Spring is finally here, it’s time to bring out your bicycle

The cold snap in March wasn’t very inviting weather for cycling, so Shropshire Council’s ‘Spring into Cycling’ campaign will carry on for an extra month.

Free cycling courses, activities, competitions and giveaways will be on offer to help people in Shropshire get back to cycling throughout May 2013.

Travel Shropshire has a shop in the Darwin Centre until 20 May 2013 stocked with free transport information. It will be staffed on Saturdays when shoppers can pop in for advice about travel and transport in Shropshire including cycle route planning.

On Saturday 27 April 2013 join a family cycle ride exploring Shrewsbury’s hidden wildlife and waterways, meeting at 10.30am at Shrewsbury Sports Village. Everyone is welcome.

On Bank Holiday Monday, 6 May 2013 the council is launching a new cycling treasure hunt route in the Quarry in Shrewsbury with free Dr Bike safety checks from 11am-3pm.

The council has also created family friendly cycling treasure hunt routes for Oswestry and Ludlow. All three leaflets are available to download from the Travel Shropshire website www.travelshropshire.co.uk/treasure-competition and there is a competition to win some brilliant cycling prizes kindly donated by local bike shops. The competition is open until 1 July 2013, which gives families plenty of time to get out and try one of the treasure hunt routes.

People who are nervous about cycling on the road, bicycle maintenance or finding the best routes can sign up for free one-to-one cycle confidence courses (for adults who live in Shropshire) and free bicycle maintenance classes in Shrewsbury and Oswestry. Register for both on the Travel Shropshire website www.travelshropshire.co.uk/cycle/cycle-training  or ring 01743 253008 for more information.

Shropshire Council’s Spring into Cycling campaign has being running throughout March and April 2013. So far the council has given away free puncture repair kits to over 350 people. Events have included the third  anniversary Women on Wheels ride in Shrewsbury at the beginning of March. These popular social rides for women get great feedback including this from a recent participant:

“My best ever cycling moment was the first women’s ride I went on, Shrewsbury to Attingham. Achievement, mileage, countryside, route, company, fun, laughter, air, exercise”

Learn to ride and family cycling sessions for children were also very well received, parents said:

“Fantastic session, will recommend. My son arrived not being able to cycle and left feeling very confident and being able to cycle confidently.”

and:

“Brilliant session. My son has dyspraxia and didn’t want to come because he’s 10 but we both really enjoyed it. He really wants to continue trying now whereas before he didn’t want to learn to cycle at all. Thank you.”

More stabilisers-off sessions will be available at the Shrewsbury BikeFest on 8 June at Shrewsbury Sports Village and the Oswestry BikeFest on 29 June at Walford and North Shropshire College.

Full details of all Spring into Cycling activities are available on the Travel Shropshire website at www.travelshropshire.co.uk/spring.