Local News and projects

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Swindon Get Cycling magazine

Bike Maintenance courses

On-Line Cycle route planning tool for Swindon

Find us on Facebook!
Interested in Mountain Biking?
Disability bikes
Swindon Cycle map
Cycle hire in Swindon
Bike recycling
Brunel cycle park - latest news
Swindon cycle challenge
CTC cycle champions project
Report a fault

Swindon "Get Cycling Magazine"

Swindon has recently published a magazine called "Get Cycling" containing a lot of useful tips and information on a range of topics from buying bikes, maintaining bikes, how to carry things on two wheels, where to ride etc.  There's also local articles about projects and activities in the Swindon area.  The free magazine will be hitting bike shops, libraries, leisure centres and large workplaces shortly.  You can also request to have a copy (or multiples) sent to you - email transportplanning@swindon.gov.uk with your postal address.

 

Open Meeting

The Friends of the Railway Path are holding an Open Meeting to help firm up on plans for developing the Railway Path between Coate Water and Marlborough.  During the meeting, we will

  • Have contributions from walkers, cyclists, horse riders and others on the potential of the Path, and what it could contribute to the area

  • Identify priorities for what we should aim to do (and raise funds for)

  • Work out how best to involve the community in helping to make it happen

The meeting is open to all and everyone is welcome to come along and help us develop our vision for the future of the Path.

Details of venue and timing are below.

Time; 9 pm on Wednesday 25th January

Venue: Calley Memorial Hall, Draycott Road, Chiseldon, SN4 0LS http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?cid=9509478471617569013&q=Calley+Memorial+Hall,+Swindon&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:ppiwlink&ei=t9YCT8XkMseejweI6PXBCg&dtab=2

Cycle Maintenance Courses

Would you like to learn how carry out basic user maintenance on your bike to give you the confidence to know that everything is good order, or what to do if it isn't.  Lew Lawton is running a series of 1 day Bike Maintenance courses in Spring 2012 - see the events diary for dates..  The courses concentrate on things you can do to keep your bike in tip top condition with basic tools, including assessing and changing brake cables and blocks, sorting out gear problems, repairing punctures, cleaning and lubricating your bike.  You will work on your own bike so this is a great opportunity to learn more about your bike and get it ready for the summer.  See the events pages or conatct Lew on 01793 763162  or cycle.medic@btinternet.com


 

Swindon Cycle map

To help encourage cycling, Swindon Borough Council published a cycling map in 2009.  The printed version is available for free from various locations, including the Visitor Information Centre in Swindon, libraries and council offices.  The map is also online in an interactive format.  View the map online (this online version has its limitations but there will be work to improve this over the next year).  We can also post a copy of the map to you - just email a postal address to transportplanning@swindon.gov.uk

A new edition is being planned for 2012, following a consultation on cyclist's views on how to improve the map in th esummer.  Thanks to everyone that contributed.  The new version is likely to include routes beyond Swindon - especially Route 45 to Cricklade and Marlborough, aswell as town plans of Highworth, Chisledon and Wroughton that currently don't feature.  There will be a suite of seperate maps of local areas to download as PDFs, and it's likely that the "rounds" will disappear from the map and go online instead in a clearer format.

 

Find us on Facebook

 Cycle Swindon is now on Facebook.  If you are on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/cycleswindon and "like" our page so that you can be kept up to date with news, offers, information and share photos and give your views and thoughts on all things cycling!

 

Salvation Army Recycles   NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS

 

The Salvation Army, based at Booth House, underneath the Travelodge Hotel in Spring Close has just openned a fantastic new bike recycling project.  The social enterprise involves training residents to refurbish old cycles in order for them to be sold at affordable prices to individuals and community organisations.  The project launched on Sept 20th 2011.  So if you are looking a a good quality second hand bike, that has been fully re-conditioned and safety checked this should be your first port of call.  The facility also sells hi viz kit and helmets as well asa comprehensive selection of cycle parts and accessories.  You can also refuel yourself, grab a cuppa and a sandwich and meet like minded cycling folk.

