Rain stopped play!

I think I forgot to mention - although I will go out whatever the weather on my bike, and ladies rides go ahead regardless - when it comes to children I am likely to cancel.

I have always held the philosophy that for me, if it rains, I get wet.  If it is raining when I set off, I am going to get wet.  However, for my children - although they have been out in the rain - I have always thought not to drag them out if it is cold and wet (especially when they were younger and in childrens seats).


On my own!

 On the other hand, I am eternally optimistic.  So rain at 9 O'clock does not necessarily mean a 1pm ride will be cancelled.  I am tempted to wait till, oh, say 5 to 1 before I decide!

So, although a few people had said they were coming, only one family turned up.  I had also been running late so did not even have my daughter with me, nor had I had any lunch.

(note to self, must get organised!)



One family braved the gloom!


Anyway, I have evidence of family participation here; and they set off to the Blue Moon (my back up plan for yesterday's ladies ride!).

I am proposing to try again next week, if anyone is free?

First ride and Treasure Hunt



First family set off

 We have officially started now, with a quite successful treasure hunt.  Successful in that people turned up, despite April showers and Mothers day (and birthday parties), and everyone completed the clues and route and although everyone got lost (thanks to my left and right confusions) - all was well in the end!

Five families braved the changeable weather, and once clue and direction sheets were given out, everyone set off.  15 minutes later my family arrived - so we could follow on behind.  I can't comment on the route - I planned it!   suffice to say I think people enjyed the afternoon.

We all met up at the Hungry Horse pub The Rake at Little Stanney, and were the only ones still sat outside when it rained!  During a brief interlude, the hungry horse himself came out to wave his arms about and scare the children (!!! - no, no-one was scared), and pose for a photo - have you seen us in the paper?



With the horse no one lost to bad directions!

 
I rode with a few families, before shooting ahead so I could get back to the car and base to get the cerificates ready.

I believe everyone enjoyed the day despite final rain shower - at least no-one else got HAILED on like me!!!

3 days to go!

eeek!
I am lucky in that the route I have selected for the family ride is mostly my routes to and from work, so I cycled in today and will be able to check on my way home how the roads are.  May need to add 'mud in road' to risk assessment - and I think 'animals' may be needed as I encoutered a doggy last time I rode.

The weather, however, has turned a bit 'March winds' on me, and I believe the forecast is not good at all for Sunday - oh no!!!!!!  I will be there whatever the weather - so waterproofs at the ready!

The ride has now also been advertised through Bike Boost cycle challenge - although it says treasure hunt followed by treasure hunt, which is not strictly true!

I have also had a query from someone about how much of the route is off road - currently only a short bit through the zoo, but I can amend the route on request at the start if you have a map with you, so that there are more off road sections.  However, I must say the lanes in use are very quiet, and by going on different route you will miss some clues!

I have had confirmation that I can use the library car park though!

Still so much to do...so little time!!!!

See you Sunday.  Feel free to post any questions in the comments below.

Three weeks to go and counting!



Upton Library car park

 I have spent a beautiful afternoon riding the route for the 3rd and making up clues!  Just need to type them up in some sort of order and decide which questions I am going to use.

Hope the weather is this nice for the family ride!

I did ask my girls if they wanted to come with me and help with setting the questions and comments about the route, but they resisted and I went alone.  Two hours later I get back - and within 5 minutes my youngest says "can I go for a bike ride?"  Aaaargh!

I had a very helpful conversation with a lady from the Parish Council last week.  She was going to check it would be OK to use the Upton Library car park, and is getting back to me.  She also suggested I may need to contact Highways about putting up a banner - although I do not think there is anywhere to hang it!

Also, Stephanie from Marketing was most helpful with a comprehensive email suggesting who I can contact to advertise the rides, and to put it in the 'Cycle Chester' newsletter (I was just in time!).

I have put an event on facebook, and had one enquiry so far...

Still to do....Contact Ross from Bike Club and finalise some details (or find out what I need to finalise!); contact Paul from Go Bike to share ride information and invite his riders; risk assessment?; local paper to put a note in the clubs and activities.

I'm sure there is more!



countdown to first family ride

Four weeks to go to the First Family Ride!!

