of individuals, couples & families. They come from right across Burley - Scalebor Park, Sun Lane, Long Meadows, Main Street, Southfield Rd etc - & even Menston.
It would be good to get more, so if you know anyone who might be interested ask them to register via
events@burley-in-wharfedale.org - put "Cycling" in the subject line & their details in the body of the email.

[weirdmusic]

The people who have registered so far has put the numbers up to about 28 to 30.

With the help of Bradford NHS & CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club) we have, for a limited period, the services of a professional cycling coach.

It's been an interesting challenge to work out what should be the first few events of "Burley Biking" or whatever its decided to call it in the future. The events need to cater for as wide a range of abilities as possible; be a way of introducing people to each other; allow for people to progress from one level to the next or switch groups if they so desire. The initial rides are well on the way to being finalised.

We envisage 3 groups:
1. Beginners
2. Intermediate
3. Family

All groups will start & finish at the same place.
Each group's event will last approximately 1 hour.

The only thing that has yet to be decided on are the dates & times. We want to try and accommodate everyone's needs - i.e. work, kids & other commitments. So we'll try be as flexible as we can. Perhaps one date on a weekend, the next on a weekday evening. Once we've got the initial events up and running & people have been introduced to each other it will be much easier to sort out dates & times.

We want to try and develop all aspects of cycling - the social, the practical etc. So that "Burley Biking" isn't just about organising rides. For example: bike maintenance, bike building, demonstrations of kit or have-a-go sessions on alternative bikes such as recumbents, trikes, pedal cars etc.

If you have yet to register then email events@burley-in-wharfedale.org put "Cycling" in the subject line & your contact details in the body of the email.

[weirdmusic]

So far 20 have registered, representing approximately 40 people of all ages - singles, couples & families. We're currently in the throes of finalising the first few dates. These will be get to know you sessions, nothing too strenuous. It will enable us to see what kit everybody has, what your interested in etc.

For those of you, who have already registered, please send me details of what bikes you have i.e. road, mountain bikes or hybrids. Apologies to you all, I had hoped to get everything up and running by the end of May, but it was not to be.

To register email events@burley-in-wharfedale.org put "Cycling" in the subject line, your contact details & what bikes you have in the body of the email.

[weirdmusic]

The first couple of dates have been set: these will be meet, greet & short rides, nothing too strenuous.

Tuesday 22nd June - 8pm. Meet at Burley-in-Wharfedale Railway Station car park.
Sunday 27th June - 2pm. Meet at Burley-in-Wharfedale Railway Station car park.

Because the numbers who've registered has passed 20, I can no longer blind copy everybody into an email without being accused of spamming. Therefore I've set up a Google Group called "Burley Biking". This is a restricted group, in other words all content, messages etc can only be seen by members of the group.

To join the group, you first need to register via email to events@burley-in-wharfedale.org put "Cycling" in the subject line, your contact details, whereabouts in Burley you live & what bikes you have in the body of the email.

[weirdmusic]

A reminder the next event of Burley Biking is Sunday 27th June at 2pm. Meet at Burley Railway Station Car Park.
Everyone Welcome. Whatever bike you have bring it along - road, mountain, hybrid etc.

The event is a meet, greet & ride - with hopefully something for everyone.

• Beginners
  
• Families
  
• Intermediate

There will be a qualified cycling coach on hand to help. We need to see what kit you've got, what you want to do, plan future dates & generally get Burley Biking up and running.

The numbers who've registered has now reached 25, representing approximately 45+ people of all ages - singles, couples & families.

I've set up a Google Group called "BurleyBiking" - this is to enable everyone within Burley Biking to exchange information, set up rides, pass on tried & trusted routes, map new routes etc.

"BurleyBiking" Google group is a restricted group, in other words all content, messages etc can only be seen by members of the group. Nothing will appear on the wider internet.

The one thing that everyone requires to use Google Groups is a Google Account. A Google account is FREE & confidential. Setting one up is easy, following this link, takes you to the sign up page.
https://www.google.c...unts/NewAccount - The only information you need to provide is your email address & a password. (Uncheck the boxes - Stay signed in; enable web history; set Google as default homepage).

To be invited to join the "BurleyBiking" Google group, you first need to register via email to events@burley-in-wharfedale.org put "Cycling" in the subject line, your contact details & what bikes you have in the body of the email.

Once you've registered with me, I then add your email address to the list of invitations to join the Google Group. You will be sent an invite by email.

Please remember if you haven't got a Google Account then you can't join "BurleyBiking" Google group & you will not know what's being discussed & planned.