The opening hours are Weds through Saturday from 10 Am till 4pm Contact elizabeth.osborne@salvationarmy.org.uk for further details.

 

Find out more on their FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycles-Booth-House/100733560032322

Recycle your cycle

If you have an old bike hanging around the garage, there are various options for getting it recycled so that it can enjoy a new lease of life.

 

Brunel cycle parking

Swindon's first Cycle Park in the town centre was officially launched in June 2010 and there are now around 150 registered users.  Anybody can apply for access to the park, which gives undercover locked cycle parking for up to 100 cycles.  It is free to use, but there is a £10 one off charge to cover the cost of your swipe card.  The park is situated on the ground floor of Brunel West car park (behind the big TV screen).

 

Further details and an application form are available from www.swindon.gov.uk/cycling

 

Picture of Brunel cycle park now completed 

 

Swindon cycle challenge

Around a thousand people in Swindon have signed up to the Swindon cycle challenge website to log the trips they undertake on two wheels.  Periodically the website introduces challenges within team, workplaces or individually.  There’s a video that explains more about the challenges at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlkI-a6Iscc

Join in and sign up now at www.swindoncyclechallenge.org.uk/home

 

CTC Community Cycling Champions Project in Swindon

This is a lottery funded project that simply aims to get more people cycling!  There are various projects running, including:

  • adult cycle training (free course for the over 50s),

  • getting people with disabilities into the saddle,

  • Cycling for health sessions

  • Mountain biking and BMX training sessions

  • Free social bike rides

For more details about the above projects, visit the CTC website

 

Report a fault

Swindon Borough Council is responsible for maintaining public highways in the borough, which includes raods, pavements, paths, and cycle tracks.  There are regular routine inspections, but if you come across a defect or problem, it can be reported.

Full details of how to report faults and defects can be found online on the Swindon Borough Council website.  There is a hotline number set up for emergency defects - 01793 445501 (Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, and Sat 9am - 1pm.  Outside these times, please call 01793 466453.)

 

Interested in Mountain Biking?

If you enjoy mountain biking, you'll be interested to hear there is a new Mountain bike website set up for enthusiastic mountain bikers in Swindon.  The website can be found at http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/

The club MBSwindon are organising a number of events that are aimed at novice riders and experienced riders alike. www.mbswindon.co.uk/events

For the novice mountain biker, why not join the Introduction to Mountain Biking course to get to grips with the basic skills needed to ride in woodlands and out in the countryside.

For those wanting a quick skills fix on their doorstep, join one of their Friday evening Croft Trail rides where you will get escorted round and shown how to best ride the obstacles.

For those wanting to explore the Ridgeway, or maybe even something further afield, see the list of club rides. All of which are open to non-members for the first one or two rides.

 

Disability groups showcase specially adapted bikes

Adults with varying disabilities raised money for charity by completing a sponsored six-hour cycle ride on a new set of specially adapted bikes.

Members from Upham Road Day Centre took to the County Ground Athletics Track on the bikes in aid of Barnardos on Tuesday, 23 February. The fundraising formed part of a launch day to highlight the availability of the new bikes, which have been bought by Swindon Borough Council and CTC (Cyclists’ Touring Club) using Big Lottery funding.

The new bikes include a Twister, which is a side by side tandem with two sets of handlebars and pedals, a hand bike for people with no lower body strength: a selection of trikes for children and adults and a pedal propelled quad bike. A recumbent trike, which allows users to sit back and steer from the side, and a platform bike, which is suitable for wheelchairs, have also been added to the range of adapted bikes.

For more information about the bikes, contact CTC’s Cycle Champions Officer in Swindon Anna Cipullo by email: anna.cipullo@ctc.org.uk or by phone: 07717 696 672.

You can read more and see pictures on the Swindonweb site

 

New Cycle Route Planning aid for Swindon

The cycle network for Swindon has now been added to the "Transport Direct" journey planning web site. This now allows cycle journeys to be planned online within the Swindon urban area. You can access the Planner here:Transport Direct Cycle Planner