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Norfolk set to host the Great British Cycling Festival from 27-30 June

The Great British Cycling Festival is a celebration of cycling at all levels and abilities that will bring the best of Britain’s elite cyclists together with amateur cyclists of all ages to enjoy a 3-day festival of thrilling races, family friendly rides, and local community activities. 

Holding the prestigious National Road Race Championships and Time Trial events in Norfolk not only supports the local economy through spectator activities and local tourism, it also provides a platform for partners to engage with our wider communities with a varied programme of health and wellbeing activities that will leave a positive welfare legacy after the event.

In addition to activities planned around the 100-mile Road Race route, schools have received a specially commissioned engagement booklet, packed with challenges to help them learn about the sport and healthy and active lifestyles.  A few schools also had assemblies with Sophie Wright, a Norwich-born professional cyclist, to inspire a new generation of cyclists into activity. Local businesses, libraries and care homes will be engaging in activities and supporting the Festival along the way, too.

You can find out more about the Festival and the planned activities at www.gbcyclingfestival.co.uk/. The Great British Cycling Festival is sponsored locally by the University of East Anglia, and has been brought to Norfolk by British Cycling, Golazo, Active Norfolk, Pushing Ahead, and Norfolk County Council.

Let's Ride Norwich

As part of the Great British Cycling Festival, we’re closing the roads to traffic in Norwich on Sunday 30 June and hosting a FREE, family cycling day for everyone.

There’s lots to do – from fun activities and challenges for the whole family to music, local street food and live stunt shows. Plus a few surprises on the day …

Come along and enjoy seeing your city from the saddle. You don’t have to do the full distance – just as much or as little as you want. You don’t need to be an experienced cyclist. There will be no cars on the road, so you can wobble, zig-zag and stop as much as you like.

It’s free, fun and the perfect activity for the whole family. So, what are you waiting for?

Everyone’s invited – see you there!  For more information and to register, click here!

Double your BetterPoints during the Great British Cycling Festival

Download the BetterPoints app and join the Pushing Ahead Norfolk programme to earn double points for any cycling journey this weekend, Saturday 29 through Sunday 30 June.  Cycling journeys need to be in Greater Norwich or Great Yarmouth and be at least a mile.  You can earn the double reward up to 4 times per day!  For more information, click here.

Don't miss out on this change to boost your points and earn your rewards even faster!

Be in for a chance to win 50,000 BetterPoints

The Big Stroll is currently taking place in Great Yarmouth.  For every 10 minutes of walking you do in Great Yarmouth until Sunday 30 June you will earn 1 BetterTicket.  Each BetterTicket is an entry into the prize draw for the 50,000 BetterPoints, worth £50.  In addition, if you win Pushing Ahead will donate an additional £50 to your favourite charity.

You can earn up to 10 BetterTickets per day and your walking must take place in Great Yarmouth.  For more information, click here. 

Is there a Community Hub near you?

Pushing Ahead have been working with Marlpit Community Centre, Heartsease Community Centre, and Community Roots in Great Yarmouth to develop hubs where local people can access guidance and support on cycling.  Our vision is to recruit and train cycling champions that can deliver a variety of activities, including: regular community rides, Bike Fix sessions, community based basic maintenance teaching, Learn to Ride sessions and other activities!

We've recently made the news and had an article and video publish in the EDP.  Read all about it, by clicking here!

In addition, in partnership with Active Norfolk (Norfolk's 'Active Partnership'), Pushing Ahead is now working closely with Cycling UK to support and develop and expand the Community Hubs project.  Andrea Auburn (pictured) is the Cycling Development Officer from Cycling UK.  She joined the team at the end of May and will be out and about in your communities, working with our current Community Hubs and delivering Cycling UK's Big Bike Revival. Get in touch with Andrea if your community would like to take part - she can provide further information about funding for communities, schools, or workplaces to be able to stage their own Big Bike Revival event.

For more info on our current Community Hubs, please contact your local centre:

Marlpit Community Centre: 

marlpitcommunitycentre@gmail.com

Heartsease Community Centre: 

frereroadcommunitycentre@outlook.com

Community Roots Great Yarmouth: 

reception@gywmind.org.uk

Please get in touch if you have an idea of creating a community hub in your area: pushingahead@norfolk.gov.uk.

Heartsease Wellbeing Rides

Pushing Ahead have teamed up with Norwich & Central Norfolk Mind to start a friendly cycling group for adults who want to improve their mental wellbeing in a friendly and supportive environment.

Gentle, fortnightly rides will start from Cafe 33, Witard Road, Heartsease, followed by a social catch up over tea and cake.  The next ride will be on 29th June at 1:30pm.  Free MOTs at the cafe will be available from 2-4 pm on 26th June, 24th July and 28th August.

Please contact Kirsty at pushingahead@norwichmind.org.uk for further information.

Why not 'Try Before You Buy'?

Unsure if cycling is for you? Why not try a bike for FREE!

If you're a resident of Greater Norwich or Great Yarmouth and you're unsure if cycling is for you, why not try out cycling by borrowing a bike for FREE with our Cycle Loan Scheme?  The bike comes with a lock, lights, helmet, and child seat (if needed) so you're ready to go.  All of this for only a £10 refundable deposit. Plus, if you really like the bike, there's the option to purchase it afterwards for a discounted price!

There are also a limited number of electric bikes that you can borrow for 10 days with a £50 deposit.

For further information and to sign up, take a look at our Cycle Loan Scheme page here.

Personalise your journey instantly using our online widget

We've upgraded our Personalised Journey Plan tool on our website and you are now able to generate a FREE bespoke plan instantly.  Just enter your start and finish postcode, your date and time of travel, and your plan will be displayed for you in a convenient interactive map as well as in a helpful email.  It could show you travel options you've not thought about - such as a better cycle or walking route, Park&Ride locations, and actual Liftshare partners you can contact so you can potentially share the journey.  The tool also provides information on travel duration, CO2 emissions, and your calorie burn!  Give it a go by clicking here!

Upcoming Pushing Ahead events

Here are a few of the events that Pushing Ahead will be attending or hosting over the following months:

Sunday 30 June - Great British Cycling Festival - stand and activities

Saturday 6 July - Lord Mayor's Celebrations - stand and balance bikes 

Saturday 20 July - Family Cycle Fun Day at Martham Academy & Nursery

For more information on the events and to see more of this year's calendar, check out our events page here. 

If you're keen on keeping active, why not take a look at Active Norfolk's activity finder here - they've got plenty of events to keep you busy!

Contact the team

If you have any questions or would like to know more about Pushing Ahead, please email the team:  pushingahead@norfolk.gov.uk

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

The Pushing Ahead project is based on expanding successful active travel initiatives to lock-in the value of current and planned capital investment in infrastructure within the Norwich and Great Yarmouth growth areas.

PROJECT PARTNERS

Norfolk County Council (AtoBetter, Active Norfolk, Public Health, Norfolk Trails), Norwich City Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the University of East Anglia (UEA).

For further information please visit: www.pushingaheadnorfolk.co.uk

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