On your bikes girls, urges Ed (From St Helens Star)

On your bikes girls, urges Ed

9:07am Wednesday 17th September 2008

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OLYMPIC champ Ed Clancy is backing the latest campaign to get more people cycling - especially teenage girls.

Newton-le-Willows based Ed, who won gold at Beijing in the team pursuit, met Cowley Language College pupils Amy Farrar and Sara Bowling to chat about the benefits of bike riding.

The 23-year-old told the Star: “The Olympics put cycling into the limelight, so we want to get more people into it. And with petrol prices on the increase, it’s as good a time as any to get on your bike.

“I used to love riding bikes when I was a kid and hated walking. I still do,” he joked. “Why get on a bus or in a car, when you can ride a bike. It’s guaranteed to built your fitness and more and more people are cycling to keep in trim.”

Studies in St Helens found that in particular, girls aged 14 and upward, tend not to be keen bike riders and this age group is being targeted through their schools. Cyclists in St Helens have already benefited from a £127,000 grant from The Big Lottery Fund. Two schemes have been introduced including Cycling for Health, aimed at people who may have suffered an illness and the St Helens Cycling Enabling Project gives free sessions on how to look after your bike at various locations across St Helens.

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