Streetbikes take the plaudits after John Radford Memorial Ride

Formed in 2010, Streetbikes is a community cycling organisation which puts on a vast range of activities, including women’s only rides, young people’s activities, mixed ability rides and bike mechanic training…to name but a few.

And its fantastic work in the community was recognised when Cycling UK held its Annual Members’ Get Together in Manchester last Saturday (8 October).

Streetbikes directors Julia Woodhead, Cynthia Collinson and Gill Greaves were presented with the award for Best Group Achievement or Cycling Event by long-distance cyclists and authors Julian Sayarer and Stephen Fabes.

This year Streetbikes – which is affiliated to Cycling UK – put on a mixed ability, all-inclusive 100km bike ride in a figure-of-eight around Kirklees, run in memory of John Radford.

John was a well-loved local cyclist and CTC councillor, who was knocked off his bike in a road rage incident and spent 15 months in a coma before passing away in November 2014, aged 70.

Streetbikes, based in Milnsbridge, Huddersfield, successfully secured Lottery funding to put on the ride, which took place on Saturday 18 June and also included a shorter family ride plus cycling on the Spenborough athletics track in Liversedge.

I knew John Radford well and he understood what Streetbikes is about and the importance of getting people on bikes and encouraging cycling. This marvellous award from Cycling UK proves that our work is being noticed.”

Streetbikes director and co-ordinator Gill Greaves

More than 300 people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds took part in the event, including some on a 43km family ride, 12 blind cyclists on tandems, and some of Islamic faith, despite it being Ramadan. There were also experienced riders alongside people in wheelchairs.

Seeing the cyclists off at the start of the 100km ride was 85-year-old Brian Robinson, who lives locally and earned his place in cycling folklore by becoming the first Briton to finish the Tour de France in 1955 and, three years later, the first to win a stage.

Every person who took part in the event received the John Radford Memorial Ride medal and money raised will buy a specially-adapted trike for the group to use in future.

Streetbikes director and co-ordinator Gill Greaves said: “It was an amazing event and it’s fantastic to be recognised by Cycling UK with this award. The whole day was a celebration of cycling for all abilities and most of the participants still attend our sessions.

“I knew John Radford well and he understood what Streetbikes is about and the importance of getting people on bikes and encouraging cycling. This marvellous award from Cycling UK proves that our work is being noticed.”

Gill and Cynthia Collinson also gave an insightful presentation about Streetbikes during Saturday’s Members’ Get Together in Manchester. They discussed their work and cited case studies of people they have helped to cycle during an afternoon workshop about Member Groups’ growth.