The Big Bike Revival is a campaign run by Cycling UK which aims to bring more people into cycling, whether they be reviving a love of cycling or beginning their cycling journey. Cycling, as we know, has enormous benefits to our health and well being and the Big Bike Revival is encouraging people to make that first step to gain those benefits.
Cycling UK, in conjuction with the Department for Transport, is administering grant to a range of organisations who will help people to get their bikes fit for the road, or assist those who need help learning to ride, or provide rides for those ready to branch out out further in their cycling activity.
CTC Coventry has applied for, and has been successful in being awarded a grant for three months activity to encourage people into cycling more. The grant will cover the purchase of incentives to ride for New Riders, Training resources for Lead riders, and support to publicise and resource these events.
Our intention is to focus on providing rides across Central and North Coventry. These ‘target’ areas have communities who are less well represented in our current membership, and we hope to encourage more people to start riding with us. We will be providing at least 5 safe, guided, short rides (usually around ten miles) from January through to March this year. Details of these are below and will be advertised through “Let’s Ride”.
As well as this programme of Introductory rides the Club will also be celebrating International Womens Day on March 6th by hosting some Women-only short rides, and by creating a promotional event in the City Centre on that day. Further details will be publicised shortly.
| Date | Meetup Place and Time | Route |
| January 16th | By the Starley Memorial, Greyfriars Green 9.30 am |
A confidence building ride out towards Coundon and Brownley Green showing how to navigate some of the tricky part of Coventry’s road system |
| January 30th | Ouside the Transport Museum, Millenium Square 9.30 am |
We will cycle out towards Warwick University campus and see some of the Cultural elements along the route |
| February 6th | Outside Foleshill Library, Broad Street 9.30 am |
Cross City Safely. A ride from Foleshill to the WMP and back |
| February 20th | Foleshill, Broad Street Centre 9.30 am |
Circle ride towards Corley Moor |
| March 6th | Various start points across the City to be confirmed | International Womens Day – A number of Women-only rides starting from different locations around Coventry to meet up in the city centre (Millenium Place provisionally) |
| March 20th | Foleshill, Broad Street Centre 9.30 am |
Hilltop Garden Centre, Shilton Lane |
If you are, or someone you know is, thinking of joining a cycling group, whether that be to help gain confidence and skills, or to make more of your current cycling ability, please get involved in this project, its only here for 3 months.
Finding new and safer routes, making cycling friends, and discovering more about the opportunities for day rides and even tours are all possibilities when you ride with CTC Coventry… and it will be fun !