British Cycling launches schemes to increase access for riders with a disability

British Cycling has launched three new initiatives aimed at increasing access to cycling for riders with a disability. Details of the schemes were announced today at Manchester Velodrome. They include:

• A specific race series designed for cyclists with a disability
• New coach education materials to support coaches working with riders with a disability
• Details of the first Go-Ride registered cycling club for riders with a disability were unveiled.

Commenting on the launch British Cycling chief executive Ian Drake said: “British Cycling is working hard to make sure everyone can enjoy cycling at all levels. The new road racing series, coach education materials and Go-Ride club all help to achieve this, and I am looking forward to seeing them continue to develop.”
 
Paralympic gold medallist Anthony Kappes MBE said: “Creating chances for everyone to have a go at and enjoy cycling is really important to developing future talent and for keeping people active. It’s great to see that British Cycling has developed specific coaching resources, a club and a race series for riders with a disability.”

National Disability Circuit Race Series
British Cycling is running the inaugural National Disability Circuit Race Series in 2009. The aim is to provide a new series of races giving para-cyclists who want to race the opportunity to do so. The series will be watched closely by British Cycling’s coaches to identify potential Paralympians.
 
The racing format has been designed to ensure para-cyclists can race on a level playing field and that racing is fun, exciting and fair.
 
Currently, six events are set to take place on circuits closed to traffic throughout the country over the summer. road.cc will announce the dates when we get them.
 
Coach Education
As British Cycling continues to develop its UK Coaching Certificate-endorsed coaching qualifications, it has created two new resources to support coaches working with riders with a disability.
The Level 2 Coaching Handbook: Coaching Riders with a Disability and the Level 2 Coaching Riders with a Disability Workshop provide information for qualified Level 2 coaches who are currently involved in, or who are keen to coach and integrate, groups of disabled riders into their sessions. 
The first Workshop is scheduled to take place in Manchester on 22 March 2009 (£50). The handbook will be available for Level 2 Cycling Coaches to purchase from the British Cycling coaching and education department in April 2009 for £9.99. 

Cycling club
Manchester-based Wythenshawe Wheelers is the first cycling club for riders with a disability to gain British Cycling’s Go-Ride Clubmark accreditation. This means that it has demonstrated that it works to agreed standards surrounding safeguarding young people, sports equity, club management and coaching. The club runs regular school and public sessions for riders of all ages and abilities, and it is hoped it will act as a template for the development of more cycling clubs for riders with a disability.