Do you enjoy cycling?

Have you ever thought of cycling and raising funds to support a worthwhile charity?

This is an opportunity to cycle for fun to raise money for Headway South Beds – the brain injury charity. You can make a difference through cycling to help improve the quality of life of people with an acquired brain injury and support their families and carers in the South Beds region covering Luton, Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable and surrounding villages.

Headway Bike Ride - 16^th Annual Charity Bike Ride

Sunday 18 June 2006

Join in the FUN and have a great day out cycling through some of the most beautiful countryside in Beds and Bucks. You can wear a fancy dress outfit if you prefer, providing of course that you also wear a helmet! Why not make up a Team of 6 or more?

Information about the 2006 Headway Bike Ride is available by scrolling down this page but first read about what happened in 2005.

What happened in 2005? How much was raised? And where did the money go?
Headway is grateful to the 139 riders who participated in the annual Headway Bike Ride on Sunday 19 June, 2005. The temperature soared to 34º degrees – the hottest June day since 1976!! Sheila, who completed her 14-mile ride, said: "We have always been grateful to Headway who helped our daughter after she suffered a brain injury five years ago and I was only too pleased to do my bit to repay them".

2005 also saw the first ever entry of a rider in fancy dress. Vicki, Centre Co-ordinator at Headway, achieved the 14 mile route bravely dressed as a fairy, complete with wings, raising the fantastic sum of £500 for Headway! Headway has already received pledges from several riders who intend to join in the fun by wearing fancy dress outfits in 2006. To all riders daring to do this, please consider safety, the heat, and the effort of cycling when choosing your costume. 2006 promises to be the biggest and most fun ride ever!

In 2005 the magnificent sum of £7,600 was raised from the 15th Headway Bike Ride. The proceeds from this event were allocated to purchase 6 new computers, costing £3,200, to re-equip the out-dated computer suite at Headway House. These facilities are used by clients seeking new skills or simply wishing to improve their existing ones. This increases self-confidence and self-worth leading to an improved quality of life. The remainder of the proceeds was allocated towards a new project initiative, with volunteers, to help people recovering from a brain injury get back into the community.

Riders who took advantage of a free photo, with the compliments of Headway, should have received their photo by now with a letter of thanks from Headway. There is also a number of photographs available from The Citizen Newspaper, (reference Headway Bike Ride /LJ). For more information and cost riders should contact The Citizen newspaper direct: e-mail: photographers@mkcitizen.co.uk or telephone 01908-651252.

We value feedback from riders and volunteers, here are a selection of comments received after the 2005 event.
“Well done to all the volunteers – you were my life savers today”
“Congratulations to all the marshals – they did a great job”
“Thank you to all the helpers who give up their time without the kudos a ride gives”
“Excellent event – hope to be back next year”
“Very friendly event, well organised, very pleasant people along the route- good choice of pub for lunch”
“Good cause, healthy environment, beautiful countryside, sense of achievement”
“I enjoyed the ride – I enjoyed raising money for Headway”

And now for details of the 2006 Headway Bike Ride ...

Tell me about this popular annual event...
You can choose from three circular routes, all starting and finishing from Cedars School, Mentmore Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 2AE. Location map: click here:
14 miles via the Kingsbridge Picnic site at Cublington
32 miles via the windmill at Quainton
50 miles via the windmill at Brill

What time is the start?
The start is 10:00am sharp for all 3 routes, with riders going off in small groups at regular intervals. For more information download here for a .pdf brochure (A4 x 4 sides).

How to obtain a .pdf Bike Ride Brochure...read all about it
A Bike Ride Brochure .pdf (A4 x 4 sides) can be downloaded here This brochure contains information such as safety, the check-in time, health & fitness, insurance, a map of all three routes to scale, refreshment points (which are the compliments of Headway), check-in points at half distance, and at the finish, information about Gift Aid and the Golden Rules of the Road.

How to register...it is easy - just download an Entry Form
If you would like to join in the fun simply download an Entry Form .pdf (A4 x 2 sides) and return this to the address shown on the form. The fee is £10-00 for adults and £5-00 for children aged between 14 and 17 years. A Team of 6 people or more can enter for £9-00 each. PLEASE NOTE : THE WEARING OF A CYCLE HELMET IS COMPULSORY AND CHILDREN NEED TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

On receipt of your completed Entry Form we will post you a registration pack, which includes a rider number, sponsor form .pdf (A4 x 2 sides) and laminated map together with latest information of what to expect on the day.

How to view .pdf documents
To view the .pdf files, using Adobe’s Acrobat Reader, simply download Acrobat Reader free of charge from the Adobe website

Who to Contact
Headway South Beds, telephone 01582-876729
Volunteer Bike Ride Organiser: headwaybikeride@hotmail.co.uk

Volunteers
Headway is extremely grateful to all the volunteers and to the British Red Cross, Leighton Buzzard Branch. We wish to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers who help to make this a very memorable event. However, we need to increase our pool of volunteers - if you would like to help or you know of someone who would like to help, perhaps for an hour or two, then please the Volunteer Bike Ride Organiser

The Headway Bike Ride is grateful to the following for their support
OSBORNEMORRIS&MORGAN, Leighton Buzzard
The Bizz Badge Company, Woburn
Jewson Hire Point, Leighton Buzzard
Waitrose, Leighton Buzzard
The Leighton Buzzard Observer
Vernons Self Drive, Van & Car Hire, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard

Useful Links:
National Bike Week: The Headway Bike Ride is registered with National Bike Week. This annual festival takes place between 17 and 25 June 2006. Check out their web site for details of a a programme of events: www.bikeweek.org.uk

Leighton Buzzard Observer Newspaper: 28 June 2005 article: http://www.leightonbuzzardtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=413&ArticleID=1068013

CTC www.ctc.org.uk

ENJOY YOUR CYCLING!