Rochdale Cycling Club
Everyone is welcome at our club, although it is targeted at
underprivileged children. Bicycles and helmets are provided free for the
ride for anyone who hasn't got one.
Rochdale Cycling Club caters for underprivileged children, many of ethnic
origin, who do not own their own bikes, adults just starting or returning to
cycling, handicapped riders and cyclists with learning difficulties. The
club has a wide range of bicycles which are loaned free of charge for the
rides. These range from Tandems for the use of visually impaired riders,
trailer bikes to accommodate children from four years old, electric bikes
for those not fit enough to ride a normal bike, and even one five seater
bike on which and adult can take out four children. Helmets are also
available free for the ride if required.
Since it's formation in March 2000 the club has taken out over 400
children on its rides. It has also provided bicycles for a number of them to
keep for their own use. These are bicycles that have been supplied by the
police as stolen but untraceable and not in a good enough condition for the
police to send them to auction. The club has put these bicycles in good
condition and made them roadworthy before giving them to children who would
never otherwise have one.
The club has introduced some of the more promising members to cycle racing
and six of the members completed their first ten-mile time-trial earlier
this year. Next year we aim to have a full racing team and compete in both
ten and 25-mile time trials.
Another thing we intend doing next year is setting up a Bike-Bus scheme to
take children to and from school. This will not only be better for the
children participating by making them more fit and healthy, but also reduce
traffic congestion near the schools. However, this can only begin when we
get some more tandems, and we do not have room for more tandems until our
new bicycle storage shed is built, hopefully next spring.
The Club chairman is the Cycling "Get Set" manager for Rochdale and the
surrounding area. (The "Get Set" scheme has replaced the Cycling Proficiency
Test.) Under this scheme the club trains children from various schools in
cycling skills and roadcraft. The club also has links with Scott house where
it teaches adults with learning difficulties first to ride a bike and then
roadcraft. When they are sufficiently proficient the club takes them out for
short rides, - one of the few opportunities the residents get to venture off
the premises.
Louis believes that EVERYONE who wishes to cycle should be able to do so.
He is convinced that cycling is one of the best ways of staying fit and
healthy.
We are short of adults to accompany the rides.
We can only take out two children per adult and often have to turn
children away when we do not have enough adults with us.
Louis Blank
Contact Louis