Examentrainers

A day in the life of ...a cycle trainer

		LONDONERS know all about traffic
		and the problems involved. One way to
		beat it is to get on your bike, but that,
		in itself, poses problems: “Some
5		people are worried about cycling on
		London’s busy streets,” says Simeon
		Bamford, 27, who set up Cycle
		Training in July 2000. “But we can
		teach them how to use the roads				training is made fun. “The kids often
10		safely and confidently. We can teach a				cycle for a mile. We will stop at
		riding style which enables people to				junctions and practise manoeuvres and
		make lots of space around themselves				then ride on to another junction. They
		and communicate assertively with		65		really enjoy it because it’s different to
		other road users to get to where they				normal lessons.” But what about very
15		are going swiftly.”				busy crossroads? “People tend to
		Bamford has always loved cycling				prefer cycling in side streets,” he
		and, although he learned to drive as a				admits. “But when you learn to cycle
		teenager, he has never owned a car.		70		confidently you use all the main
		“I always cycled to school, at university				roads.”
20		and I have always cycled to work in				Surprisingly, he is not a supporter
		London.”				of cycle networks. “A lot of money in
		At work he checks his e-mails and				London is being spent on creating
		phones his instructors with bookings.		75		cycle lanes but it’s unnecessary and
		His job is split between running the				they sometimes cause more problems
25		office and acting as an instructor.				than they solve. Cycle lanes give a
		Cycle Training has 35 freelance				false impression that cyclists shouldn’t
		instructors, male and female. Most are				be on the road.”
		former couriers, students, actors or		80		He also rejects the use of safety
		retired teachers and all are trained to				gear. “Some people see cycling as a
30		do bike repair and maintenance				dangerous sport. It’s not,” he claims.
		checks, covering things such as gears,				“It’s a simple, inexpensive way to get
		brakes and wheels. Cycle Training				around. AII you need is a bike. We say
		runs individual and group courses (the		85		you don’t need a helmet or anything
		latter usually in schools) covering				else. If you wear a suit, cycle to work
35		complete beginners to journey				in a suit.”
		accompaniment (helping cyclists plan				Bamford works long hours and will
		their best route to and from work).				often stay late at the office. He doesn’t
		With an estimated 160,000 regular		90		mind doing it, because he believes in
		cyclists in London and growing				the promotion of cycling. He says more
40		concerns about traffic jams and				of us should abandon the car and
		pollution, he is increasingly kept busy				public transport. “Companies are going
		running courses for local authorities,				to have to produce a green transport
		who have provided funding for training		95		plan and there are likely to be
		youngsters and staff, and running				discouragements for workplace parking
45		courses at summer universities.				and tax reductions for employees
		In the afternoons you will often find				cycling to work.
		him pedalling off to supervise training				“Employees who cycle regularly
		in schools, mainly primary schools.		100		are known to be more punctual and
		“Once we’ve arranged things with the				take less time off sick. It is in an
50		head we’ll go into the school to give a				employer’s interest to promote cycling
		talk to all the children in order to get				among staff.” More Londoners, he
		them interested. We usually find that				hopes, will take a lead from the Dutch.
		the kids know the reasons why it’s		105		“In Holland everyone cycles. It’s the
		good to cycle. Most of them are really				sheer number of cyclists that make
55		into it. [id:43950] , a lot of kids end up not				cycling safe and pleasant for everyone.
		cycling because parents or teachers				If more people cycled, London would
		don’t let them. We can turn that				be more pleasant, safer, cleaner and
		around.”		110		less stressful.”
		In a period of four weeks children				Evening Standard
60		are taught to cycle safely and the