Draft - to be included in
Cycling Proficiency Graduation packs
Congratulations Lindsey
on
completing your Cycling
Proficiency
training!
We hope that you've enjoyed it and
will want to carry on cycling. But just because you've
done all this training don't
think that you are ready to go cycling on lots of busy
roads on your own yet.
See
inside for lots of ideas on how to carry on cycling
safely!
This cycling folder also
contains loads of leaflets with lots of ideas for cycling trips.
Have a good look at them and get your family to take you out
cycling this summer!
Fun Rides Diary
Friday May 28th. Sciennes
School Cycle club. For Primary 5-7s and their families. See the
leaflet in this pack and return the slip if you'd like to come.
Friday June 4th. Sponsored
school cycle ride to Spylaw Park. More details in a school
newsletter soon.
Saturday June 12th. A free
Guided Bike Ride to celebrate the start of National Bike Week '99
in Fife.
A 10-15 mile leisurely bike
ride with experienced cyclists on the Kingdom of Fife Millennium
Cycle Ways. Start point still to be confirmed but likely to be a
rail station. Telephone the Cycle Ways Project on 01592 413043 to
book your place.
Sunday June 13th.
Airdrie/Bathgate fun ride on Sustrans railway-path, looking at
sculpture trail and work of CSCT, Central Scotland Countryside
Trust. 0131-623-7600 Sustrans for more information. See opposite
for how to get there by train.
Saturday June 20th. Bring your
Dad to this free Guided Bike Ride and help celebrate the end of
National Bike Week '99 in Fife.
A 10-15 mile leisurely bike
ride using off road routes led by experienced cy-clists on the
Kingdom of Fife Millennium Cycle Ways. Start point still to be
confirmed but likely to be a rail station. Telephone the Cycle
Ways Project on 01592 413043 to book your place.
Regular family rides - see the
back page
Remember - however well you
have done this training you are not ready to go cycling on lots of
busy roads yet. This training is just the beginning and you now
need lots of practice on safe quiet roads and cyclepaths so that
you can put your training into practice and build up experience.
It can take a long time to do this. Many older cyclists are still
learning!
The safest way for you to
carry on cycling is for you to go out cycling with an adult - a
parent, uncle, grandparent, whatever. If your adult doesn't have a
bike then see overleaf for some ideas on how to get them one.
Edinburgh has got some great
places to cycle and it is possible to cycle out to Balerno,
Portobello or even Pencaitland using mostly towpaths or old
railway lines. This pack contains lots of ideas for safe cycling
routes. There is probably one very close to where you live. The
Innocent Railway is close by, as is the towpath along the Union
Canal. By summer 2000 there will be two Sustrans cycle routes
coming right into and out of the centre of Edinburgh.
Pick a route near to where you
live. Plan to get to the start by using quiet back roads. If you
have to use a section of a busy road, consider walking on the
pavement for that bit. If you have to cross a busy road and there
is no cycle crossing, consider getting off and walking across,
using a pedestrian crossing if there is one. As you do more
cycling you will gain experience and confidence and you will be
more able to cope with roads that are a little busier than the
ones that you were trained on. But don't tackle a busy road or
junction until you and your adult are sure that you are ready for
them. Choose a sunny day, take your time and enjoy!
Don't forget that you can come
cycling with the School Cycling Club. We still have two more rides
planned this term on Friday May 14th. and Friday May 28th. We're
also hoping to have a longer ride on a Saturday or Sunday. You
don't have to come with a parent but it would be great if you
could per-suade one to come, as we need enough adults to help
accompany us.
We also have a Sponsored
School Cy-cle Ride out to Spylaw Park on June 4th. Half of the
money will go to the Hurricane Mitch fund to help people in
Central America; the other half will go to school funds. This is a
ride for the whole school - children, parents, brothers and
sisters and teachers.
Remember to always check your
bike before you head out! Particularly check your brakes and
tyres. It's a good idea to wear a cycle helmet if you have one. If
there's a chance that you might be out after it's dark then you
must have good front and rear lights on your bike - check the
bat-teries before you set out! The must-have for groovy cyclists
is see-me gear on top - day glo, reflective, as bright as
possible!
Keep yourself safe. Don't
cycle through a red light or go down a one way street the wrong
way! Watch out for car doors and drivers who haven't seen
you.
Why not train it?
The train makes possible lots
of interesting rides. You can travel fur-ther out of Edinburgh and
cycle somewhere new and you don't have to cycle back the way that
you came. You can plan your cycle ride to finish at a station and
then travel home by train. Cycle space has now been made available
on all ScotRail trains and bikes are carried for free. With a
Family Railcard the tickets are a lot cheaper too. On some trains
you will need to make a reser-vation for your bikes.
Good possibilities
are:
Take the train to Bathgate,
then cycle along the wonderful Airdrie-Bathgate railway path with
its amazing giant-size sculptures. See opposite for details of fun
ride.
Or how about using the train
to explore some of the cycling routes out in East Lothian? Both
Musselburgh and Longniddry stations are good starting points for
exploring and there are old railway paths and sea front cycle
paths to choose from.
Check out the newsletter
(enclosed) for the Kingdom of Fife Millennium Cycle Ways. Many of
these link directly to train stations. Good starting points are
Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay and Aberdour where missing links on
routes have recently been completed. See opposite for details of
fun rides.
Other ideas
The local group of the
Cyclist's Touring club (CTC) organises day rides, some of which
are suitable for family groups. Distances are varied to suit those
attending. Usually 2nd. Saturday each month. Contact Mike Hamilton
(661-2516) or Sonya Watt (339-3709).
Spokes, the Lothian Cycle
Campaign, also organise rides, some of which are also suitable for
family groups. Phone beforehand to check. Usually 1st. Sunday each
month. Stuart (445-7073)
What? No bike!
If your adult doesn't have a
bike here's how they can get oneÉ.
Borrow from the School Cycling
Club or a friend. But check that it is safe and the right
size.
Hire from a local bike shop.
Bike
Trax will do cheap hire
rates for Sciennes families.
Buy. Bike
Trax sells new and ex-hire
bikes. David's Bicycle Store sells second-hand bikes. Both will
give Sciennes families 5% discount.
If you have a bike and you're
not sure that it's roadworthy, most local bike shops will also
carry out free safety checks and give discounts on adjustments and
repairs.
I-SPY on the
cyclepath
S is for smile, it's fun!
J
J is for joggers, sometimes
not smiling! L
D is for dogs. Put your hands
on the brake levers. They may be barkers, chasers or on a l-o-n-g
leash across the path!
P is for people and
pedestrians. Thank them when they let you past. Remember it's
their path too and fast bikes close up can be scary (so
don't!)
T is for toddlers. Slow down,
ping your bell, smile J - you were new on the planet once
too!
C is for cyclists. Most are
cool and slow down and keep left. But watch out for the crazy
idiots (see B next) who don't.
B is for behind you. Look over
your shoulder quite often in case someone wants to get to Cramond
first! Let them!
G is for glass. Lying in
ambush to puncture your tyres. L Look for it. Go round it if you
can.
