Could you be a Ted?

Ted Norfolk, CTC member in Dumfries and Galloway is creating a cycling revolution in his area. Ted is no stranger to cycling success - riding as a GB Cyclo Cross international rider in the 1960’s and then moving into coaching in the 1980’s. He worked with the English Schools Cycling Association as a coach and trainer, as well as for Hampshire and Berkshire schools. Ted also worked alongside the GB Cyclo Cross team as a squad coach, mechanic and team manager in the late 1980’s.

Ted is now using his skills in the area where he retired, in rural Dumfries and Galloway. Ted was approached by his local youth group, who were keen to get cycling, but lacked the skills, knowledge and experience to know how to start. Since then, Ted has worked with the youth group to get an un-used piece of land turned into a cycle track and has been running regular cycling sessions and  events, engaging many children, young people and their parents in the cycling sessions this year. Bikeability (cycle training), sessions were already being delivered in Port William School but unfortunately one volunteer was unable to continue so Ted’s wife and a friend did their instructor training and  Bikeability was able to continue. The training is now offered to all children from P3 to P7 on a weekly basis, helping to keep young people safe on the roads. Ted knew that he wasn’t going to be able to reach all of Dumfries and Galloway on his own; so he took another step towards the cycling revolution and brought together a number of agencies (Active Schools, I Bike, Cycling Dumfries, CTC D&G. and CTC) interested in getting young people cycling. We consumed a large quantity of tea and chocolate biscuits to fuel us as we identified the barriers that children and schools face in developing a cycling culture in Dumfries and Galloway. Lack of in-school cycle skills, time constraints, the physical environment and parental fear all came up. But lack of confident cyclists with time to share was the barrier that prevented  most  schools from offering  Bikeability and was the issue that we could do something about...

Together, we would like to create a network of volunteers that are willing to be trained cycle trainers, linking with schools that don’t have parents or staff that are able to deliver the training. You don’t need to be a medal winner, an international coach or be called Ted; you just need to be keen to share your skills and time and be a competent cyclist. We’ll provide you with training and support, and probably a few laughs too. So, if you are in Dumfries and Galloway and want to share the joy and freedom that cycling brings please get in touch:Suzanne Forup on: [email protected]">