157 people took to a bike for the first time in over a year to help their workplace aim for gold.
The Sales Team at British Gas fielded five new cyclists in the competition. They were encouraged by Chris Law, the team’s Challenge Champion.
“We all found it really enjoyable. It was an adrenalin rush feeling the fresh air, instead of being stuck in the car. Now some people who live nearby are looking to cycle in.”
Chris Law
British Gas Sales Team
The three week long competition between workplaces in Leicester and Leicestershire aimed to introduce as many new people to cycling as possible. A total of 1,169 people from 74 local businesses and organisations competed to get the greatest percentage of staff taking part.
The challenge set may not have been the Tour de France, but riders made more than 8,000 journeys by bike clocking up 74,000 miles
The 'Leicester Shire Cycle Challenge' encouraged hundreds of people to take to their bikes and discover the joys and benefits of cycling, while doing their bit to help with easing congestion and pollution within the county.
Participants logged their cycling online and a variety of prizes were on offer for individuals and teams, from a hot air balloon ride across Leicestershire to three Raleigh Road bikes from City Cycles and Summer Sundae Festival tickets.
The winning teams are:
500+ (employees) – GE Energy (DRUCK), 9.1% of staff cycled
200 - 499 – Pick Everard, 11.8% of staff cycled
50 - 199 – Loughborough BCU, 65% of staff cycled
20 - 49 – Tactical Support Group, Leicestershire Police, 56.5% of staff cycled
7 - 19 – Force TIC Team at Beaumont Leys, 100% of staff cycled
3 - 6 – History department, Guthlaxton College, 100% of staff cycled
Members of the winning teams will be attending an awards presentation. Winners will also be rewarded with a team prize for their efforts – prizes include cupcakes for the entire office, a day at the races, and a tour of Belvoir Brewery.
For more information please contact Challenge Organiser Chris Randall.
Email: Chris.Randall@leicester.gov.uk
Telephone: 0116 252 7131
CTC Press Office
Email: publicity@ctc.org.uk
Telephone: 0844-736-8453
• CTC Challenge for Change is a partnership between the CTC’s Charitable Trust and Challenge for Change. CTC is the national cycling charity and Challenge for Change is a social marketing agency specialising in developing behavioural change programmes that get more people cycling more often.
• All Leicester Shire Cycle Challenge results and prize winners are published at www.leicestershirecyclechallenge.org.uk/winners
• Leicester City Council has been awarded £4.4 million of funding from the Department for Transport via the Local Sustainable Transport Fund for Leicester Fit for Business. It aims to work with businesses and communities to encourage people to travel by low carbon and active transport.
• The Leicester Shire Cycle Challenge has been delivered as part of Leicester Fit for Business to encourage more people to cycle.
• Between 2008-2011 Challenge for Change delivered 34 Workplace Cycle Challenges and encouraged over 36,000 people to cycle. Overall, they have inspired 10,000 ‘non-cyclists’ to ride again, many after years of not cycling. On average in 2011, 40% of 'non-cyclist' participants continued cycling at least once a week or more, three months after taking part in a Challenge. Furthermore, 12% of car drivers switched to cycling to work as their main mode of transport. For more information see: www.challengeforchange.com
• CTC, the national cycling charity, has 69,000 members, and is the oldest and largest cycling body in the UK. CTC inspires and helps people to cycle and keep cycling, whatever kind of cycling they do or would like to do. Over a century’s experience tells us that cycling is more than useful transport; it makes you feel good, gives you a sense of freedom and creates a better environment for everyone. www.ctc.org.uk