[weirdmusic]

weirdmusic, on 23 June 2010 - 01:43 PM, said:

A reminder the next event of Burley Biking is Sunday 27th June at 2pm. Meet at Burley Railway Station Car Park.
Everyone Welcome. Whatever bike you have bring it along - road, mountain, hybrid etc.

Sunday's "Burley Biking" event on 27th June has been put back 1 hour to 1pm, because of the World Cup football kicking off at 3pm. This should enable everyone to complete an hour long event & still get back in time for the footie.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

[quote name='weirdmusic' date='23 June 2010 - 02:43 PM' timestamp='1277300633' post='3105']
A reminder the next event of Burley Biking is [u]Sunday 27th June at 2pm[/u].

Meet at Burley Railway Station Car Park.

Has anyone from your new group contacted Bradford's Rights of Way Officers to see where one can/cannot ride in the upper regions?

[weirdmusic]

Sebastian-Smythe, on 07 July 2010 - 02:51 PM, said:

......... the upper regions?

What do you mean by "the upper regions"? Are you talking about "upper" as in moors - then Yes. Or do you mean "Upper Wharfedale" - then in part Yes. We're aware of the bridleways, designated cycle routes & safer cycling road routes.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

weirdmusic, on 07 July 2010 - 05:26 PM, said:

What do you mean by "the upper regions"? Are you talking about "upper" as in moors - then Yes. Or do you mean "Upper Wharfedale" - then in part Yes. We're aware of the bridleways, designated cycle routes & safer cycling road routes.

Upper regions - the Moors especialy.

There's a lot of folk using the moors and not keeping to designated routes.

I don't know what it's like on Burley Moor but areas of Ilkley Moor are becoming badly damaged.

If any of your ladies are useing the Addingham Moorside route to Silsden, or the Ilkley to Bolton Abbey via Nessfield route, please make them aware of speeding drivers at blind bends.

[weirdmusic]

Sebastian-Smythe, on 08 July 2010 - 01:38 PM, said:

Upper regions - the Moors especialy.
There's a lot of folk using the moors and not keeping to designated routes.
I don't know what it's like on Burley Moor but areas of Ilkley Moor are becoming badly damaged.
......................

Its not just bikers that don't stick to designated routes.

Unfortunately so many users of open landscapes whether its moors or grassland or mountains have this idea that they're free to roam wherever they like.

In part its down to ignorance. Lack of knowledge of the impact on the ground beneath their feet, tyres or hooves.

There seems to be three groups. One group has a herd-like instinct to follow the well-known path. So what starts out as being a path the width of a sheep, very quickly turns into a 6 lane highway. Any route that's given a name, is particularly prone to over-use. Such as Pennine Way, Dales Way, Coast-to-Coast etc.

Another group is path averse. They strike out on their own, going wherever the mood takes them. Once they've created a new path or route, the herd then follows.

The third group, does a bit of research beforehand, working out where they can & can't go. But even this group can forget they too have an impact on the landscape even following designated routes.

An interesting question arises out of all of this, should the powers that be, do more to educate us about the impact of our use of the countryside?
Perhaps do more to publicise their activities? I'm thinking in particular of what used to be called "English Nature" & is now called "Natural England". (As an aside anybody know why they changed their name?)

[Wharfedale]

Bikes can use bridal ways so it seems you have something in common.

Moors are off limits for both groups but I see alot of bike tracks and horse shoe imprints when I walk up there – especially the Ilkley end of the moor.

The Chevin is better and some of the tracks are rarther fun for mountain bikers.

[bikerbabe]

How did your first session go weirdmusic? It was a very warm day. I walked with the dogs up to the Hermit for a pint and we even had Sunday lunch sat outside before walking back home - it was lovely and quiet with the football being on, but nice and sunny too, definitely would of needed to take water bottles on a ride out,

[weirdmusic]

bikerbabe, on 09 July 2010 - 10:57 PM, said:

How did your first session go weirdmusic? ................

As I recall the first session, was pretty much a waste of mine & the cycling coaches time.  The second was a lot better.

Due to a family illness & subsequent bereavement and then my involvement with the Burley Summer Festival, I put "Burley Biking" on the back burner.  

The question arises - do I now commit some more time to it, get it back up & running by putting on some more dates?  

If people are still interested then email:  events@burley-in-wharfedale.org & put "Burley Biking" in the subject line, your contact details & what you'd like to do in the body of the email.  

If no one responds then nothing will happen.