Major cycling events in the East Midlands in 2011-12 include:-

• Leicester Sustrans Connect 2 Watermead Country Park opening, April
  - more information at http://www.leics.gov.uk/country_parks_watermead 
  or from Andy Salkeld, Leicester City Council, andy.salkeld [at] leicester [dot] gov [dot] uk
  (NB the scheme is now open across Watermead Country Park but the section to the north, towards Cossington (and Sileby etc) will not be fully completed until March 2013;
  more information here or from Samantha Ireson, Connect2 Project Officer, Leics. County Council,
  tel: 0116 305 7088, email: paul.wroblewski [at] leics [dot] gov [dot] uk )

• Monsal Trail (Peak National Park, Derbyshire) tunnels reopening, 25 May - see information at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/monsaltrail and see also general information on the Peak Pedal Project at at www.pedalpeakdistrict.co.uk
  - see also this Peak Cycle Links Leaflet, June 2011

• First Building Cycling Cultures Conference, Leicester - 4-5 June
  - more information at www.buildingcyclingcultures.org.uk

• Sunday 5 June - Sun 25 September - 50 Free led family rides - Sky Ride Local's, Leicester 
  - more information later from Andy Salkeld, Leicester City Council, andy.salkeld [at] leicester [dot] gov [dot] uk

• Sat 11 June: Erewash Valley Trail (on the Notts. Derbys and Broxtowe Borough / Erewash Borough boundaries) official opening event, Bramcote Hills Park,
  Stapleford, Notts,
  - more information at http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/erewashvalleytrail.pdf
  or from Steve Fisher, Broxtowe Borough Council, steve.fisher [at] broxtowe [dot] gov [dot] uk

• Sat 18 June: Sustrans 'Carnival of Cycling', Nottingham Trent University,
  Byron Building from 10am-4pm - more information from the Sustrans UCycle Team,
  email: ucyclenottinghamandrew.parkinson [at] sustrans [dot] org [dot] uk or http://carnivalofcycling.wordpress.com
  or by phone on (0115) 823 2395
  Sun 19 June: Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride, starting from the National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire, organised by Perfect Motion and Pennine Events
   - more information at www.greatnottsbikeride.com or phone (0115) 807 7960

• Sun 3 July: National Trust Longshaw White Peak Challenge Ride, Derbyshire,
  with 38, 57 and 88 mile routes, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/eastmids

• Sat 16 - Sun 17 July: Women's Off-road Open Day, at Sherwood Pines
  (North Nottinghamshire), organised by CTC and the Forestry Commission 
  - free Women's Off-road Open Day, 16 July, and a day just focused on increasing riding skills,
  17 July.
  for more information contact: Ian Jordan:  ian.jordan [at] ctc [dot] org [dot] uk.

• National Trust Longshaw Cycling Festival, Derbyshire / South Yorkshire border near Sheffield, 16,17, 23 and 24 July, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/eastmids

• Ride Leicester Festival starts Thursday 25 - Monday 29 August, with Sky Ride Leicester Community Ride Sunday 28 August
  - more information from Andy Salkeld, Leicester City Council, email: andy.salkeld [at] leicester [dot] gov [dot] uk

• Sat 20-Sun 21 August: Peak Cycle Loop (60-mile 2-day Family Fun Ride, from Buxton to Matlock and back, including the newly open Monsal Trail)
  - more information at http://www.chain-events.co.uk/new_peak.htm

• Sun 28 August: Peak Birthday Bike Ride
  - more information at http://www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk/What's_on/Events/2011/08/28/Peak_Birthday_Bike_Ride/

• Sun 28 August: Third Leicester Sky Ride:
  - more information at www.goskyride.com/leicester

• Sun 11 September: Penny farthing racing in Matlock, Derbyshire
  The event will feature bike polo, roller racing, youth cycle racing and the main feature which is a one hour bunch penny fathing race.
  - further information from Richard Thoday, email: rthoday [at] uwclub [dot] net or at www.penniesinthepark.co.uk

• Sun 25 September: Rutland Water family bike ride (British Heart Foundation)
  17 and 23 mile routes, Rutland Water near Oakham,
  - for more information call 0800 169 3672 or email: northwestwales [at] bhf [dot] org [dot] uk or visit www.bhf.org.uk/rutland

