Active Lancashire is working in partnership with Breaking Cycles CIC to develop National Standard Cycle Training which incorporates high quality online learning for residents of Lancashire.
The training offer, which will be free for individuals that are inactive or unemployed, forms part of the More Positive Together (MPT) well-being offer and will provide access to virtual content whilst at home, as well as access to well-being support groups.
There will be 12 hours of online learning made available which will consist of seven modules: Preparing to ride, Roadside Repairs, Home Maintenance Checks, Observation, Road Positioning, Communication and Priority. The course is based on the National Standard for Cycle Training and will equip participants with the knowledge on how to carry out safe pre-ride checks, how to fix puncture’s and adjust break cables, how to clean a bike, checking for wear on tyres, brake pads and checks on the chain.
Developing the content for the online video training has been a collective effort between Active Lancashire and Breaking Cycles CIC, with additional support from Burnley-based trucking company, Fagan and Whalley, who kindly agreed to allow for filming to be carried out at their site to provide insight into HGV’s for the observation module.
The first two modules have now been released and are available here: https://active-lancashire-training-hub.thinkific.com/courses/preparing-to-ride with the remainder of the modules being released over the coming weeks. The launch of the training supports Love to Ride’s ‘Ride it out’ month which commences on 1st March and runs for four weeks, offering residents of Lancashire four themed weeks each with a different reason to ride. For more information on the campaign please visit: lovetoride.net/lancashire
The benefits of cycling go far beyond improving fitness as its proven to have a positive impact on mental health and overall wellbeing, likewise, previous participants who have attended cycle recycle workshops have seen benefits outside of a new and improved bike, with many expressing an increase in confidence and self-motivation at the end of the workshop.
The development of the virtual cycle recycle training allows for more residents to engage with the offer, encouraging people to embrace cycling as a form of exercise and in fact a mode of transport. Active Lancashire’s Health and Wellbeing Officer, Calum Marsden, commented on the launch of the virtual training saying:
“It’s brilliant that we can offer some training and support participants wellbeing whilst we are still in these difficult times. It is so important to connect and support each other and develop new innovative ways to facilitate that. There has been a 300% increase of new cyclists according to cycling industry news, this is a fine example of how we can connect and share learning and support participants. I also like the fact that this online resource can continue to develop once we return back to normality.”
Active Lancashire and Breaking Cycles CIC are investigating additional ways of using this work to promote active travel, more information will follow in the coming months. In the meantime, for further information on the Cycle Recycle Scheme, please visit: https://www.activelancashire.org.uk/projects/cycle-recycle-scheme
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