About
Bradford is part of the Sky Ride campaign, aiming to get one million more people riding a bike by 2013. Sky Ride Bradford, a mass participation, traffic-free bike ride, took place on 31st July and was a brilliant occasion.
The area's also hosting a range of activities including Sky Ride Local rides and bike maintenance workshops to help you keep your wheels in great shape. And look out for Breeze bike rides – fun, social, informal bike rides for women, coming to a park or cycle path near you!
News
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Autumn means bike rides in Bradford
Over a hundred poeple took part in the last of this year's Sky Ride Local rides in Bradford - and helped our planning for next year.
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Catch the bike bus to work!
The Aire Valley Bike Bus isn't really a bus - but it is a great way to get to work in the morning.
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British Cycling joins in the Bradford Mela
We're joining in the celebrations at the world famous Bradford Mela.
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Bradford's cycling summer
If you live in or near Bradford you'll be spoilt for choice with cycling activities this summer.
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Keep riding
Bradford is a great place to cycle! British Cycling works with Bradford Metropolitan District Council to promote a range of opportunities for people to get involved with cycling whatever their age and ability.
Cycling support in Bradford
CycleBradford aims to connect people to cycling activity in and around the Bradford District. CycleBradford is also home to Bradford’s cyclists’ forum bSPOKE, where issues which directly affect cyclists are discussed and actions taken to improve the district as a place to cycle. The bSPOKE forum meets quarterly and shares its work at www.cyclebradford.org.uk.
Aire Valley Bike Bus is a way of supporting people who want to be cycle commuters. The Bike Bus runs every Wednesday from Keighley to Bradford city centre along the A650.
BMDC Adventure Development Unit offers the chance to get into mountain biking. Bike hire and friendly coaching is available.
Cycling for Health is a great scheme for people of all ages and abilities with a focus on how cycling can help people return to health and fitness. Find out more.
Hammsters are a group of cyclists who ride from Bradford to Hamm (Bradford’s twin city in Germany) every other year to raise money for the Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure charity. Anyone is welcome to ride with the Hammsters when the meet on the first Sunday of the month. Find out more.
Bradford CTC Cycle Champions Project offers a range of cycling groups, including groups for young people and women only groups. Email Ginny.Leonard@ctc.org.uk for more information.
Places to ride
Bradford has something to offer every kind of cyclist – from city routes to country trails. Find out more about tracks and trails by following these links:
Airedale Greenway – Leeds Liverpool Canal towpath
The Great Northern Trail – a traffic free cycle route from Cullingworth.
Spen Valley Greenway – a disused railway, now a traffic-free route.
Pennine Bridleway is a great traffic-free route for off road cycling, and Bradford enjoys links to this extensive route.
Aire Calder Link is a new 17 mile route which is the first of three key links planned to improve access to the Pennine Bridleway. It runs from St Ives Estate near Bingley to join the Mary Towneley Loop near Widdop reservoir in Calderdale.
Riding around Bradford
There's some great on and off road riding in Yorkshire from the scenic country lanes and rugged off-road trails in the Yorkshire Dales to the world class trail centre in Dalby Forest. Add to this a well developed network of leisure routes and it's clear that Yorkshire offers a great escape for everyone. Find out more from British Cycling: http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/recreation/article/Where-to-Ride--Yorkshire-0
MTB the Dales – information for mountain biking in the Yorkshire Dales.
Facilities
Closed Road Circuit: Bradford has a closed road circuit at the Richard Dunns Sports Centre. Children and young people can access the circuit through East Bradford Cycle Club Saturday morning sessions.
Bradford has a fantastic purpose built BMX track at Peel Park, with open access to the public. For more information see the BMX Bandits club links below.
Bradford District offers superb mountain biking on a varied network of public bridleways. Buck Wood Thackley offers open access mountain bike dirt jumps and a pump track. Stainburn mountain bike trails are open access technical trails for experienced mountain bikers.
Local cycling clubs
British Cycling can help you to find a club that’s right for you. You can use the ‘club finder’ link to find a club near you. There are some great British Cycling affiliated cycling clubs in Bradford who will be happy for you to come along and ride with them, including:
East Bradford Cycle Club
The club offers Saturday morning Go-Ride cycling club for children.
Keighley Just Ride
A Go-Ride club based at Worth Valley Primary School. Saturday mornings 9.30 to 11.30.
E: KJRCC@hotmail.com
Bradford BMX Bandits
A Go-Ride club specialising in BMX. The club caters for all abilities and has its own BMX track which has been fully redeveloped. New members are welcome and bikes can be provided.
E: ian.thewliss@bradfordbmxbandits.org.uk
Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure Aiming High cycling club
The club has adapted bicycles and trainers based at Lister Park in Bradford. The club offers a wide range of bikes and trikes for all ages and abilities.
Training
There’s a huge amount of cycle training on offer.
Safe 2 Cycle offers cycle training opportunities in and around Bradford.
Becycling offers a range of cycle training opportunities in the Bradford District and beyond.
Mountain Bike Cycle Yorkshire offers guided rides and coaching in the area.
Crank it up – Cycling for all offer wacky bike demos to bicycle recycling schemes and maintenance courses.
Wheels for All – a new club based at Titus Salt School for cyclists with disabilities.
Bikeability
Bradford Council has trained a number of National Standards tutors who now deliver Bikeability in Schools in the Bradford District. This scheme is free of charge to the schools and trains its pupils through Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 is very similar to the old cycling proficiency and level 2 includes vital-on road training, showing children from years 5 to 7 how to safely use the roads.
For information about Bikeability email paul.hart@bradford.gov.uk.
