Things on the move in 2012

As with any beginning of the year things start and slot into place after the preparations in the months before.

The good one that I have been involved with is the launch of the 2012 Durham Big Ride.  This is the sixth one we have doe and it looks as if we will hit record numbers on both the Durham Big Ride and ‘The Beast’.

Once again, the Chief Constable of Durham Police came to help with the launch and he is a man who ‘practices what he preaches’.  John Stoddard has taken part in two Durham Big Rides and Two ‘Beasts’ in the past four years – no special favours – he just comes down with a couple of riding pals and gets on with it.

Along with John, we had a group of people who have been to all the DBR’s and show no signs of letting up!

Gateway Wheelers (see previous bogs about them) came to the launch as well as some of the 20 or so riders from PC Henderson Doors who have also been to all rides.  Along with the groups, Paul Clough came along too. Paul is a great champion of the Durham area and also a keen cyclist.

All in all, a very nice launch which did the trick as we had coverage in all the major papers in the region as well as some nice radio take-up.

Another local event that is worth a mention is the Limestone Linx launch that ‘my fingerprints’ will be all over. This community project in the Coxhoe area of Durham is coming to the end after some 4 years of getting all sorts of grants and money from all sorts of different places.  This one will be officially launched soon but should be a good’un.

And while I am on the subject of cycle events, the Marie Curie Etape Pennines is going great guns.  I am working with the national event organisers as the local link and they are very pleased indeed with the take up from the region – more on this at a later date.