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news
British Cycling LogoManchester to become a hub for disability cycling
Manchester is to become a hub for disability cycling as British Cycling moves to make the sport more inclusive and allow those at the highest level to receive the support they need to succeed.
The hub, which will primarily use Tameside Road Circuit and the National Cycling Centre as a base, will bring people together on a regular basis to engage in coach-led cycling and competitive racing activities. The sessions will be delivered by British Cycling and other partner organisations, providing opportunities for all-ability cyclists.
Para-cycling Sessions will give riders a chance to get involved with cycle sport, helping them to keep fit, have fun and improve performance through coaching and support from British Cycling Go-Ride Coaches. The sessions are also the first step onto the Great Britain Para-cycling Team performance pathway.
British Cycling’s Coaching, Education and Development Director, John Mills, said: “British Cycling is working hard to ensure that there are a whole range of opportunities for people of all abilities to get into cycling. Through the success of riders like Dame Sarah Storey, Jody Cundy and many others, there is no shortage of inspiration out there.
“Our para-cycling programme is one of the best in world cycling, however we want to inspire greater participation across all levels of disability cycling and by bringing lots of opportunities together through the hubs, we aim to make cycling a more inclusive sport.”
Dr. Margaret, volunteer administrator from Tyson Manchester Amputee Fitness Initiative, said: “The session was really good fun, the cyclists all hugely enjoyed themselves. It was fantastic for them to have the freedom to ride around the traffic-free circuit here in Tameside and to learn from the coach.”
British Cycling aims to launch another hub in Kent later this year, with one additional hub opening each year from 2015.
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7 comments
Will anyone help to remove the barriers which litter Manchester's cycle paths preventing anyone with a non-standard bike from using them?
These are enough of a pain for an able-bodies person on an upright bike, navigating them on a recumbent trike with a disability would be nigh-on impossible. I guess they had scallies on motorbikes in mind when they put them in, but you're right.
People standing up for recumbent riders, I never thought I would see the day.
I'm just about to trade my touring trike for a racing trike, but one of the reasons I stay well away from anything British Cycling, is they even ban recumbent trikes in sportives that are run under their banner. Very inclusive that
Until BC remove their blinkers regarding recumbents, any claims to inclusivity are rather half-baked.
I only caught the last few minutes on tv, but one of the Invictus Games events on the external olympic park track were notable for the brace of ICE trikes and Cattrikes on show. Not all injuries lend themselves to a barely-modified upright or handcycle...BC please wake the **** up !
The issue with things like recumbents and Ice trikes, etc is that they are not Paralympic disciplines. There is no structured racing for them and BC won't support something (at least at the higher levels) that doesn't fall into the right 'areas'.
Majority of Disability funding comes from the Paralympic program so the resources go towards developing Paracycling at all levels.
It's like complaining that they don't support unicycles or scooters - technically they are wheeled, cycle sports, but there is a limit as to how far their support and scope should go.
I'm sure that may rub some people the wrong way but it's also the reality of the situation.
I understand the point you're making - and that as far as paralympic/olympic events they are limited in what's covered -but without recognition by the uci, bc etc it'll stay that way - and I'm not just talking about paralympic/disability support
Several things you may wish to consider
1) Recumbents, in one form, *have* in the past been part of the sport. One of Mochet's designs was *ratified* by the uci in the 30's, and successfully raced. Lobbying by upright manufacturers led to redefinition of the bicycle to effectively ban them in 1934.
2) I don't recall exactly when things changed - in the 90s mebbe - but mtb racing, whether XC or DH wasn't originally recognised/supported by the UCI.
3) Similarly BMX..things change !
4) A unicycle's just a cut-down Ordinary ;)..and a scooter isn't a bicycle
5) In theory recumbent *trikes* are permissible within tricycle T1-T2. However, this only applies below national championship level - tho' on the face of it BC is supporting disabled cyclists to 'compete at some level' according to its Paracycling blurb. AFAIA the effect of this is any kind of trike racing is of the upright variety - tho' this could explain my surprise at seeing them on at the Invictus Games. From a search on the BC website I can find 1 'bent trike competitor in 2012, and pretty much ittle mention other than a few skyrides..
6) Take a look at the 'different types of cycling' section on the BC website or try searching for 'recumbent'- its almost as if they don't exist.
7) There *is* recumbent racing in the uk (via the BHPC) or worldwide (IHPVA) and it covers several classes, but it's relatively low-key/small numbers. Why ? Well, lack of visibility and conservatism of the cycle industry and the (inter)national sporting bodies is part of that. Again, back at the BC website -no mention at all.
8) Women's football was well-supported and popular with spectators prior to 1921, when they were banned by the FA from using grounds used by members of the FA. The ban was lifted in 1971 but it put women's football back decades. See the parallel ?
9) I - like some, but not all 'bent riders - don't have a formal disability -so I wouldn't come under paracycling qualifying rules anyway. In my case neck problems prevent me riding a road bike and sometime my more upright mtb. Even *if* I wanted to race currently, it'd have to be circuit racing via the BHPC, despite the fact that all my social/club cycling is with uprights. There were some proposals within TTing to allow 'bents - mainly to allow former/older/injured TT competitors to continue - but AFAIA those were chucked out, I gather it depends very much on the local organiser for the event. Some sportives (tho perhaps not many) ban recumbents..including RideLondon initially but I understand that's more of a slow introduction -likewise tandems - rather than a blanket ban.
(Oh, and ICE is a manufacturer of tadpole trikes, it's not a type of trike).
It's easy to be dismissive when you're part of the existing 'norm'..
Will 'BC' favour the men in participation of races and stick the women on the back burner as they do with all the other races and opportunity's to ride.