Bikeability in #Devon with @cycledevon
Posted: 17/07/2015 Filed under: Community, Event | Tags: ability, Andrei Burton, bicycle, bike, bikeability, community, courses, cycle, cycle courses, cycling proficiency, Devon, freedom, learning, safety Leave a commentNot enough people are aware of Bikeability! It is widely available and to go straight to the point it is about “Cycling Proficiency for the 21st Century“.
Being in Devon there is something even more special: Andrei Burton is involved in the scheme!
Who is Andrei Burton (just in case you are not on the same timezone)!
He is a multi Guinness World Record Holder – passionate about riding his bike.
To get the full picture, visit his website http://andreiburton.com/
Andrei Burton
In fact, he is more than just showing his face – he is backing Devon County Council’s project to make sure that Bikeability goes forward.
To clarify, Bikeability is dedicated to children who want to discover, explore and learn how to cycle safely and further down the line are able to enjoy the freedom of riding a bicycle whether in the countryside or in the urban landscape. Safety first and once this is acquired… the rest is history.
…Hundreds of thousands of young cyclists have already received Bikeability training and have been awarded coveted Bikeability badges and certificates. We want as many children as possible to have the opportunity to take part in Bikeability training, and it is estimated that more than 1.5 million will have been trained by March 2015… Source
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It is also related to get the cycling community involved throughout Devon – it doesn’t matter whether you ride a road bike, MTB or fixed gear too.
Devon is the largest provider of bicycle training in England. And then, there is The Exe Trail which makes things easier for families who want to go for a casual ride along the river Exe. The map shows a rather interesting itinerary from both sides of the Estuary.
Very practical and fun if you want to spend a few hours between Exmouth and Dawlish. A real joy for tourists staying for a well deserved Break in this County. It is a real breath of fresh air when leaving their Devon holiday lodge and embracing the beauty of nature – this is what makes this area of England so unique.
In the past decade things have improved so much. Before, (shared) cycle paths were either rare or difficult to access. Thankfully, Cycle Devon has turned things around! The website has regular updates and social media (twitter and/or facebook) provides mre than a handful of information.
All this couldn’t be possible without the financial support of DfT (Department For Transport). The amount in question is £264,000, which will allow 6,600 children to be trained for the year 2015/2016.
For more information related to cycling in Devon as well as Bikeability – including Summer Holiday courses – please visit cycledevon.info
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Organising #BikeFilmNight in #Exeter
Posted: 03/04/2015 Filed under: Event, Fixed Gear | Tags: BikeFilmNight, community, event, exeter, films, Fixed Gear, projection space, venue Leave a commentFor the ones who never heard or been to BikeFilmNight – here is a short definition:
It is a casual and relaxed evening where films – mainly about fixed gear – are screened. It is about getting the Exeter cycling community (on fixed gear or not) under one roof for a couple of hours or so. The cost of a seat is generally a few Pounds (usually less than a fiver). The money taken goes to a charity not to One Gear Exeter.
In the past (since November 2012), the event took place at Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre in the cosy Blackbox space. 40 seats would receive the audience.
There were also a handful of local businesses able to show their products/services before and after the projection such as:
- No Guts No Glory,
- Bikelands,
- Magic Bike Mike,
- Alistair Cope (Velo Vintage),
as well as Dave Noakes and Juliet Elliott representing Coven Magazine and ready to interact about various things linked to fixies as both have been bike messengers in London.
Now it is time to change venue just because it is time to change venue. Always good to find different places – which doesn’t mean that it won’t happen again at The Phoenix.
This is where the real venture, battle actually starts.
Exeter can be difficult… Emails have been sent, meetings and chats happened to find a free space with projection equipment (projector, screen, computer…) and 40+ seats. Exeter has offices/boardrooms and other spaces with such installations! Just thinking of the new Exeter Library Rougemont Room with all facilities needed. However, the price for this room is a daily rate which can reach around £180! And well, it is not exactly open after 7pm anyway…
Having had various discussions with local theatres, pubs and other places, it seems that there is a rate to pay to have this type of evening! However, why having to pay a fee when 100 percent (and not only the benefits) of the money taken is going to a charity – all cash taken at the bar is in fact kept by the actually place hosting that evening! Exeter can be difficult to get the point of BikeFilmNight. Once again, One Gear Exeter is not a business and doesn’t make money but in fact drags 40+ people into their space. The winner is the host and it is great and free advertising too.
You would think that a local business would be more than happy to shelter such cycling event where everyone is welcome to watch short films/documentaries about fixed gear culture without being pretentious.
All this to explain why Exeter hasn’t had a BikeFilmNight meetup since September 2014.
Fear not, as there are a couple of quirky venues which are rather interested to receive BikeFilmNight. Date, time, address will be revealed in due course… just be patient (or try).
Thank you and follow #BikeFilmNight on Twitter for the updates.
Cycle and Films
#FixedGear short #film by @RaechelHarding
Posted: 24/01/2015 Filed under: Community, Fixed Gear | Tags: australia, cinelli, community, film, Fixed Gear, fixed on fixed, fixie, fun, girls, melbourne, tricks, urban Leave a commentOur Society/World has something for everyone. Forget the stereotypes of who does what. This is also applicable for riding fixed gear bikes.
Raechel Harding‘s short film about girls on fixie in Melbourne (Australia), shows us that yes indeed… girls too can ride such bicycles and this is not just a male thing!!!
Strangely, people (like to) assume that such or such activity/job is more for men than women and vice-versa.
Time to be open minded – categorizing is so 20th century.
One Gear Exeter 