Bike Week update

Latest on Bike Week Details as follows:

• The Coffs Coast Community Rides are running as per every Saturday from City Square at 6:30am. On the 22nd Sept. the Bonville Sawtell Lions Club and the Xpresso Coffee van will be in the car park of the Bunker Gallery so that people can eat breakfast at the gallery and view the 19th Rotary National Cartoon Awards. This is a sneak preview of the exhibition which is due to open on the 29th Sept. It is also 1 year since the Coffs Coast Community Rides began, so we're hoping for a good turn out to celebrate.
  
  
• On Sunday, 23rd the annual Family Day (Bike Fest 07) is to be held at the Velodrome from 8:30am. CC Community Rides will be riding to Toormina from City Square, starting at 8am. The Cycle Club will be supplying hot and canteen food at the Velodrome - proceeds to the club. There will also be an ice cream vendor and coffee van.
  
  Cycle groups [including the BUG] will be organising demonstrations, races, fund events as well as information about cycling... There will be a best dressed bike parade with prizes. "Beyond Intensity" will be demonstrating "boot camp" activities; there will be a pit stop, and promotion of bike safety checks to the local schools Hopefully the police will be able to come along to engrave bikes.
  
  
• The Museum in Harbour Drive will put on an exhibition of bikes, photos and other cycling memorabilia from Tuesday 25th Sept until 30th. Opening times 10am - 4pm. For contributions to the exhibition and more information please phone 6652 5794
  
  
• Toormina Public School and William Bayldon School are organising Big Bike Rides for their senior students during Bike Week (Tues and Thurs). John Gray from Coffs BUG has helped them organise the day which involved riding down to the Jetty and back. Students must have a road worthy bike. We will be encouraging them to get their bike checked at the Bike Fest on Sunday.
  
  
• Film night on Thursday 27th Sept. Arrangements are still being finalised, but hopefully there will be a showing of "The Flying Scotsman" at Sawtell Cinema. This is a new release - a true story about an enterprising cyclist who became a champion. Should be a good social night out for all cyclists... watch this space for more details.
  

President’s Mid-Year Report: August 2007

So far this year the CH BUG has done these things:-

• Established good communications within the BUG and with non BUG cyclists.
• Taken over running the BUG website.
• Established a BUG blog as an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences.
• Advertised our rides in the weekly Cycling Central Column in the Coffs Coast Advocate.
• Participated in and promoted the Saturday morning Community Rides.
• Had a large contingent of riders participate in the 2007 NSW Bigride.
• Participated in the Camp Quality fundraising ride to Grafton.
• Attracted new riders to our BUG rides and joined up new members.
• Started a new Thursday ride specifically designed to encourage beginning riders but with flexibility for all who turn up.
• Initiated a 100 mile ride to provide a challenge for BUG members and to extend the range of rides that the BUG offers.
• Begun to explore better connections with other adjoining BUG groups.
• Invited the NEBUG group to join us for a weekend visit. (This ended up being postponed).
• Begun to explore setting up of displays and information tables at places such as markets.
• Participated in monthly council bike committee meetings.
• Participated in bike breakfasts.
• Encouraged local school to run Big rides during Bike Week.
• Planned to participate in the Bikefest day at the start of Bike Week.
• Will have a presence at the Active Transport Day at the CHEC on 4th September 2007.

We are coming up to the one year anniversary of the Saturday morning Community Rides. These rides were established as an opportunity for the various cycling groups in Coffs Harbour, and cyclists not attached to any group, to come together for a joint ride. These rides have been very successful with between 40-80 cyclists participating each week. The BUG has participated in these rides and promoted them through its various forms of communication. Twelve members of the BUG group are regular Saturday morning riders and they are spread across the four ability groupings. As well as attracting new people to cycling these rides have assisted in raising awareness of the BUG with an increase in cyclists joining us for rides and continuing as regulars and joining as members. Ian Hogbin has done a good job coordinating these rides and in the process has regularly promoted upcoming BUG rides and also encouraged cyclists to become members of Bicycle NSW. His commitment to cycling in Coffs Harbour is commendable and as a councillor he is well placed to assist the BUG in achieving its advocacy aims.

The main thing for the BUG to do is to always keep in mind the big picture and the long term view. Fundamental in this is the maintenance of goodwill within the BUG and towards the BUG and the maintenance of goodwill between all in the cycling community and within the wider community. The BUG needs to always remain essentially a friendly, welcoming group of enthusiastic and adventurous cyclists who love to ride bikes for social, recreational and healthy lifestyle reasons.

These seem to be the three key words for us to have in mind:-

Communication, Participation, Goodwill

John Gray CH BUG President August 2007

School Big Bike Rides During Bike Week 2007

This is something new and exciting for the children of two Coffs Harbour schools. For ten years Sawtell Public School has been running such an event and now their inspiration has led to plans for Toormina Public School and William Bayldon Public School to run their own BIG BIKE RIDES.

The children will ride from their schools along cycleways and footpaths to the Jetty foreshores area where they will have a BBQ and beach games and activities before returning by the same route to their schools. As well as providing a fun day for the children the schools involved will be able to teach road and bike safety around this event.

Tuesday 25th September is the date for the TPS ride and Thursday 27th September is the date for the WBPS ride. This is during Bike Week which is the last week of the public schools term 3.
The BUG is planning to assist the schools by providing volunteers at road crossing and other possible danger points. We need a lot of volunteers so if you would like to assist please phone John Gray on 66554898 or 0422333238 or talk to him on a bike ride sometime.