Cycle training is being offered to children across Devon during the school Summer holidays.

Bikeability is cycle proficiency for the 21st Century and Devon County Council is funding the scheme in the county. More than 15,000 youngsters in Devon have so far received the training which can help them gain the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today’s roads.

The course is divided into different levels; Level One for children aged from six and over to help them develop their basic bicycle handling skills with exercises and fun games in a traffic free environment, Level Two for children aged nine and over to develop cycling skills in a traffic free environment before progressing on quiet local roads with real traffic conditions, and Level Three, which is advanced cycling for children for children aged 11 and over who have already completed Level 2.

Bikeability courses are being held at Piazza Terracina in Exeter, Exmouth, Tavistock, Ivybridge, Ilfracombe, Chulmleigh, Westward Ho!, Great Torrington, Ottery St Mary, Uffculme, Cullompton, Sidmouth and Honiton.

For more information on dates, times and locations, or to book a course, click here

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “Bikeability provides local schoolchildren with essential cycling skills and road safety awareness, so it’s reassuring for parents to know their children are getting the best training possible. The aim is for the youngsters to acquire the confidence and know-how to eventually make short cycling journeys on the road, such as cycling to school. As cycling is such a great activity for all the family, hopefully what the children will learn through Bikeability can also encourage their families to cycle more often too.”

Posted on: 30 July 2012

The professional cyclists competing in The Tour of Britain will be pushing themselves to the limit as they cover almost 840 miles (1,349.9 km) over eight days – racing at average speeds of almost 30mph in their pursuit of the coveted IG Markets Gold Jersey.

In preparation for the Devon Stage on Saturday 15 September Team UK Youth’s Yanto Barker has been put through his paces by local Sports Scientist Dr Andrew Middlebrooke.

Dr Middlebrooke, of Exercise Science Consulting Ltd, explains: “Yanto and the other riders on The Tour of Britain will be in top condition for the race. They can be riding at approximately 80-90% of their maximum heart rate for over four hours and they may expend over 4,000 calories in that time. So they’ll be working hard for the majority of each stage, particularly on the Skoda King of the Mountain climbs. Whoever wins a stage, or the overall Gold Jersey, will certainly deserve it.”

Yanto Barker, from Totnes, said: “The Tour of Britain is the biggest race we will ride all year, so we’re focused purely on that now. Our preparations are getting the full level of commitment and attention to ensure the team arrives at The Tour of Britain in peak form.”

This year’s Devon stage will cover 106 miles (170.7km) of the county, starting in Barnstaple and heading through Dartmoor National Park on its way to finishing in Dartmouth. The riders will face three Skoda King of the Mountains climbs at South Hill, near Little Torrington, as well as Merrivale and Coffin Stone within Dartmoor National Park. There will also be intermediate Yodel Sprints at Great Torrington, Slapton Ley and Kingsbridge.

Find out more about the The Tour of Britain and the Devon Stage, or follow @swtourofbritain for Twitter updates.

Work to complete the final stretch of the eastern side of the Exe Estuary Trail is underway, following the award of the contract to construct the Trail across the River Clyst and into Topsham.

The £1.7 million contract includes the construction of a 120 metre span bridge over the River Clyst and a section of raised walkway through the RSPB Goosemoor Nature Reserve which was given planning permission in April.

The proposed route, which forms part of the National Cycle Network route, stretches from Bowling Green Road, Topsham, passing through Goosemoor RSPB Nature Reserve on boardwalk, then over the new bridge to join the already constructed section of the Exe Estuary Trail to Exton and beyond.

Together with the Ebford Link and Fishers Mill Bridge, this new section over the River Clyst will complete the Exe Estuary Trail between Exeter and Exmouth and link into the local cycle network to Ebford and Clyst St George.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “The Exe Estuary Trail is edging ever closer to completion and this stretch will be the final link of the eastern side of the Exe Estuary Trail – connecting the local cycle network and establishing new sustainable transport links between the communities of Topsham, Ebford and Clyst St George. This will provide a safe and picturesque route for people cycling or walking between Exeter and Exmouth.”

The route has been designed so that it has no effect on any of the existing flood defences or their future maintenance.

Due to the environmentally sensitive nature of the area, site activities will be strictly controlled with construction only being allowed between March and September. As a result the project will be built by contractor Dyer and Butler over a two year period and will be completed in the autumn of 2013.