Category Archives: Events

Saddle up for European Cycling Challenge in May

We are supporting the 2017 European Cycle Challenge and need your help to get on the leader boards.

The European Cycling Challenge is an urban cycling competition taking place between 1 May and 31 May 2017. In 2016, 52 cities from 17 countries joined the challenge, and 46,000 people cycled 4,000,000km during the event. The city that cycles the longest total distance wins.
This year Greater Manchester is taking part for the first time, and the entry will be led and promoted by Transport for Greater Manchester.

Anyone can join in, it’s easy to take part and you don’t have to be a cycling enthusiast. Any cycling you do counts towards the challenge, only competitive sporting events and static bike miles aren’t included.

How to join in:

  • Download Naviki in the app store on your smartphone or follow these instructions to participate without a smartphone
  • Register and sign in.
  • Go to ‘Settings’ on the home page
  • Go to ‘Contests’ and then ‘ECC2017’
  • Select ‘Greater Manchester’ as your team
  • Select ‘The University of Manchester‘ as your sub team

That’s it – you’re all ready to go on 1 May.

Prizes
There will be spot prizes to be won throughout the challenge direct from the ECC, including shopping vouchers of £150, £75 and £50 every week. To qualify for the weekly raffle you just have to have registered and logged a minimum of 10km to be entered.

We will have a small prize for the University member who tops our leaderboard too!

UMBUG Priorities for 2017

UMBUG Priorities for 2017

On Thursday 17 January 2017, the UMBUG projects team hosted a brainstorming session to define UMBUG’s priority activities for 2017. Lots of ideas were suggested to promote and improve cycling for staff and postgrads at the University of Manchester. A wide range of ideas were discussed – big and small! These were then prioritised and the team are working on next steps and an action plan. The top issues discussed include:

  • removal of abandoned bikes
  • University incentives for cycling
  • celebrating UMBUG’s 10th anniversary
  • facilities for cyclists (showers, storage and drying facilities)
  • prohibiting smoking near cycle shelters
  • more cycle shelters / increased capacity
  • engaging with the Sporticipate programme (Sports Office)
  • lobbying for cleaner (greener) buses / Oxford Road agreements
  • making contact with TfGM and exemplar universities (Sheffield & Nottingham)
  • promoting UMBUG events to a wider audience
  • UMBUG promotional stands at major buildings some mornings / lunchtimes
  • improving the corridor travel website
  • continuing the cycle routes video project
  • maintenance sessions at the monthly breakfast events
  • tool stands to be covered by the shelter guardians system
  • reporting long-term issues with cycle shelters (leaking gutters).

If you are interested in getting involved, please email umbug@manchester.ac.uk.

Cycle to Work Day 2016

Get in the saddle for Cycle to Work Day and encourage your colleagues, friends and family to give cycling a go too.

Cycle to Work Day is a national event held this year on Wednesday 14 September 2016. It aims to encourage everyone to take to two wheels and cycle to work for at least one day. By pledging to cycle on the Cycle to Work Day website you are entered into a competition to win prizes including bikes and cycling accessories. Bike shops across the UK are offering Cycle to Work Day participants a free bike health check from the 1st to the 14th of September.

 

Transport for Greater Manchester’s #JustRide cycling campaign is in full flow with events organised across Greater Manchester. TfGM offer a variety of services to support cycling including free cycle training, free bike maintenance courses and cycle route maps. The TfGM cycling team will be in Piccadilly Gardens between 11am and 3pm on Cycle to Work Day handing out goodies and offering advice on all things cycling.  Dr Bike will be on hand between 12-2pm to repair any bikes that need some TLC.

Throughout the Summer, bike recycling centres across the country will be taking part in the Big Bike Revival Summer of Cycling, organised by Cycling UK. There are loads of local events and activities taking place, including maintenance training, bike rides and equipment trials.

 

Women on Wheels

Women across Greater Manchester are being encouraged to get on their bikes in March with a series of female-friendly cycling events across the region.

With men currently outnumbering women four to one in the UK for cycling to work, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), with the help of its partners, has launched Women on Wheels (WoW) to help narrow the gap.

The month-long celebration of cycling takes place throughout March and includes more than 50 group rides, social gatherings, art workshops and taster sessions for women and girls.

Women’s cycling groups across Greater Manchester will help run the group rides, which range from gentle traffic-free leisure cycles to challenging hill climbs, with something to suit everybody.

There’s also the chance to try out the Manchester Velodrome track, train to become a ‘ride leader’ and learn bike maintenance basics with other women.

If you want to get involved, there is a full list of events at the TfGM website.

Moustache e-bike test riding session

Manchester Bike Hire have organised a test riding session with Italian e-bike manufacturer Moustache Bikes.

When: Wednesday 16th September 16:00-18:30
Where: outside the Boathouse in Platt Fields Park

If you would like to try an e-bike, please come along and invite any colleagues, friends or family that may be interested.

You can find out more about their bikes here.

