There is surely no physical activity quite as versatile and varied as cycling? What other skill can be used for everything from shopping to winning Olympic medals?! Cycling activities generally fall into four categories - transport, leisure, sport and racing - all of which are catered for in some way by Wadebridge Coasters Cycling Club. That's why we call ourselves 'a club for all cyclists'.
1. Transportundamentally, cycling is a means of transport and a bike makes for a very cheap and efficient utility vehicle. More and more people are commuting by bike these days, or cycling to get to the shops, visit friends etc.
This kind of cycling obviously isn't something we can do as a club, but lots of the Coasters use their bikes for transport. If you're just looking for an introduction to cycling so you can make more use of your bike, our Beginners Rides might be just what you need. And of course Coasters Kids will teach techniques that will make people better cyclists in any context. Coasters for All is a project that WCCC is running in partnership with Concern Wadebridge and Cycle Training Cornwall. Its aim is to promote, facilitate and encourage cycling among older people, and also those with disabilities. |
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2. LEISURECycling is fun. Fact. From kids messing around on BMXs... to families cruising along the Camel Trail... to epic 'LEJOG' tours (Lands End to John O'Groats) - cycling is a great way to relax and enjoy time with one another. And of course it's a brilliant way to keep fit.
Unlike some cycling clubs, Wadebridge Coasters welcomes 'leisure cyclists'. Our family rides and some of our club rides are deliberately aimed at people who aren't particularly interested in going fast, but just want to have a lovely time on their bike. The club rides that are rated 'green' or 'blue' are the more 'leisurely' ones. And of course, Coasters Kids will help your children maximise their cycling fun! |
However you use your bike, road safety is an important consideration. Our friends at Cycle Training Cornwall can help you to keep yourself 'rubber side down'.
3. SportSince about 2012, cycling has become more and more popular as a non-competitive sport. Inspired by TV coverage of the Tour de France and Olympics, all sorts of people have been getting on their bikes and pushing their physical limits. Thanks to technologies such as Strava, you don't have to be in an actual bike race to enjoy a bit of healthy competition, and events such as sportives offer fantastic opportunities to enjoy cyclosport without any pressure to beat anyone - except perhaps yourself!
At the moment, non-competitive sport is probably the most popular type of cycling among WCCC members. Most of our club rides fit in here (blue, red or black depending on fitness and ability), especially the Roller Coaster. Also, many of our members love events such as sportives and charity rides, sometimes turning up en mass to local ones. This is an area of cycling where our coaching activities are particularly helpful, not just at Coasters Kids, but for adults too. |
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4. RacingThere has been a strong amateur cycle racing scene in the UK for many years. In Cornwall, this has traditionally been focused on time trials, but there has recently been a steady increase in other competitive events, both on and off road.
Some WCCC members are keen time trialists, and as a club we run our own time trial races. We take part in and organise closed circuit road races. A number of Coasters compete in local mountain bike and cyclocross races. Coasters Kids is geared towards training children for various kinds of cycle racing. Coasters Kids, our British Cycling Go Ride club is primarily about cycling as a sport, but potentially covers all four categories because it's all about teaching kids to ride their bikes better. The skills and techniques taught by our coaches are going to come in handy whether you grow up to win the Tour de France or 'just' cycle to Padstow for an ice cream! |
My congratulations go out to Wadebridge Coasters Cycling Club on achieving Go-Ride Clubmark status. The coaches and volunteers work extremely hard to provide opportunities for young people to get involved in cycling, and I look forward to continue supporting them in the future as I’m sure that the club will go on to do great things. |
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