Latest News

11th Apr. 2008:
CYCLING SOLUTIONS WINS CONTRACT FOR STOKE-ON-TRENT

Cycling Solutions CIC has won funding to expand our coverage even further - we'll now be delivering Level 2 training for children in Stoke-on-Trent too.

Following on from our success with Durham, we've succeeded in winning the contract for training around 1000 children in the Stoke-on-Trent area.

As with Durham, this means that we'll shortly be recruiting in the area for both existing instructors who're already trained to deliver National Standards level instruction and people who have not had any instructor training yet but who are enthusiastic cyclists and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the Cycling Solutions team.

10th Mar. 2008:
CYCLING SOLUTIONS EXPANDS TO DURHAM

Cycling Solutions CIC has won funding to expand our coverage of Level 2 training for children to Durham.

Although this is obviously not a neighbouring area to our focus up to 2007 on Merseyside and Wigan, Durham represents our first foray into extending the Cycling Solutions model into other areas of the UK.

As a result,we'll shortly be recruiting in the area for both existing instructors who're already trained to deliver National Standards level instruction and people who have not had any instructor training yet but who are enthusiastic cyclists and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the Cycling Solutions team.

16th Aug. 2007:
CYCLING SOLUTIONS NOW FULLY ACCREDITED INSTRUSTOR TRAINERS

We're really pleased to annouce that Cycling Solutions CIC has now completed the process to become recognised as a CTC National Standard Instructor Training Centre. This accreditation is valid for two years from February 2007 to February 2009, and means that we can

• Accredit instructors to deliver the National Standards in Cycle Training and/or Bikeability
• Run post-course assessments for National Standards instructors
• Provide the Assistant Instructor course
• Help other training providers implement and monitoring their schemes

Because of this and some of our other involvements, Cycling Solutions CIC are now also an integral part of the Instructor Training Provider's Group and can have direct input to the National Standards via the curriculum body, the Cycle Training Standards Board.

9th Aug. 2007: Wigan Council JOINS OUR TRAINING SCHEME

Cycling Solutions CIC is pleased to be working with Wigan Council to deliver training to up to 36 of their schools in the remainder of the year.

The training being delivered on behalf of the council is Bikeability Level 2, the cycling proficiency course for the 21st century.

There are now 6 Local Authorities contracting Cycling Solutions CIC to deliver Bikeability training to their school children.

Cycling Solutions Managing Director, Colin Langdon, said
'We are really pleased to be able to provide Wigan Council with a cost-effective solution that will ensure that school-age children in their care have the opportunity to be trained in what we firmly believe is the best possible way, that is by fully trained professional instructors who are properly monitored and mentored and who have a complete administrative support system behind them. We're willing and able to provide it to other authorities too and, since we are a not-for-profit organisation, both the council and the local council tax payers can be totally reassured that their money is focused exactly where it should be.'

22nd Mar. 2007: BIKEABILITY ACCREDITATION!

Cycling Solutions have been awarded povisional Bikeability Accreditation.

Thanks to the efforts of the instructors who rolled out the pilot of the Bikeability scheme last half-term and the management team who pulled together all the documentation, we've succeeded in achieving a high standard in our delivery

To quote from our accreditation report: "Overall the submission from Cycling Solutions is of a consistently high standard and meets all of the criteria in order to achieve Provisional Bikeability Accreditation."

Well done to all!

7th Mar. 2007: LIVERPOOL CYCLE MAP

Cycling Solutions have been asked to help with the next Liverpool Cycle Map.

This is one of a family of cycle maps covering Merseyside. We have a group of Liverpool instructors cycling all the roads in Liverpool recording facilities and suggesting good cycling routes.

7th Mar. 2007: CYCLING SOLUTIONS TRAINS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Cycling Solutions is undertaking a major programme of training to secondary schools in Liverpool.

Our first school, Calderstones, requested 150 level 3 places. This type of training is delivered on a 1:1 ratio and includes advanced techniques for riding on busy or complex roads. 5 instructors turn up to the school every night of the week to train 5 young people.

The training has been hughly successful with both instructors and pupils really enjoying the experience.

This is funded through Liverpool's "Active City" programme and is also part of the schools travel plan. As a result a dramatic increase is expected in pupils cycling to school.

On March 2nd it featured on page 2 of the Liverpool Echo - click here to read the story.

7th Mar. 2007: STEVE FISHER JOINS CYCLING SOLUTIONS

Steve Fisher, one of the most experienced and respected cycle instructors in the UK has joined Cycling Solutions.

