CycleLyn

Learning Difficulties

cyclelyn — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:21:28 +0000

Well, as a person, this is a new area to me. But……as a Cycling Instructor!

So many successes. These children LOVE!! cycling. No, I’m not lumping everyone together. But please don’t assume that cycling is not for your child. Let me assess please. You just never know………

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Absolutely No Excuses!

cyclelyn — Wed, 01 May 2013 22:24:44 +0000

Wokingham Borough Council are organising lots of cycling events during this summer. In particular, they are running some Cycle Training for Adults sessions in Wokingham. These will run for a couple of hours, with qualified instructors and are aimed at complete beginners, or rusty returners. If you don’t have a bike, they may be able to arrange one for you. So there really is no excuse not to have a go! Check my calendar for dates. If you have any queries, please let me know, or contact Jill Bissell, the Cycle Training Co-ordinator at WBC. jill.bissell@wokingham.gov.uk

There are also some FREE family led rides organised. These are for those who are a little nervous or inexperienced. The WBC experienced ride leaders will take you and your family members around the route at a gentle pace, and make sure we finish where there will be coffee and cake available!

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British Summer Time…Ha!

cyclelyn — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:19:13 +0000

What on earth is going on with our weather this year? I’m sure we’ve had at least one snowflake every single week here in the south since Christmas. Hardly cycling weather, although, there is a plethora of very functional cycling clothing out there. I’m not going to start linking to various retail sites as, unless I can talk from first hand experience, I can’t recommend. However, I will say that layers are best. Multiples!! You can always take off if you do manage to warm up. It’s usually toes and fingers that get hit first so some nice silk liners are useful. Anything ‘windproof’ in these blustery and freezing easterly’s is hugely beneficial as its breatheable, however, if you need waterproofs too then go for it.

Wokingham Borough Council have run regular holiday courses for Bikeability Levels 1 & 2 for Year 5/6/7 students. The Woodley Airfield course is always full, in fact usually oversubscribed. This year however, really low numbers? Is it the weather? Or is it that more Bikeability courses are being offered to schools during term time? I hope it’s the latter. Maybe the holiday courses should be re-tailored to fit other age groups?

I finally managed to get hold of a brand new magazine this week – Issue No 1 of ‘Women’s Cycling’. I’m looking forward to a good read, but suspect it will only be in the loo. Where else can I go for peace and quiet? I’ll let you know my thoughts.

I’ve had one of my most delightful one-one’s lately. He’s a young lad with some special needs who’s coming off stabilisers and wanting to ride. He is doing really well, but the best bit is he loves to sing ‘Skyfall’ to me whilst we’re working! I can think of worse jobs!!

I need to update my diary as there is a lot of things happening now, and it’s only going to get busier. Wokingham BC has some extra funds for cycling so I’m really looking forward to their plans. Also, I was able to attend a course (run by CTC) this week which was very enlightening. Details will follow……….

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For Cyclists, Spring is here!

cyclelyn — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:53:23 +0000

This is the first year in this career of mine that I have seen so much activity, so early. I have had many private lessons booked, and schools are trying to squeeze in Bikeability wherever they can. It’s great!! The Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have taken the decision to invest some of their DfT funds into Level 1 Bikeability for Year 4. I went along to a school in Windsor this week and the children are so enthusiastic. We spent Day One on the playground working through all sorts of cycling skills which is mostly games. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there for the rest of the course but the plan was to get them onto the (very quiet) roads just to get them going. I think this is a brilliant idea so well done Windsor & Maidenhead!

In the extremely bitter winds, we took 16 children through Level 1&2 in Maidenhead. It really isn’t easy to maintain concentration in this weather, but they managed admirably.

Now for one of my most memorable adult lessons ever! A lady contacted me asking for cycling lessons as she had never ever cycled in her life. She has 6 children and is desperate to be able to keep up with them all. I know she won’t mind me telling you, she is no lightweight!! But, another of her reasons for cycling is fitness. She is determined to lose some weight and get fit. She had been given a 45 year old Raleigh bicycle by a kind family friend. It was very rusty, although still in a reasonable working order. Both brakes worked, the tyres held their air, but the gears were defunct and the old leather saddle had seen better days. Unfortunately though, apart from being a little on the heavy side, this lady is also very tall, so the bike fit was very poor (knees hitting handlebars).

The determination of this lady was admirable, and we had her up and running within 30 minutes. We swapped bikes as mine was a little bigger. She lives in a Cul de Sac and is obviously very well known. Once she was had got the hang of things, she pedalled away from me into her road, yelling and shouting ‘I can cycle, I can cycle’. People were waving out of windows and honking their horns as they passed in their cars. It was all very exciting and rewarding. She is now going to save up and buy herself a more up to date bike. So, there you go. There really are absolutely no excuses.