Sky Ride returned to Bradford on 31st July 2011 to give local people a unique opportunity to ride their bikes through the city's streets without a car in sight.
About Bradford
Sky Ride returned to Bradford on 31st July 2011 to give local people a unique opportunity to ride their bikes through the city's streets without a car in sight.
To find out more about the event, click the 'report' tab above.
Bradford News
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6000 turn out for Sky Ride Bradford
Thousands of people got on their bikes in Bradford for a free day of fun and fresh air.
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No wheels for Sky Ride Bradford? No problem!
If you'd like to ride the Sky Ride Bradford route but don't have your own wheels, read on...
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Angela Griffin gets on her bike for Sky Ride
Sky Ride ambassador Angela Griffin headed down to the local BMX track to promote Sky Ride Bradford.
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Meet Dan at Sky Ride Bradford
Meet Dan Goodey at Sky Ride Bradford this weekend - and get all your cycling questions answered.
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Lord Mayor of Bradford wants you to join Sky Ride
The Lord Mayor of Bradford has got on her bike - will you join her on 31st July?
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Win with Sky Ride Bradford
Register for Sky Ride Bradford and win yourself an amazing prize!
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Photos and videos
Were you at Sky Ride Bradford on 31st July 2011? Have a look and see if you can spot yourself – or just have a browse and see what you missed!
Browse all the photos from Sky Ride Bradford 2011.
Get a flavour of the event:
Report
6,000 people joined TV actress Angela Griffin, Team Sky Cyclist Ben Swift, and GB Cycling Team para-cyclists Jon-Allan Butterworth and Tel Byrne for Sky Ride Bradford on Sunday 31st July. Many more came out to watch and experience the day as cyclists of all ages and abilities took to traffic-free streets for the chance to enjoy the city on two wheels.
The free event, organised by British Cycling and Sky, in partnership with Bradford Metropolitan District Council, allowed riders to take in a 6.4km route at their own pace whilst enjoying landmarks like Bolton Road Lookout Point and Bradford Cathedral.
Participants were treated to a whole host of activities and entertainment throughout the day along the route and in the green open spaces of Peel Park. There was plenty of entertainment for young people including a Go-Ride racing course where participants tested their racing skills and received tips and advice from pro’s and British Cycling coaches. And with performances from local buskers, demonstrations from the Sky Sports Living For Sport Flatland BMXers, and a chance to meet stars from the worlds of cycling and TV in the British Cycling Bike Cafe, there was something for everyone.
Sky Ride Ambassador Angela Griffin commented: “I had a brilliant time at my first ever Sky Ride today, it has been lovely to meet so many Sky Riders of all ages. Just looking at the smiling faces around me you can tell it’s been a great day, with fantastic entertainment along the route and fun activities for all ages to enjoy. Sky Ride is a fantastic initiative, getting people out in the fresh air and enjoying cycling and I’m really glad to have been a part of that!”
The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Naveeda Ikram, said: "This has been a really enjoyable day and it has been good to see all the families getting involved. The children have obviously loved being able to cycle along with their parents on a route that they would normally never be able to do because of the traffic. Hopefully, local communities will get into cycling more following this event."
Corin Dimopoulos Sky’s Director of Cycling said: “I’m delighted Sky Ride has returned to Bradford for the second year running and that so many people of all ages and abilities have been able to enjoy cycling through the city. Through our great partnership with Bradford Metropolitan District Council and British Cycling, we hope to build towards our aim of getting one million more Britons cycling regularly by the end of 2013.”
Sky Ride Bradford is just one of the many ways local residents can get back on their bikes through this year’s Sky Ride campaign. Sky Ride Local rides are running every Sunday through the summer in and around Bradford which take in everything from the countryside to local sights. There are brilliant bike maintenance workshops taking place in Bradford on 12th and 13th August, as well as regular Breeze bike rides for women,
Thanks to everyone who took part and helped British Cycling and Sky with their campaign to get a million more people cycling regularly by 2013.
The Breeze network from British Cycling is all about fun, local bike rides for women, by women – and there's a whole range of support, training and ride opportunities too. The network's informal and relaxed. It’s what you want it to be.
About Bradford
The Breeze network from British Cycling is all about fun, local bike rides for women, by women – and there's a whole range of support, training and ride opportunities too. The network's informal and relaxed. It’s what you want it to be.
Breeze bike rides are free. Getting involved is easy. You can either use the Ride Finder to look for a Breeze ride in your area (more are being added all the time), or if you're interested in starting a group, why not become a Breeze champion?
Breeze is part of British Cycling’s commitment to getting more women riding bikes for fun, and encouraging more women to join British Cycling. Together we can change cycling for women. Be part of the Breeze network.
Made possible by Lottery Funding
Breeze bike rides are organised and supported by British Cycling. The network has been made possible by investment from the Active Women Campaign funded through the National Lottery and Sport England.
Thank you.
Social Cycling Groups are all about helping people get together, find a place to ride and enjoy a bike ride at a level that suits you, whenever it suits you.
About Bradford
Social Cycling Groups are all about helping people get together, find a place to ride and enjoy a bike ride at a level that suits you, whenever it suits you.
It's completely free to join two Social Cycling Group rides. Just register to take part so the organisers know how many people to expect. After two rides you'll need to become a member of British Cycling to continue to take part. You'll be able to join as many rides as you like, as well as having access to all the other benefits of membership (discounts, insurance, special offers, and more), all for just £24 a year.
Check out the list of forthcoming events on the right hand side, or pop your town or postcode into our Ride Finder on the left. New groups are being set up all the time!
