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very proud !

Posted: 14 Jun 2008, 8:04am
by gibsons
I hope that my family have not peaked too early for Bike Week - they cycled the round trip to school (22 miles) all five days this week - 110 miles.

Not bad for 43, 11 and 7 on a trandem/triple.....

.....and we're just about to cycle to riding now (tandem and lone 11 year old)

Phew !

Judy

Posted: 14 Jun 2008, 10:03am
by mhara
Wonderful. Congrats to you all.
:D :D

Posted: 14 Jun 2008, 11:45am
by jan19
Judy, that's a fantastic achievement - well done!

Is there any way your children can highlight their feat to their schoolfriends - do they have any sort of newsletter, or school awards which they could use? It would be great if you could be an example to the other kids and their parents. Just shows what can be done with a bit of determination, and well done to you for keeping them going because no doubt there were some days when they were less keen than others.

Jan

:D :D

Posted: 14 Jun 2008, 11:55am
by hubgearfreak
fantastic. especially if like here, some days had not too kind weather

Posted: 14 Jun 2008, 3:31pm
by Dee Jay
Well done to the Gibsons!

That is my aim: to cycle to school and to incorporate cycling into our everyday lives.

Our mileage is less than yours too, so I feel very inspired by your success. You say you were about to cycle to riding .... does this mean that you are cycling to all extra-curricular activities as well?

I feel some pannier purchase coming on ..... everybody always has so much stuff to cart about!

Posted: 14 Jun 2008, 4:52pm
by gibsons
Thanks everyone - much appreciated. The round trip to riding lessons went well too but that is very local - 15 mins and skull cap in the pannier.

Unfortunately school has not bought into the cycling culture, something my husband - a teacher there - is trying to change. They do not run a bike to work scheme for employees. Even year 6 cycling proficiency is outside the school term so will probably be poorly attended. The car park is rammed with 4 x 4's with the consequent notes home about inconsiderate /dangerous driving in the car park !

We have a 'star' system which encourages the children (each star =35p). They earn stars for each cycle trip dependent on length and weather conditions ! The children then get 'money' to spend as they choose including on big treats - for example my daughter has just saved enough stars to buy a ticket to the horse of the year show at the NEC. (Can't cycle there from home but will take the train).

We fully anticipate that we will have less influence as they get older, but hope they will realise that it's often quicker, pleasanter and more rewarding (!) by bike.

We were delighted when they got a mention on radio Hereford and Worcester a couple of weeks ago as part of green transport day. They were described by the roving reporter who spotted them as the greenest sight yet !!

Posted: 15 Jun 2008, 3:01pm
by melw1
That's fabulous - well done! I'm in a similar situation - 3 kids 8,4, and 2 with a slightly shorter school run - 18 miles return. I've got a tandem and trailer combo. Takes us an hour each way! Only manage it a couple of times a week, sometimes only once, so WELL DONE to doing it 5 days on the trot! I'm inspired!

Posted: 17 Jun 2008, 10:46am
by Dee Jay
gibsons wrote:
Unfortunately school has not bought into the cycling culture, something my husband - a teacher there - is trying to change. They do not run a bike to work scheme for employees. Even year 6 cycling proficiency is outside the school term so will probably be poorly attended. The car park is rammed with 4 x 4's with the consequent notes home about inconsiderate /dangerous driving in the car park !


I believe our local secondary is brilliant about this - mine are still at primary. I hear that all pupils who committed to cycling every day during Cycling Week were allowed to wear mufti yesterday. And that about a dozen teachers were leading rides in from the out-lying areas on Day One and then the children are going to go in on their own from today. Although, I also know that most of those teachers cycle in every day, anyway.

We do need to get a Cycling Proficiency Course up and running here. We had an annual one where we lived in Cornwall - which my eldest child had the benefit of attending, and I can see a big difference in the way she cycles when compared to my son (although maybe *that's* the real difference: boysiness!) *ducks* :)

We have a 'star' system which encourages the children (each star =35p). They earn stars for each cycle trip dependent on length and weather conditions ! The children then get 'money' to spend as they choose including on big treats - for example my daughter has just saved enough stars to buy a ticket to the horse of the year show at the NEC. (Can't cycle there from home but will take the train).


Good idea! And your 35 times table must be well up to speed!! :D

We fully anticipate that we will have less influence as they get older, but hope they will realise that it's often quicker, pleasanter and more rewarding (!) by bike.


What you say about having less influence is true, but I think that cycling is about to have such a massive renaissance that I think it will be really rather hip to cycle. And I'm hoping that *that* should appeal to the children?

We were delighted when they got a mention on radio Hereford and Worcester a couple of weeks ago as part of green transport day. They were described by the roving reporter who spotted them as the greenest sight yet !!


Well done, you! Well, as you can see, you've inspired several of us on here!

Posted: 17 Jun 2008, 11:00am
by diapason
Well done!

N