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Respect

cyclelyn — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:51:12 +0000

A little sad today as I had to ask a young man to leave my Bikeability Course. We tried every way we could possibly think of to reinforce road safety, not just for himself, but also for others. He just didn’t seem to grasp the fact that you cannot ride your BMX with your stomach on your saddle and your legs in the air along a busy road! In three years, this is only the second time I have given up the fight, but when I have others to think about, something has to give. Apart from general road skills, attitude and respect are also paramount to road-riding. I hope he comes back with a renewed attitude another time.

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It’s all in the Planning

cyclelyn — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:37:11 +0000

I’ve taken advantage of the grotty weather this week and spent the time in my study getting sorted with my planning and paperwork. I’ve updated my Bikeability registration, a yearly requirement of the DfT to make sure we’re all doing things properly. Along with other instructors, we’ve met with Wokingham Borough Council and pinned down most of the schools that are taking Bikeability in the Borough this year – starting next week! I’ve also had a few calls this week booking private one-to-one cycling lessons for adults and children. This is all very encouraging! Go on – I dare you……………….

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Importance of keeping Warmest

cyclelyn — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:46:04 +0000

Great day today, but the temperature hardly went above freezing. However, my brave client this morning wanted to go ahead even though she said she was so nervous she was unable to concentrate on any work. She told me she couldn’t ride and was really frightened. But she was great! Pedalling away within an hour and thoroughly enjoying herself until…… With freezing cold hands, she popped into the local hotel to use the loo then washed her hands in hot water and ended up in quite a bit of pain poor thing. Many of us ladies are cursed with Raynauds Disease which is just inconvenient for some, but very painful for others. No treatment available apparently, just wear good gloves, maybe two pairs!

I also had an enjoyable evening, meeting up at Pizza Express with some other localish Breeze Ride Champions. Great to put names to faces and swap notes. Breeze Ride details will be posted soon, so keep looking, or drop me an email if you would like me to keep you informed.

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Here Comes 2013!

cyclelyn — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:53:20 +0000

Yes, I’m a little apprehensive. My posts toward the end of last year became few and far between, but only because I got so busy, time was just such a premium.

I know the website isn’t quite working properly at the moment. I’m nagging ‘those that can’ to sort me. Please let me know where you’ve had problems, then, apart from my list, they can start on everyone else’s!!

I’m actually a little…ohh whats the word… Nervous…Cautious….Panicked….incredibly excited…..etc about this year. Cycling has really taken off in so many ways. Thank you, all of you wonderful Olympians for your spectacular riding and brilliant results and all of you wonderful cyclists who have helped promote life on two wheels. The result is so many more of you want to get involved! You want to introduce or re-introduce yourselves to two wheels – well done!!! So many enquiries, I’m frantically trying to plan my diary already and I know this is going to be a manic year. BUT THAT’S WHY I’M HERE! No, I can’t quite offer anyone the skills of Victoria or Sarah et al, but I know I can help you with some everyday cycling advice, road skills, confidence. Go on….. you know you want to!

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Over 50′s

cyclelyn — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 18:51:10 +0000

In conjunction with Wokingham Borough Council’s SHINE initiative, last week I had the opportunity to work with some ladies who had not cycled for some time. We really enjoyed ourselves. They had their own individual stories to tell for wanting to get back on two wheels. We ran through some basics like cycle and helmet fitting. Luckily, Jill Bissell, WBC’s Cyling Co-ordinator, had brought along some helmets. One lady arrived wearing a childs ‘small’, then rode home wearing an adult ‘large’! We then went off for a little ride around the Cantley Park area. All were feeling a lot more confident and happy to continue riding when they left. Nice to meet you ladies!!

For more details about future over 50′s cycling sessions, contact http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/sports/fitness/shine/

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Extremes

cyclelyn — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:10:22 +0000

Madness………..freezing cold and wrapped up in multiple layers to suncream and buckets worth of water within a week. I love this country and the challenges the weather throws at us.

I had a wonderful week at St. Sebastian’s in Crowthorne. A terrific bunch of kids. St. Sebs is a school on a very busy main road, so, until now, all their training had taken place on the playground or in the adjoining car park (Cycling Proficiency). However, now us instructors are on bikes too, we were able to walk to a local track in the woods, then cycle through until we reached a better training site. What an adventure and so successful. Mind you, I had a spectacular crash on the last trip back through the woods. I caught a fir cone somehow in my front wheel which ground me to a very sudden halt. Just managed to not ‘hit the deck’ but t’was a tad embarrassing The kids all thoroughly enjoyed themselves even though they had to wait outside a shop whilst I dashed in to get some more water as we were all de-hyrdrating. On the final assessment day, we covered 8 miles! Can’t wait til next year.

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