On your Bike With Urban Fox
Last updated: 12.43pm, Thursday 23rd June 2011
Urban Fox's new web site goes live with lots of new features and games of young people of Glasgow's East End
It’s little wonder that the youth of the area are flocking to join the Urban Fox project thanks to the way the team at Urban Fox are taking the lead in what promises to be, not only a fantastic healthy option, but also a great pastime for people of all ages.
Urban Fox have now introduced a registered bike club and this is one of the most professionally run cycle clubs in the West of Scotland. Prior to setting the bike club up, Michael McCourt project manager, got a group of staff members from the project together and expressed the importance of rolling out a programme which would not only be enjoyable but also safe and well-delivered. Four of the Urban Fox staff attained their SVQ level 1 in Mountain Biking which incorporates the mechanics of cycling, as well as being comfortable, reading and following maps, coupled with the dynamics of mountain biking.
All the staff delivering the programme in the bike club have been outdoor first aid trained and 6 of the staff are at present finalising their Trail Cycle Leader Qualification, (this should be done this week). The programme is open to ALL young people between the ages of 12 – 16 and at the moment there are around 90 teenagers signed up for the Summer Mountain Biking Programme. Michael revealed to the Re-Gen that not only is all the safety clothing and equipment supplied free of charge, transport is also supplied and the areas where the bike club takes the participants include such places as Aberfoyle, Pollok Park, Loch Lomond and even the Commonwealth Mountain Bike trail at Cathkin Braes amongst others. Four of the Urban Fox staff have already completed the Skyride Leader training course which is one of the top qualifications and this enables them to lead riders, groups etc... on main roads, trail tracks and single track routes. As Michael explained, “There are others, (unqualified), who may attempt to do this but we at Urban Fox are fully qualified in all aspects of the programme”. The equipment Urban Fox has purchased for the programme is second to none as far as bikes are concerned and each and every cycle is fully checked by experts prior to anyone being allowed on them. Safety is paramount as far as those in Urban Fox are concerned and this is something that other groups sometimes forget to put in as a priority, not so at this exciting programme which is tailor made for those wishing to take part in such a healthy, invigorating and worthwhile pastime. Pride of place at Urban Fox in the build up to the start of the programme is the Urban Fox Trailer which houses all the equipment that is required for the trips and the excellent livery which adorns the trailer means that there can be no mistake that the Urban Fox Bike Club is now up and running. Look out for the trailer or even better get registered at Urban Fox and take part in what promises to be one of the most innovative programmes in the area if not the country.