The results of the poll are heartening, I think.  9 people voted, and 8 appear to be up for the family rides.  No one has come up with any suggestions for the first ride, so we will have a mothers day special, and I will have to think what free mothers day gift I can come up with for the first 10 mums. Proof of motherhood required! (that means bring the family!!!)

 

The first ride follows the Chester Cycle Show, so hopefully people will be rearing to go after two weeks of the spring cycle challenge and the cycle event on New Scene.  It is a very busy and exciting time for bikes.

Still to do:

• meet with Ross and get ideas together
• acquire freebies for mums (at least!) - I do have bike week balloons from last two years, so look out for those!
• Contact Paul and the bike training sessions for support and publicity?
• Contact Upton library for permission?
• Produce posters to go in local libraries, cafes and bike shops.

Better get going! Any help or advice most gratefully received!

See you in four weeks!

Doomed!

I don't know, I set the dates then realise I have booked to go away for the first ride.

So I reset the first date, to a week earlier.  This was so it did not get in the way of the Easter holidays.

Then I hear that there is going to be a 'Chester Cycle Show' on the 27th March - what  great opportunity to spread the word, and only a week before the first ride! Brilliant!

A couple of days ago - I can't even remember why I realised this - but it became apparent to me that I had only gone and set the first date for MOTHERS DAY.  Great.  Like I am going to get anyone out on a family bike ride on mothers day.

So, options are as below:

1.  Continue with the second date, 2nd April, and make it a special mothers day event with, I don't know, gifts for mums who come?  Bring-a-mum ride? Daffodils for all?

2. Move the inaugural date yet again, and confuse even more people (although, does anyone out there know about the rides yet?!).  We could even go for the Chester Cycle Show day, although happening in the wrong place - and I am actually AWAY for that!!!  As I stated I could not go later with dates in April as it falls into Easter hols. and who will come out on family rides in mid March?

3.  Ditch April and go for a May start.

Comments and advice welcome.

Winter sets in - perfect time to plan routes and clues!

It is -4 out there as I blog this.  Cold.  Very cold.  Thoughts of summer cycling in shorts and T-shirts just makes me shudder!!
So - perfect time to think about the whats hows whos wheres etc of the family-rides-to-be.

I have had a phone call off Gavin from Sheffield (Bike Club) - we chatted about the Sheffield family rides.  They appear to have started in 2009 (see blog link) and seem to include car assisted rides out into Derbyshire.  There is a nice write up of a ride last summer (in bike week) that swelled in numbers as they rode.  A sort of family-bike-ride-relay.  I like that idea.  Maybe we could do that one month next summer?

I also came across CTC family rides in Staffordshire - Chase Cycling Club - or "Wheel we make it?" (a not dissimilar idea for a name has been suggested up here!).  I must say the photos show a very wide age range - which is certainly welcome here - everybody is part of a family, whichever generation you now occupy!

The 'competition' ride set for September is now fully planned - well, I have planned the route, and my esteemed chum, Dave, has set all the other details up, including the start and end stop at Old Ma's coffee shop near Tattenhall.  For the adventurous there will also be a ride in October around Bala.  More details will be unveiled as the year progresses!




Horses get everywhere in the New Forest!

 I have a feeling we will be heading to the New Forest Rides in July in - er - The New Forest.  Very much a family affair, with people returning year after year.  Not to be missed is the trip to the Isle of Wight, with a few hundred bikes stacked up on deck, it is a sight to behold.  Imagine, biking to the beach!  (No, not in this weather!).  Camping.  But that is all part of the fun!!!  Maybe if the Chester Family Rides take off, we could arrange our own camping weekend in 2012 - Anglesey springs to mind - not too far and some lovely cycling (including our own beaches!).



Bikes Below deck on Isle of Wight Ferry



You can read a report about the 2010 Rally here. (scroll down to New Forest Rally report)

I have also added some other family friendly cycling events we are holding through the year.  Check out the Chester and North Wales website for more information as it becomes availble.

If you are reading this (and I hope someone does!!) please leave a comment; or complete the poll to the right (sorry font colour is rubbish but I can't change it now!) - or better still, why not follow this blog?

Have a very Happy Christmas, and I will post again in 2011!