• Sat. 15 Oct: Cyclenation-CTC Autumn Campaigners Conference,
  hosted by Cycle Sheffield, Sheffield
  - more information from Simon Geller, Cycle Sheffield (and Cyclenation Secretary),
  email: simonmichaelgeller [at] gmail [dot] com

• Sun 16 Oct. Robin Hood Bike Ride (British Heart Foundation),
  36-mile off-road and fun 3-mile family rides, Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire,
  - for more information call 0800 169 3672 or email: northwestwales [at] bhf [dot] org [dot] uk or visit www.bhf.org.uk/robin

• Sat 22 Oct. Framework Housing Association (Notts.) Charity Bike Rides,
  80-mile and 13-mile rides around Nottingham / Nottinghamshire
  - more information at http://www.bikefest.org.uk/

  

• Fri. 11 Nov: opening of replacement Long Horse bridge over the River Trent
  by its confluence with the River Derwent and the Trent and Mersey Canal,
  between Sawley and Shardlow, and on the Derbyshire / Leicestershire border (and part of the Midshires Way long-distance path) - (photo above by Les Sims, Sustrans Ranger)
  - improved Greenway access by Derbs CC still to come; for more information contact Anna Chapman at Derbs CC: anna.chapman [at] derbyshire [dot] gov [dot] uk
  - for a map showing current possible access routes (by Adrian Juffs of the Broxtowe Cycling for Health Project) see here and or email Adrian at broxtowecfh [at] ridewise [dot] org [dot] uk
  

• Sat. 11 February 2012 (10.00-16.00), EMCF Meeting,
  Friends Meeting House, St Helens St, Derby.
  (new date instead of 8 October 2011)
  - more information here or from Dave Clasby, Derby Cycling Group,
  email: dave.clasby [at] sustrans [dot] org [dot] uk
  
  
• 9-10 June 2012. Second Building Cycling Cultures Conference (to coincide with Riverside Festival - Queens Building (De Montfort University) & take place over 2 days (Saturday - Youth Bike Summit & Presentations)
  - more information at http://www.uel-smg.org.uk/buildingcyclingcultures/ or
  from Andy Salkeld, Leicester City Council, andy.salkeld [at] leicester [dot] gov [dot] uk

• 23-24 June 2012: 2nd Annual White Peak Loop Ride
  with lots of daylight for a relaxed ride.
  If you're thinking of coming along, check out the website blog at
  

  http://www.peakcyclelinks.org.uk/blog/2011/09/01/trailblazing-saddles-2/

  You can sign up at http://www.chain-events.co.uk/

• Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride and Cycle Live Weekend Festival of Cycling in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, Friday 13 - Sunday 15 July 2012, with the GNBR starting now from the Victoria Embankment (and not the NWSC, Holme Pierrepont):
  - more information here or from Chris Simon at Perfect Motion, email: chris.simon [at] perfectmotion [dot] org

  
  

• Ridewise Rural Rides for All, Nottinghamshire (programme formerly run by Notts County Council 1984- 2010, but founded by Pedals in 1983), www.ridewise.org.uk or
  contact Helen McCullen (Pedals / Ridewise Marketing and Promotion Officer),
  email: ruralridesforall [at] ridewise [dot] org [dot] uk

   

Background information on the EMCF

An informal network of cycle campaigners (whether working in local groups, as CTC Right to Ride reps or on their own) in the region, the East Midlands Cycling Forum, was started early in 2006, on the initiative of John Stubbs, then Chair of the Derby Cycling Group, with the intention of providing mutual support and a channel to discuss campaigning experiences, ideas and good practice in promoting cycling, as well as to help coordinate lobbying of issues at regional level, for example with the Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM) and East Midlands Trains.
 
From the start EMCF has been keen to work with supportive local authority councillors and officers and people from a range of other organisations, including Sustrans, health agencies, other environmental groups, etc. One of our meetings, in Leicester, was in fact hosted by the City Council. We are also keen to support major local authority cycling projects such as the Cycle Derby Project, funded by Cycling England from 2005-8.
 
The EMCF had its first meeting in Derby in May 2006 and since, then has met, about twice a year, in Nottingham, Leicester, Chesterfield and Lincoln. So far, the format at these meetings has been a mixture of a couple of formal presentations, usually on local campaigning issues in the area, a combination of formal and more informal discussions and then, after a bite to eat and a drink,  a couple of hours guided ride to see some cycling developments at first hand, as in the pictures here, taken at the meeting in Lincoln on 28th September 2008.

