Be inspired by the Tour de France and get into cycling right here in Nottingham
If the British success in the first week of the Tour de France has given you a taste for sporting glory then its time to get on your bike.
But you don’t have to fly to France to enjoy travelling on two wheels. Bradley Wiggins, who finished 4th overall and Mark Cavendish, who came 2nd in the points rankings both learnt to ride on British soil and you could too. Ok, we can’t promise that you’ll win an Olympic Gold medal or the world championships but you could win a sporting event closer to home…
There are lots of cycling clubs across Nottingham that run regular rides, races and time trials. The time trials are open to everyone so you can give it a go without signing up to a club.
And what are time trials you ask? Simply put you race against the clock, travelling a set distance with only your personal best to beat. If you get caught up in the competition you can join a club to see how you measure up to your fellow cyclists. Nottingham Clarion Club, Sherwood Cycling Club and Mapperley Cycling Club all run events – but a quick search will probably show up other Nottingham-based groups. (And if you’re keen to know more about time trials read this great article.)
For those of you who have spotted sporting tendencies in your kids why not send them to a Go-Ride club? British Cycling, the group behind our cycling stars, offers this special cycling scheme. It gives you the confidence to know your little darlings are safe, sound and being trained by a qualified coach. Whether its road racing or BMX that takes their fancy there’s something for everyone, visit their website for your nearest Go-Ride club.
But if sports isn’t your thing and the Tour de France has simply encouraged you to get on a bike that’s ok too – you’re in great company! Annual sales of bikes were up by 20% in June as more people realise that two wheels are better than four. And the Big Wheel can help you to get more out of your bike – whether you need cycle training or maps. Browse our cycling pages to find out more about the great – and free – things we can offer.
So you see you don’t have to go far to experience the joys of cycling – even if you’d rather leave winning medals to the experts.
