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Olympic Mountain Biking Display in Swindon

By Anna Cipullo on 13 August 2012
Saturday 11 August saw the Olympic Cross Country Mountain Bike race shown on the Big Screen in Swindon town centre. The BBC Live Site had displayed all 16 days of the Olympic Games, and when they asked me if I wanted to make “a thing” of mountain biking, of course I jumped at the chance.
Anna Cipullo takes on the 500m challenge

On the screen, the ladies of all nations battled it out for Olympic podiums, while on the ground local clubs battle for pride (and a modest medal) in the Watt Bike races.

This, together with the Games on screen, inspired many members of the public to get competitive and try their best to beat the times set out by local clubs. I was one of those attempting to get a good time in the 500 metres sprint, but as you can see from the photo, all I achieved was complete exhaustion and some legs made of jelly.

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Olympic inspiration in Swindon

By Anna Cipullo on 13 August 2012
Hundreds of Swindon residents took to the centre of town, usually a bike-free area, to be a part of the Olympic Cross Country Mountain Bike race on Saturday 11August.
Swindon Olympic Mountain Bike Cycling

CTC Cycling Development Officer, Anna Cipullo, cornered off an open square in the centre of town under a BBC Live Site screen as they broadcast the ladies’ Olympic Cross Country Mountain Bike Race.

Unfortunately, our British rider, Annie Last, did not receive a place on the podium, However, that didn't stop competitors in Swindon.

Local clubs battled for the title of Overall Team Winner in the Watt Bike race.

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Accessible Cycling Day for children with disabilities

By Anna Cipullo on 9 July 2012
Every year Swindon Borough Council create a day of sport aimed at children with a disability or learning difficulty. The day is called Access Day, and this year it was held at the County Ground Athletics Track on Wednesday 4 July. This was a great opportunity to showcase the CTC’s adaptive bikes.
Lauren testing out a wheelchair platform bike

We created a cycling circuit with cones and lined up around 20 specially adapted bikes for all sorts of abilities. Bikes included a Twister, which is a side by side tandem with two sets of handlebars and pedals, a hand bike for people with no lower body strength, a selection of tricycles and a pedal propelled quad bicycles. We also have a couple of recumbent tricycles, which allows users to sit back and steer from the side, and two platform bikes, which is suitable for wheelchairs to sit on.

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Gearing up for Olympic cycle racing in Swindon

By Anna Cipullo on 27 June 2012
Swindon cyclists will be in the saddle and peddling the message to get on your bike in celebration of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Cycling event in Swindon for the Olympics

When the Games begin next month, Wharf Green is the place to be with all the action shown live on the Big Screen and an array of free sporting festivities for people to come and try. Some different 20 activities will be on offer between 28 July and 12 August – and cycling will take centre stage on Saturday 11 August.

Olympic mountain bike races to be shown live in Swindon

Swindon Borough Council’s Leisure Services are organising FREE sports events at Wharf Green throughout the 16 days of the Olympics and CTC will be there to join in the fun.

The Live Site will be showing the games for all to see on a big screen and local clubs will be providing demos and information on the ground in front of it  to inspire residents to take up cycling themselves.

The Olympic women's cross country races will be shown from 12.30pm.

There will also be plenty of activities and information to let you know what there is for cyclists, both competitive and non-competitive, in Swindon, including:

  • A 100-seat tiered stand to watch the Olympic cross country mountain biking
  • Wii Fit virtual games and lounge area with a cycling theme
  • A Watt Bike demo/come and try for the public - static bikes that can be raced
  • A Watt Bike race - local teams compete in a league for free and for pride
  • A mountain bike arena for the public to try - portable obstacles and bikes to try out
  • A unicyclist demo and workshop - coaching and giving the obstacles a go)
  • Information stalls, video clips and info
  • A special appearance from Rough Riderz UK - an all ability mountain biking club demonstrating four-wheeled mountain bikes for disabled riders

So come along and get inspired. And cheer on British cyclists with other enthusiasts!

A complete timetable will be available soon, but if you have any queries, please contact: CTC Cycling Development Officer  Anna Cipullo 07717 696672

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CTC's Anna Cipullo helps a rider with an incurable illness to get back in the saddle

By Anna Cipullo on 21 May 2012
Recently I met a forty-something lady called Amanda Nelson from Swindon. Amanda has been a strong gym-addict, road cyclist and mountain biker all her life, but twenty months ago she was diagnosed with an incurable neurological disorder called CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome).
Amanda Nelson on the back of a tandem

Since then her left leg has deteriorated and become sensitive to the slightest touch and movement. She is now unable to walk without the aid of crutches and, for longer distances, uses a mobility scooter.

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