Local Cycle Campaign Groups in the East Midlands
(in addition to CTC Right to Ride representatives)

Chesterfield Cycling Campaign:
http://www.chesterfieldcc.org.uk/

CycleLincs (Lincoln)

defunct since 2009
http://homepages.phonecoop.coop/paulandnicola/contact_cyclelincs.htm

 

Derby Cycling Group:
http://www.derbycyclinggroup.org.uk/

 

Derwent Valley Cycle Group
http://www.derwentvalleycycle.org.uk/

 

Leicester Spokes (established in 1983 as a campaign group but since 2007 just a group offering rides):
http://www.leicesterspokes.org.uk/

 

Loughborough and District Cycling Campaign:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.catt/ldcuc_home.htm

 

Pedals (Nottingham Cycling Campaign)
http://www.pedals.org.uk

 

Spalding Pedals (Lincolnshirfe)

(no website);
Contact Spalding Pedals,
19 Ladywood Road, Spalding, Lincs, PE11 2DA

Other information (cycle routes and maps etc.)

• For information of the Peak District Pedal Project visit: http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/visiting/cycle/cycling-information/pedalpeakdistrict-progress.htm

• The latest versions (2011) of the six Leicestershire cycling maps including Leicester City, Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, Market Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth and the Coalville area can be downloaded at www.leicester.gov.uk/cycle-city
  
  

 

  At the EMCF meeting in Nottingham on 2 October 2010 it was agreed that future coordination of the group should revolve with, at each meeting, one group offering to organise the next meeting, and then taking over responsibility for updating the address list and contacting those on it, before in turn passing on the role to the local group organising the next meeting. EMCF Meeting in Nottingham on Saturday 2 October 2010:
The meeting included presentations from:-

• Helen Ross, Senior Public Health Manager,
  The Directorate of Public Health and Social Care East Midlands
  GOEM  (Government Office for the East Midlands), Nottingham - click here to download 
• Matt Easter, the Regional Director for Sustrans in the East Midlands - click here to download (please contact us if unable to view)
• a discussion on the future of the EMCF and new convenor and coordination arrangements
• a ride in the afternoon on the 9-mile Big Track route covering upgraded canal- and riverside paths on the north bank of the Trent between Trent Bridge, Nottingham Station and Beeston Lock.i
• a short briefing about the Sustrans / Cycling England / Nottingham City Council / Ridewise 'UCycle' Higher Education Project from Joanna Ward, the Project Director

 

 Some photos from past EMCF meetings:

Chesterfield- April 2008 (acknowledgements to Alastair Meikle, Chesterfield Cycling Campaign) Nottingham: 2nd October 2010 (including meeting at 'The Globe' and afternoon ride on
The Big Track route to Beeston Lock and back, with a refreshment stop at The Boathouse
Cafe near Beeston Lock.
(acknowledgements includes Alastair Meikle, Chesterfield Cycling Campaign and Dave Clark, Pedals)

EMCF meeting in Leicester on Saturday 12 March 2011 (venue - Phoenix Square,
Midland Street, Leicester LE1 1TG) - no photos available.

The next meeting of the EMCF, hosted by the Derby Cycling Group, will take place
in Derby on Saturday 8 October 2011
- for more information contact the organiser, Dave Clasby, email: dave.clasby [at] sustrans [dot] org [dot] uk
 

East Midlands Trains Cycling Issues

In January 2007 Pedals, on behalf of the East Midlands Cyclists' Forum, helped arrange a meeting with East Midlands Trains to discuss various cycling issues.
A report of this meeting can be downloaded from http://www.pedals.org.uk/pedals_policy_document Some of the issues from this meeting, particularly with regard to cycle security and good practice in cycle parking at stations are now being followed up by Pedals with EMT and Peter Briggs from Pedals who attended the Joint EMT / South West Trains Stakeholders' Meeting in London on 21 October 2010. For further information contact Peter at: peter.chris.briggs [at] googlemail [dot] com

• See also the Bikes and Trains pages on this website: http://www.pedals.org.uk/em_trains

   

 

 

Attachment	Size
EMCF Leicester Meeting Report0311.doc	31 KB
BHF-RobinHoodDL.pdf	598.15 KB
BHF-RutlandDL (3).pdf	605.05 KB
Peak Cycle Links DL newfront-1Gill0611.pdf	510.6 KB
Womens Open Day Poster0711.pdf	490.59 KB
Womens Off-road Weekend Timetable0711.doc	32 KB