Cycle ‘Five Miles to Fabulous’ in Bradford
2 June 2009 Learn to ride a bike and cycle 50 metres or 5 miles at ‘Five Miles to Fabulous’ in Bradford.at Salts Sports Association, Saltaire this Sunday 7 June between 10am and 2.30pm.
The session from 10am to 12noon will be for women only and men are welcome from 12 noon to 2.30pm when CTC will be joined by HALE, the healthy living centre based in Shipley.
Viv Carnea, CTC’s Cycle Champions Officer for Bradford said: “Cycling is a fun and sociable way to become healthy and active. People who cycle can expect to live longer and look younger, so I want to encourage as many people as possible to get cycling again. It’s true you never forget how to ride a bike.”
CTC Cycle Champions project in Bradford ran ‘Five Miles to Fabulous’ last year and many women got back on their bikes and started cycling again.
Cyclists and non-cyclists alike are welcome. Women and girls should bring a bike if they have one (and it's safe to ride!), but some bikes will be available on the day. Crank it Up will be there with their wacky bikes too if you fancy riding something different for a bit of fun. There will also be advice about getting a bike and looking after it, bike skills classes, guided rides, or you can do your own ride.
As well as cycling, other activities taking place in the afternoon include: a bouncy castle, face painting, exercise classes and more.
This is one of many cycling events to be organized as part of the CTC Cycle Champions programme which aims to encourage new cyclists.
For more information, photos or an interview contact CTC's Cycle Champions Officer for Bradford Viv Carnea on 01274 22 32 39, mob 07717 66 36 97, email viv.carnea@ctc.org.uk or CTC’s Media Officer Victoria Hazael on 01483 238 315 or 07786320713.
Notes to editors
· CTC is the national cyclists' organisation, with 70,000 members and affiliates in 250 clubs across the UK. We are the oldest and largest cycling body in the UK, established in 1878. We provide a comprehensive range of services, advice, events, and protection for our members, and work to promote cycling by raising public and political awareness of its health, social and environmental benefits. For more information, see www.ctc.org.uk
· CTC's Cycle Champions programme will improve the health, transport and environmental prospects for individuals and communities across England who have historically not benefited from cycling. In partnership with local organisations, our officers will work with volunteers to bring CTC's knowledge and expertise to inspire, train and support 34,000 new cyclists who are currently inactive or at risk of inactivity.
· CTC's Cycle Champions is part of a portfolio of projects being delivered by a consortium of leading walking, cycling and health organisations and is funded by through the Big Lottery's Wellbeing Programme. The consortium is led by Sustrans and includes CTC, Cycling England, British Cycling, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, the National heart forum, the national Obesity Forum, the Ramblers' Association, Campaign for Better Transport and Walk 21. It is delivering projects that will enable 2 million people to become more physically active by walking or cycling as part of their daily lives by 2012.
· The CTC's Cycle Champions Officer for Bradford is a partnership between CTC Charitable Trust and Bradford Community Environment Project (BCEP), the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and the Bradford and Airedale PCT. BCEP aims to contribute to the sustainable regeneration of Bradford, through effective environmental programmes, inspired by community need; see www.bcep.org.uk for details of BCEP's programmes.
The benefits of cycling:
Riding a bike can help you maintain a healthy weight. Average cycling burns about 300 calories per hour (5 calories per minute) (Source: Cycling towards health and safety – British Medical Association ISBN 0-19-286151-4).
Regular cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person ten years younger and a life expectancy 2 years above the average (Source: National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Foundation, Sharp)
Cycling regularly to work (and, by extension, to school) has been shown to be the most effective thing an individual can do to improve health and increase longevity. (All-cause mortality associated with physical activity during leisure time, work, sports and cycling to work. Anderson LB et al. Arch intern Med 2000)
If one third of all short car journeys were made by bike, national heart disease rates would fall by between 5 and 10 percent (Bikes not Fumes, CTC, 1992). One half of all journeys fall within the average cycle trip distance of 2.2 miles.
The current government recommendation for a woman is 30 minutes of physical activity five or more days a week. It’s estimated it will take a beginner cyclist 30 minutes to complete 5 miles.
Only 28% of women in England and Scotland and 24% in Wales meet the government’s guidelines for physical activity levels. (Source: The Information Centre 2008: Statistics on Obesity, Physical activity and Diet, England. National Assembly for Wales 2004: Welsh Health Survey and Scottish Executive 2003: Let’s Make Scotland More Active).
During rush hour a bicycle is about twice as fast as a car.
Published by: Travel Actively on Tuesday June 02 2009