Steve previously worked for Lifecycle, a Bristol based cycle training company and was instrumental in delivering their cycle instructor and cycle maintenance courses, and before that was an instructor in London with CTUK.

He's already taught two courses in Liverpool and likes what he sees! We are delighted to welcome him to our team. He has already had a significant effect on the company by helping us gain ITP status (see below).

7th Mar. 2007: PROVISIONAL ACCREDIATION AS INSTRUCTOR TRAINING PROVIDER

Cycling Solutions is now provisionally accredited as a Instructor Training Provider.

Following a sucessful and demanding course held on the 12-15 February, the CTC has provisionally approved Cycling Solutions as on of the few organisations able to train cycling instructors to teach National Standard courses.

Neil Kay of Cycling Solutions said "This is a major forward step for us as we are not only able to train our own instructors, but can help to increase the numbers of people able to teach cycling in this area"

26th Jan. 2007: AWARD FOR CYCLING SOLUTIONS SUCCESS

Cycling Solutions CIC has collected a 'Celebration of Success Award' in recognition of the hard work and commitment that has gone towards the rapid expansion of the Company.

Our Managing Director, Colin Langdon, collected the award on behalf of the Company at an event held in Liverpool City centre. The annual awards are organised by Greater Merseyside Business Link to celebrate successful businesses in the area.

The Company isn't resting on it's laurels, now with 35 employees an expanding training potential and broadening experience base we are in an excellent position to continue this rapid growth.

One of the other awards was collected by Dave Kelly of Daisyuk. Dave is visually impaired and rode with Colin on a tandem from Land's End to John O'Groats in 1998 to raise funds for the Liverpool Voluntary Society for the Blind.

11th Dec. 2006: COMPANY NAME CONFLICT RESOLVED

Cycling Solutions UK Ltd (see earlier stories below) has changed it's name to Cycling Future Limited after successful representations by Cycling Solutions CIC. Cycling Future would like to apologise for any confusion they caused.

Cycling Solutions CIC's Managing Director, Colin Langdon, said "We are pleased that the directors of Cycling Future have made this change to remove any confusion."

ONGOING: FREE CYCLE TRAINING

We have some free two hour cycling lessons still available to Liverpool residents: phone 0151 234 9484 to book your session now. The lesson will increase your ability and confidence whatever your starting level.

25 Nov. 2006: SOCIAL ENTERPRISE: A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION

Colin Langdon explains how a Social Enterprise can provide Local Authorities with a cost effective cycle training service at the National Cycle Campaigners Conference in Cheltenham. Colin gave a presentation in conjunction with Rob Fuller, the CTC's Cycling Development Manager describing the 'Bikeability' project.

23 Nov. 2006: BIKEABILITY AWARENESS ON THE UP!

Liverpool primary and secondary school travel plan coordinators find out about 'Bikeability' and free cycle training at a workshop organised by travel plan organisations working in the Liverpool area.

21 Nov. 2006: COMPANY NAME CLASH APOLOGY

Cycling Solutions receives an apology from the founders of the new company 'Cycling Solutions UK Ltd' for selecting a name too close for comfort. The new company has agreed to change its official and trading name to something else. (Follow-on from the 1 Nov. item here)

16 Nov. 2006: PAPER TO BE PRESENTED AT VELO-CITY CONFERENCE

Our Managing Director has a paper selected for presentation at the prestigious Velo-City conference to be held in Munich in June 2007.

The paper proposes that Social Enterprises are the way forward for cycle training procurement, creating meaningful jobs and providing other social benefits without shareholders benefiting. More information about the conference can be found at www.velo-city2007.com

12 Nov. 2006: BIKETIME WINTER RIDES ARE GO!

A successful start to Biketime winter ride series. 20 people turned up for the first winter ride on the Wirral. A good time was had by all. Don't miss the next one on 10 December, be at Ainsdale Railway Station at 1300 for a ride through some lovely lanes.

1 Nov. 2006: COMPANY NAME CLASH

A new company 'Cycling Solutions UK Ltd' appears on the scene. Cycling Solutions Community Interest Company (that's us!) have made it clear that it has no connections with this newcomer private profit making organisation, and so we've taken steps to distance ourselves.

7 Sept. 2006: CYCLING SOLUTIONS TO DELIVER 'BIKEABILITY'

Cycling Solutions have been chosen as the cycle training provider to launch the 'Bikeability' project.

This is the 21st-Century replacement for the old 'Cycling Proficiency' training and is based on the new National Standards Cycling Training that we deliver.

After the launch at Aintree racecourse, Cycling Solutions will be rolling the Bikeability programme out all over Merseyside over the course of 2006-2007.

There are more details at the Bikeability website here.