 

Life on 2 Wheels Cycle Challenge

The latest Transport for Greater Manchester Life on 2 Wheels cycle challenge (formerly the Better By Cycle challenge) gets under way again on Thursday 3rd September 2015. Get out and about on your bike and log your journeys online for a chance to win prizes. TfGM’s Life on 2 Wheels campaign aims to encourage people to jump on their bikes and give cycling a try, whether it’s to save money, get from A to B, or stay healthy. The challenge is free to enter and you could be in with a chance of winning individual prizes throughout the challenge as well as workplace prizes for the 3 workplaces with the highest average number of journeys per participant. If you like a bit of healthy competition, you can see how you compare to your friends, family and colleagues on the leaderboards, including one for the University of Manchester (just remember to select The University of Manchester when you sign up – listed under T).

 

Free evening talks for cyclists

The Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative have organised a series of free evening talks for cyclists at their shop over the Summer. Each talk will last around 40 minutes followed by a Q&A and will include free refreshments. Advance booking is required.

Tuesday 19 May, 7:30pm
Registered blind athlete Steve Bate talks about his incredible achievements, which include climbing El Capitan solo (rated rock climbing’s toughest challenge), winning the national para-cycling road and time trial championships, and his road to the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

Thursday 28 May, 7:30pm
Jamie Still is the organiser of the Great Manchester Cycle – a golden opportunity for 7,000-plus cyclists of all abilities to enjoy a unique cycling experience on closed roads in Greater Manchester. Who better to offer advice on getting prepared for this (or any similar distance) big ride?

Tuesday 2 June, 7:30pm
Tim Lawson is the man behind Secret Training and a founder of SIS. It would be hard to think of anyone better qualified to deliver an informed talk on sports nutrition.

Wednesday 10 June, 7:30pm
Inspiring local cycling advocate Amanda Phillipson is a Breeze Champion and a SkyRide Leader and Cycling Instructor. As the first female captain of South Manchester’s Withington Wheelers (established 1931) Amanda delights in dispelling the myth that cycling clubs are not welcoming to women.

Week beginning Monday 22 June (date TBC) 7:30pm
Matt Crampton is a multi medal-winning track cyclist. His achievements include a silver medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games Team Sprint and gold at the 2013 keirin World Cup. Born, bred and still based in Manchester, Matt truly is a local hero. (Kind of speaks for itself! Should be a good one, for more serious cyclists or Commonwealth Games fans.)

Wednesday 1 July, 7:30pm
Manchester cycle lawyer Jane Bedford McLaren offers an insight into how the law affects UK cyclists, and how to protect yourself – both physically and legally.

Give Your Car a Rest Day 19/06/15

Give Your Car a Rest Day 19/06/15

The University has developed its first ever ‘Give Your Car a Rest Day’ on Friday 19th June aimed at those staff that usually commute by car. The University will host thousands of visitors on 19th June for the open day and staff car drivers are being encouraged, where feasible, to make a change to their usual habits and leave their car at home. This is a great excuse to give cycling a go.

The event will be promoted on Tuesday 12th May (11am to 3pm) in the ground floor foyer of University Place. Staff will be able to find out more about the travel options available and register for a Personalised Travel Plan. Of course, UMBUG will be there too to promote cycling.

For the 60% of staff who already travel sustainably on a regular basis, including cyclists, there will be a special prize draw supported by the Environmental Sustainability Team and Student Recruitment. There are x4 £50 vouchers up for grabs on 12th May (Blackwells, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op or Sweatshop). To enter, send a photo of yourself on your sustainable commute to Twitter or Facebook using #restcarUoM on 12th May by 1pm or visit the Environmental Sustainability stall on 12th May (by 1pm) with evidence that you travelled in sustainably (eg. with your bike helmet or photo).

So please think about cycling to work on Friday 19th June, and encouraging your colleagues to do the same, and visit University Place on Tuesday 12th May for help and support.

TfGM casting call for TV ad

Would you like to get involved in helping TfGM promote cycling in Greater Manchester? Transport for Greater Manchester are holding a casting call for cyclists to appear in their new cycling campaign launching in June.

TfGM are looking for people of all ages and backgrounds, who are comfortable in front of the camera to have their picture taken and be filmed cycling for a new TV ad. No modelling or acting experience is required, all you need is your own bike. All participants will be paid £150 + expenses. TfGM will be meeting with anyone interested between 20-24th April and the photo shoot and filming will be between 27th April and 1st May.

If you’d like to get involved all you need to do is send a picture of yourself posing with your bike to mark.v@divacreative.com or call Mark on 0114 221 0378 for more information.

Manchester Cycle Forum 10/03/15

The next meeting of the Manchester cycle forum will be on Tuesday 10th March from 5.30pm in Committee Room 4 of the Town Hall.

The Manchester Cycle Forum is a voice for everyone interested in cycling. They meet quarterly to discuss cycling-related issues and promote opportunities for cycling in Manchester. It is an opportunity to meet council staff, councillors and other interested parties to exchange views and ideas that can help make cycling safer. The forum welcomes new and novice cyclists who want a greater understanding of cycle projects.

The 2015 Manchester cycle forum meetings are on:

  • Tuesday 10 March 2015
  • Tuesday 16 June 2015
  • Tuesday 15 September 2015
  • Tuesday 8 December 2015

Email cycle.forum@manchester.gov.uk to be added to the mailing list.