Cycle 125

What is CYCLE 125 ?

Cycle 125 is a project launched to celebrate the Woolwich Cycling Club’s 125th anniversary by bringing it back to its roots in Woolwich whilst supporting its current geographical membership. The project is based on a charity challenge, participants choose the distance they would like to cycle for charity by the end of the year and work towards it with the support of a group of like-minded people.

Participants can choose between 5 miles to 125 miles and can tackle it within one ride or a multiple of rides, so opening it up to all levels of fitness and ability. Participants will be encouraged to record their training progress and share it with the group, and also to choose which charities they would like to ride for, based on existing charity events.

What are the aims of the project?

The main aims of the project are to:

• Get people cycling
• Promote cycling in all its forms from leisure to sport
• Promote health and wellbeing through exercise
• Promote environmental benefits of cycling
• Create a cycling community within the Woolwich area
• Promote the Woolwich Cycling Club and build links with local organisations

Who are the Woolwich Cycling Club?      When the club was founded in 1884 it was by no means the first in Woolwich and the surrounding neighbourhoods but it is the only one to have survived until the present day. The club’s first headquarters was the Earl of Chatham public house in Thomas Street, Woolwich, which was also the meeting point for runs. It is now one of the oldest cycle clubs in the country. Nowadays, the majority of the membership lives within the London Borough of Bexley and the club holds its meetings in the function room of the King’s Head pub in Bexley High Street where club president Paul Fennell is the landlord.

The club membership includes a number of qualified coaches and cycle instructors, whilst other members are always prepared to give advice and guidance to new members. It co-runs the Go-Ride Bexley Cycling Club, aimed at 7-16 year olds. The Club has been a strong racing club throughout its existence and has members that currently compete on road, track and mountain bike. However it recognises the need for community and leisure involvement, hosting both fitness and leisure rides, as well as rides aimed at specific groups.

Last year saw the launch of a monthly Ladies Day, which this year will become twice monthly and will be open to beginners from all areas. The Cycle 125 project is intended to broaden the access to the club and to cycling in general. The 125th anniversary of the club is an opportunity to celebrate the club so far, and continue to work on its diversity and its links within the communities of the Greenwich and Bexley Boroughs.

Links with the community

The Cycle 125 project is already enlisting support from the Greenwich-based Community Games Project and is looking to open negotiations with several health groups within the Woolwich area. It is hoped that partnerships can be made which will enable the Woolwich Cycling Club to implement the project and provide a quality service to a wide range of participants from the Woolwich area. As well as already securing two qualified instructors to lead rides, it is hoped that funding or sponsorship can be found to help fund such things as cycle computers for the participants to record their miles, t-shirts promoting the project and its sponsors, high visibility vests for participants training on the road, etc. Most importantly, would be publicity to encourage people to take part. Local bike shops would be approached to see if we can secure a discount for anyone taking part in the project.

Training

We are working with the Greenwich Community Games Project to set up beginners and intermediate rides in the Borough of Greenwich as part of a Cycle for Health and Fitness Initiative. The rides will be based on need of the participants but will start with rides of about 2-5 miles and even teaching people to cycle.

Reasons for Cycling for Health and Fitness:

• Cycling - the healthy option Cycling is healthy, both for you as an individual, and for the community you live in. That's the conclusion of the British Medical Association's report, 'Cycling: Towards Health and Safety'.
• Cycling regularly will improve your fitness and can help you live a long and healthy life.
• Riding a bike can help you maintain a healthy weight. 

Three quarters of all personal journeys are less than 5 miles long - that's half an hour on a bike. Switching these short journeys from car to bicycle will benefit your health and your community. You'll be helping to reduce noise and air pollution as well as traffic congestion.

What's In It For You?

• More cycling is good news for the environment and your local community. But the biggest benefit is for you as an individual. Increasing fitness - your strength, stamina, aerobic fitness and general muscle function will all be improved.
• Cycling is a low impact activity and one of the safest ways to exercise without risk of over-exertion or strain to muscles and joints.
• Regular physical activity also facilitates other healthy behaviour and could help you reduce weight or even give up smoking.
• Lowering risk of heart attack - your heart muscles are strengthened, resting pulse is lowered and blood fat levels reduced. People taking regular physical activity suffer far less heart disease than people who don't !
• Shedding excess weight by burning body fat and raising your metabolic rate you can lose weight. If you undertake physical activity regularly you can enjoy a more varied diet without increasing body weight.
• Cycling is one of the more comfortable forms of physical activity for those who are new to exercise, allowing most people to get fit easily and safely without undue physical strain.
• Reducing stress anxiety, stress and depression are all alleviated, partly due to the physical activity itself, but also due to the pleasure and satisfaction of riding a bike.
• Cycling is convenient for short journeys, and often faster across town than other forms of transport. It's a stress free means of taking physical activity because it can form part of a daily routine.

So there's no need to worry about fitting your new healthy lifestyle into an already overcrowded schedule. So go cycle - you'll feel better for it!  Greenwich Community Games Project - find out more.

What next?

Are you interested in taking part or supporting the project? Do you know anyone who would be? Please contact Ollie Golding or the Greenwich Community Games Team with your views and comments and pass on the project details to anyone you think may benefit or benefit from the project. Help us to make it happen!

Ollie Golding Phone: 020 8854 7844 Mobile: 07984 200566 Email: olliegolding@tiscali.co.uk

Read more about the GCG here (pdf file)

Greenwich Community Games Team: Telephone: 020 8293 5355 Email: Community-Games@greenwich.gov.uk