We want to hear what's happening in your area - from racing results to sportives, recreational cycling to commuting. To submit your stories for CW's British news round-up, please email Nick Bullor Richard Abraham>>>
Entries are still open for the inaugural Curlew Cup women's race which takes place on June 29 and forms part of the Virgin Money Cyclone weekend in Northumberland.
The race will form part of the UK's National Women's Road Series and full teams from Matrix Fitness-Prendas and Hope Factory Racing will stand in the way of a total prize fund of £1,800 which includes a points and U23 competition.
The weekend will also debut the Tyne Six Bridges ride aimed at beginner cyclists and families while the Virgin Money Cyclone sportive, the Leazes Criterium and the Beaumont Trophy Premier Calendar race will return.
More information is available at www.virginmoneycyclone.co.uk
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The HERIB Beech Holme Tandem Club is celebrating after receiving a £250 grant from the Mars Refuel Drink Fund.
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The club provides sixteen tandems to help blind and partially sighted people enjoy cycling around the Hull area. The funds will help maintain the support vehicle which is obliged to follow the riders at all times.
The Mars Refuel Drink Fund runs until September 30 and will award £5000 in grants each month until then with the aim of keeping people playing sport. The fund is open to residents of, and clubs and organisations based in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Visit www.marsrefuel.com to find out how to apply.
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Former World Champion Graeme Obree and Commonwealth track cycling medalist Charline Joiner launched the "freshnlo Pedal for Scotland 2012" bike ride last week.
Taking place on September 9, there are two rides of 50 and 100 miles on offer which both start in Glasgow and finish in Edinburgh.
The rides, which attracted over 14,000 cyclists last year, are again partnered by Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.
"freshnlo Pedal for Scotland is a great platform to introduce people of all ages to participation within an event framework" said Obree.
"You don't have to be a racer on a top of the range bike. The event is for riders of all ages and abilities and hopefully we will see the continued growth of popularity in cycling reflected in participation in this year's event."
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The winners of the Barclays ‘London by Bike' photography competition have been announced, with Kris Matyskiewicz winning the amateur competition while the professional prize went to Thomas Casey.
Kris Matyskiewicz's winning entry
Photographer
and head judge, Nick Turpin commented, "We were astounded by the
quality of entries...clearly there are a lot of passionate Londoners out
there who love snapping those special moments that can only be
discovered on a bike."
Thomas Casey won the professional category
The winning images will be displayed at 300
Barclays branches in London and the South East with free postcards of
the photographs also available in branch.
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The Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle ride on Bank Holiday Monday was hailed a huge success with over 7000 participants cycling on the 13-mile closed road loop of Manchester.
GB riders Lizzie Armistead and
Rebecca Romero as well as a number of TV soap Emmerdale's finest were
out in force to help promote the marathon-esque event.
Riders
enjoyed the surreal experience of cycling along the traffic-free
Mancunian way towards Old Trafford and Media City, all for just £10.
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Figures released last week suggest that council maintained roads in the UK are failing to improve, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).
Of the 89 councils that provided data, 38% reported that their minor roads deteriorated in 2010/11 and 40% of councils reported deterioration in main road conditions.
"Under the previous government local authorities had targets to improve the condition of their roads," said Neil Greig, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists.
"While the old system of road maintenance targets wasn't perfect, the effect of the coalition scrapping these targets is evident in certain areas. Only when we have a commitment to long term funding can councils really start to address the huge backlog of repairs."
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GB sprinter Matt Crampton will be starting the Wiggle Dragon Ride on June 10th in Port Talbot, South Wales.
The event is also the only one of its type in the UK to feature on the UCI's ‘Golden Bike' calendar of global sportive rides and sits alongside the Cape Argus Cycle Tour, La Pinarello and the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.
There are distances of 206km, 125km and 37km and all three rides support the Prostate Cancer Charity.
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Last weekend saw bike rides across West Yorkshire to mark the launch of the county's three-year ‘go:cycling' initiative which aims to encourage adults to take up cycling.
Devised and managed by Metro bus and train company in partnership with the five West Yorkshire districts and the CTC, the £450,000 project was funded through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.
The ultimate aim of the scheme is to enable more people to commute to work by bike through investment in cycling routes and the development of cycle training. It will work with employers and communities as well as organising group-led rides, mass participation rides, bike safety courses and maintenance sessions.
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‘Velonotte,' a nocturnal bike ride around the key architectural sites of East London, has been launched as part of the 2012 London Festival of Architecture.
The 35km ride takes place on the evening of June 23 and is part of the festival's theme of ‘The Playful City,' combining with talks, exhibitions, installations, performances and food and drink across the city between June 23 and July 8.
Velonotte has already been run successfully in Moscow and Rome and you can register interest online at www.lfa2012.org.uk
Richard Abraham is an award-winning writer, based in New Zealand. He has reported from major sporting events including the Tour de France and Olympic Games, and is also a part-time travel guide who has delivered luxury cycle tours and events across Europe. In 2019 he was awarded Writer of the Year at the PPA Awards.
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