IT'S THE WEEKEND: The Great Outdoors - Residents encouraged to take up Newport Love To Ride cycle challenge

CYCLING has played a big part in Gwent recently with the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish competing in the area as part of the Tour of Britain earlier this month.

It seems the stars have inspired too as many residents are now taking to the pedals for a number of reasons - from keeping fit to simply enjoying the outdoors.

And one local project which is encouraging this is Love To Ride Newport, which started earlier this month and runs until October 5 and is being supported by Newport City Council.

This is the second year of the project after it ran for the first time last year with the aim of getting more people cycling. Over the two years it has attracted 900 people from 32 business who have clocked up 53,500 miles between them.

The event, just one of a number of cycling challenges to be held in the region this year, is not about the distance participants cycle but about encouraging them to get on their bikes and enjoy the great outdoors whether it’s cycling with the family at the weekend, commuting to work or at lunchtime with colleagues.

Around 240 staff from 16 organisations across Newport have signed up to the Newport Cycle Challenge 2014 -‘Love To Ride’.

The challenge for change initiative is a fun, free competition which sees workplaces compete to see who can get the most people riding a bike, with a prize awarded at the end of each week.

The idea behind it is to recruit as many workmates as possible to ride a bike to climb up the leaderboard and win the challenge. Entrants only need to cycle for 10 minutes or more and can win prizes ranging from cinema tickets and local restaurant vouchers to bike gear.

Kirstin Davies, health challenge partnership officer at Newport City Council, is among 76 staff taking part in the challenge who have clocked up a total of 4,330 miles. Of those, 21 haven’t cycled before but have clocked up a total of over 4,000 miles so far. The council is currently in third place in the challenge, behind the Office for National Statistics and the Intellectual Property Office, at Tredegar Park. Ms Davies has encouraged five people to give cycling a go.

She said: “The council supported the challenge last year and as a keen outdoors person I wanted to continue the mantle this year.”

“I am always encouraging friends and family to go outdoors more and thought the cycle challenge would be an ideal opportunity to get people active.”

“I cycle to work depending on the weather and in my spare time and have used the canal routes to both Cwmbran and Risca, along with the routes in the Newport Cycling map.

“The benefits for me are to enjoy the outdoors while exercising and socialising.”

“I would encourage people to cycle as there are physical and mental benefits, cycling to work also reduces the stresses of parking. Cycling is also an activity that the whole family can do together.”

Her colleague, Carl Touhig, who is a sustainability manager, is the council’s challenge champion and has encouraged 76 staff to have a go at cycling.

Mr Touhig, 46, of Old Cwmbran, took up cycling five years ago and cycles to work along the canal towpath using a tandem that is one of a fleet rented by the council.

“We take it along to events to get people back on a bike and remind them how easy it is. I took it home during last year’s challenge and asked colleagues between Cwmbran and Newport to give up the car for a day and join me by pedalling in to work.

“Last year I had six people from across the authority join me over the three weeks, I have been so busy myself this year that I’ve only offered it out in the office but am happy to share a tandem to Newport from Cwmbran.”

He added:“Newport has some really nice flat routes for leisure riding, there’s Cwmcarn and Wentlooge for mountain biking and the Velodrome offers some of the best track cycling in Wales.”

“I mostly ride the Newport to Blaenavon cycle way (Sustrans Route 49), it’s virtually traffic free with only a few road crossings along the 20 mile route, I’ll sometimes drop into Abergavenny and pick up the canal for the return journey.”

“I commute 60 miles per week so even with a reasonably fuel efficient car it’s £10 in fuel, it takes about 20 minutes either way so it’s often quicker than commuting by car.”

“I would encourage everyone to give cycling a go, whether its for fitness, family rides or just to the pub it’s a great way to travel.

He advises those new to cycling to hire or borrow a bike before buying one and that some businesses run Cycle to Work schemes.

Stuart Baxter, who works in the finance department at the Intellectual Property Office, belongs to a group of cycle to work staff and uses the pool bikes to encourage staff to take a bike out for 10 minutes during lunchtimes.

Mr Baxter, 39, of Risca, has encouraged 28 staff and counting to cycle.

He said: “Being a keen cyclist I knew how much fun people would have just doing a few laps of the building. Having got back into cycling about five years ago I knew this would go down a storm with staff who forgot about bikes after getting a car.”

“I usually cycle to work along canals on a 14 mile return journey and am one of four to have recently completed 55 miles for Ty Hafan Hospice from Brecon to Cardiff.”

“I go out around the Newport Wetlands on weekends with my daughter Casey and fiance Diana and on days off cycle a 20-mile round trip to Pontnewydd along the canal.”

“To people taking up the challenge I say “Go for it, you might get bitten by the bug and cycle to work more than drive, like me. There are also some great prizes up for grabs.”

Marie Hewitt, works at the Office for National Statistics, and commutes five miles to work and back from Malpas each day.

Mrs Hewitt,39, took part in the challenge last year and has encouraged 11 colleagues to take part.

“It’s all about raising the profile of cycling and for me, getting fitter.”

“It’s also a lot less stressful cycling in than driving in to work.”

“It’s been surprising how many people have a go. I try and go out with my husband and children at the weekends to Newport and Caerleon.”

Her colleague, Theo Joloza, a senior research officer, was one of the first people to sign up to the challenge.

Mr Joloza, 41, is the challenge champion for his division.

The father-of-two from Newport added: “I try to cycle into work every day and love it.”

“We have had people who have never tried cycling before having a go. For those who don’t have a bike they can hire them at Newport International Sports Village.”

A city-wide social cycling club which aims to get residents on their bikes has also proven a success.

John Wheat, 48, of Ringland, started the scheme as part of the national Goskyride and Sky Ride Local initiatives to encourage residents aged from as young as five to 80 to start cycling for the benefit of their health.

The father-of-two, who has over 30 years’ cycling experience and works part-time in Screwfix in Maesglas and at South Wales Bike Shop on Caerleon Road, has 162 members and organises a free cycling event every Sunday.

"We’re the second largest group in the UK. It’s not about racing, neither is it a lycra-wearing club. It is about getting people to enjoy a leisurely ride, meeting new people and being healthy.”

The club is going from strength to strength. My wife and two children come out with me. We’ve cycled to Caerleon, Newport Wetlands and Caerphilly, along cycle paths and the Gwent Levels and tend to have between ten and 20 people.”

“We have members coming from as far as Herefordshire because there is nothing like it there as well as Newbridge and Caerphilly.”

“It doesn’t matter what bike you have, as long as it is roadworthy and you wear a helmet.”

This week's Newport Social Cycling Club ride will leave Newport Velodrome at 10.30am on September 27.

The club specialises in small family rides for everyone ranging from six miles to 34 miles in length and rides once a month to Cardiff. Children are welcome, but must wear a helmet.

To register for the challenge visit http://www.lovetoride.net/newport. To win a prize you log one 10 minute ride during the challenge period. There are also team prizes for the organisations and departments that involve the largest proportions of staff.

Follow the Challenge on Twitter @L2RNewport