School cycle leader Dylan knows his ABC when it comes to C2C

Dylan is Head of Computing at North Halifax Grammar School in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, and a Cycling UK member who is putting the skills he has learned through our training courses to good use.

In July, he is taking 40 young adventurers aged from 13-15 along the famous C2C route, from St Bees in Cumbria to Tynemouth – raising funds to buy equipment and furnish the school’s new sports hall in the process.

Not that Dylan is a stranger to the complex logistics of organising a long-distance cycle ride with dozens of teenagers in tow.

Dylan, who is also Outdoor Education Coordinator at the school, said: “We are one of the lowest-funded schools but our exam results are always amazing and we are rated Outstanding by OFSTED. Last year we managed to secure a bid to get a new sports hall built as our existing building was not fit for purpose.

“To help furnish the building with quality sporting equipment, I was granted permission to take 28 students aged from 13 to 15 out of school to cycle 'The Way of the Roses' coast-to-coast route from Morecambe to Bridlington. We camped every night but had a support van to carry the gear.

“Every student completed the challenge and we managed to raise over £11,500, which went directly to the school. We had 33 people on the ride altogether, including five staff, which I would imagine might be some kind of record for a school cycling tour.

“As the trip was a huge success the school has allowed me to do another one from 10-14 July, but this time with 40 students," Dylan said.

They will be fully self-sufficient and will build loads of new skills. Hopefully there will be a few future Cycling UK members among them!

Dylan Jugroop, who is taking 40 school students on a fund-raising Coast to Coast ride in July 

“To make it different we are doing the C2C from St Bees, not far from Whitehaven, to Tynemouth – and this time the students are carrying their own gear and doing their own cooking, as I want them to have a proper cycle touring adventure," Dylan explained.

“They will be fully self-sufficient and will build loads of new skills. Hopefully there will be a few future Cycling UK members among them, too!”

Dylan, who hopes to smash the cash raised for the school last year, has toured solo around Europe on his bike in addition to completing the USA’s West Coast ride from Canada to Mexico.

He added: “I went on Cycling UK’s multi-day Tour Leader course, which was brilliant and gave the school the confidence to allow me to organise these cycling trips. I am also attending the Mountain Bike Leader course in April so I can confidently take students off the beaten track on future expeditions.

“Not only will the students be further from home this year, but the route takes them through the Lake District and they will encounter some big, long hills. With a bike fully loaded with sleeping and cooking equipment and clothes, they will find this trip tough. The students will need to show determination, grit and resilience to succeed – and I’m sure they will.”

Dylan also thanked the two organisations which are offering free use of fields and facilities – St Bees School and Consett Rugby Football Club.

Dylan will be writing a blog on his Cycle Budda website so people can follow the trip.