By Nicola Casperson Cycling Manager
I’m Nicola Casperson, and I’m a Cycling Manager. Welcome to the very first Bigger Picture cycling blog.
My job is to manage all the grassroots cycling activity at Sky in partnership with British Cycling. Last year we launched a nation wide event called Sky Ride, and plans for this year are well underway...
Sky Ride is back this summer, even bigger and better than before. We have 12 events, over 500 led rides, a new schools programme, and are busy creating numerous other recreational cycling opportunities for you.
All our events are free and aimed at getting the non or occasional cyclist back in the saddle and rediscovering the benefits of cycling
Southampton Sky Ride - 25th July
This week I visited Southampton council, as their event is coming soon on the 25th July to check all plans are on track and the final cycle route is now all approved and can be announced to the local press. I am currently on the train to Bath to find out how their planning is going and what local entertainment plans they have organised for on the day. So if you live in or around the Southampton area save the date, and sign up.
Team Sky
As well as promoting grass roots cycling, Sky has also created a professional road racing cycling team who are currently taking part in the Tour De France. Also watch out for our 100 strong staff team taking part in the Etape on the 18th July - a menacing stage of the Tour De France that has required hours of gruelling training. Come on guys you can do it! Rather you than me!
For more information on Sky Ride events this summer visit www.goskyride.com (opens in a new window)
August 2010
Since the last time I wrote we have delivered four great Sky Ride events in Ealing, Bath, Southampton and Manchester getting a fantastic 50,000 people back on their bikes and cycling around their city with no cars!
There have been over 160 free Sky Ride Local rides with over 3000 people taking part. We have also had four school festivals with hundreds of school children having fun on their bikes and meeting cycling stars such as Jason Kenny Olympic Medallist and Half Pipe World Champion Mike Mullen.
Stopping for breath with our only free weekend just gone and all the team squeezing in some much deserved holiday we are now back in full swing and have another eight city events left this summer.
It’s only a short time until Middlesbrough and Redbridge go cycle crazy this coming Sunday with their Sky Ride events. A range of entertainment including flat landing activity, British Cycling membership discounts, bib signings with our Sky Ride Celebrities, cheerleading and a spot of hula hooping there is always something for everyone so get yourself involved this weekend! Visit www.goskyride.com (opens in a new window) for full event information.
Work continues on our next big events with Glasgow, London and Birmingham all coming up in the next few weeks. The Sky Ride stage will be in full action with performances in London from Louis Spence from Pineapple Dance Studios giving us a cycling dance lesson and stage hosts Mark Dolan, CK Flash and Max Rushton getting the crowds involved with Bicycle Bingo, Q&A’s on the sofa and watt bike challenges.
September 2010
It has been a fantastic summer of cycling as we have been encouraging everyone of all ages and abilities to get back on their bikes and join in with our free Sky Ride cycling events Over the past 3 months the cycling team here at Sky have delivered 11 city events and got over 189,000 people back on their bikes and cycling their cities traffic free, with a further 5000 people joining in with our free weekly Sky Ride Local rides led by British Cycling trained ride leaders.
Last Sunday we were all out in force for the massive Mayor of London’s Sky Ride, where we saw 85,000 cyclists taking part and cycling the 15km route past iconic sights such as Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s Cathedral. It was simply an amazing experience and all you could see was a sea of yellow Sky Ride bibs all along the Embankment and literally thousands and thousands of bikes! Kelly Brook and her stylish cycling outfit also helped us get some great media coverage as well as Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Sir Chris Hoy and members from Team Sky who were all in town for our biggest event of the summer.
And there’s still more to come - I’m off to Birmingham this weekend for our final city event of the summer - Sky Ride Birmingham this Sunday from 10am – 4pm, head to Cannon Hill Park to see all the Sky Ride entertainment – come along with all your friends and family to see live bands, live On the Sofa Q&A with top model Erin O Connor and entertainment for the kids with Dora the Explorer and Humungousaur from Ben 10.
Don’t forget across the UK Local rides still continue until the end of October, so grab your bike and get cycling. Visit www.goskyride.com (opens in a new window) for full ride listings and to register as places are booking up fast.