Sutton CC/De Ver Cycles Enjoy Bike Week
News Posted 19th June 2008
Bike Week got under way on the 14th June and although it is separate from the Go-Ride programme, its aim is very similar. That is to help more people cycle more often. The theme this year was to bring families together and events around the country reflected this with the launch being a cycle fair in Manchester followed by cycling treasure hunts and family rides in other parts of the country.
Although officially getting underway on the 14th June, Sutton CC/De Ver Cycles couldn’t wait that long to get involved and got Bike Week off to an early start on Saturday 7th June with their now traditional Special Fun Cycle Ride for Families along the River Wandle. Catherine Mahé of Sutton CC/ De Ver Cycles shared the clubs experience with the Go-Ride Team.
“It was not only an official Bike Week event, but also part of the Wandle Valley Festival (www.wandlevalleyfestival.org.uk). The Festival aimed to show people who live near the Wandle Valley what is available on their doorstep to explore and enjoy, using the Wandle Trail for cyclists and walkers.
Of the 36 people who gathered at Waddon Ponds, one of the sources of the Wandle, 28 were Club members with their families. The youngest was Clarissa, aged two, sitting behind her mum, Club Welfare Officer Liz Vernon.
As the group rode the 3˝ miles to Carshalton Ponds, they stopped to look at various points of interest such as the watermills, and the dovecote in Beddington Park. At Honeywood, the Heritage Centre, they were greeted by the Moyor of Sutton, Councillor Dr Brendan Hudson, and the Mayoress. He thanked the Club for its work promoting cycling for young people, and praised the youngsters for choosing a sport that was also a green means of transport. He told them that he himself was a user of the Wandle Trail, although he walked it, rather than cycled. Carshalton Ponds is the other source of the Wandle and from there the Mayor waved them on their way - another 3˝ miles to Morden Hall Park. They rode past (or rather, over) the blue plaque dedicated to the Club’s Starters Section.
At Morden Hall Park each youngster received a certificate and Bike Week spoke reflectors, which proved very popular, and had to be fitted to their bikes straight away! The group then split up to do their own thing - some had a picnic, some rode straight home. But 7 children and 4 adults continued their riverside ride all the way to the Thames in Wandsworth and then back to Carshalton and a few still further - back to Waddon - a total of 23 miles!
The following week Sutton CC/ De Ver Cycles carried on the fun at the Sutton Bike Fest. On the 14th June, 17 young Club members cycled down from their Northey Avenue meeting place to Sutton High Street to take part in the Sutton Bikefest, a Smarter Travel Sutton initiative. They enjoyed going round the various stands, in particular trying the novelty bikes and the 5 Minute Calorie Challenge. During the morning the Club’s racing team performed a demonstration on turbo-trainers. Then in the afternoon it was the turn of the London Borough of Sutton cycling team going to the London Youth Games who are all members of Sutton CC / De Ver Cyles. Passers-by, amazed by the ability of the youngsters, kept asking, “…was there any way to harness all this energy?” The Mayor and Mayoress of Sutton also attended Bikefest and were amused to see themselves featured in a press cutting on the Wandle Ride on the Club’s display board.”
These activities were very different from the Go-Ride activities usually run that concentrate on cycle sport. But they are a great example of how a Go-Ride Clubmark Accredited Club are expanding their activities and including everyone in the club, helping more people get more active more often in cycling.
