Cycling Event at Barking and Dagenham College?

I hear rumours of a cycling related event at Barking and Dagenham College in Rush Green on 19 September 2012, but I haven't got any details. If you know anything, please pass it on. Obviously the event is aimed at students and staff at the college, but it may not be exclusively for them. Typically such events would include Doctor Bike, advice about cycling, bike try outs, sign up for training.

I don't know if there's a Bicycle Users' Group (BUG) for staff and/or students. That would be a good idea. Again, please get in touch with any information you may have.

Freewheel

The Freewheel event on Sunday 23 September was a massive success, with thousands taking part. Surely it must now be an annual event. The weather was superb, which will make the inaugural one stand out better.

17 people rode from Barking, most of whom I didn't know. I gave them each an LCC membership form. I hope they stay in touch - better still join LCC, but most of all keep cycling.

There are some learning points. The routes between the hubs (Victoria Park in our case) and the central motor free route were marshalled, but the general traffic was still jockeying for position with hundreds more cyclists than usual. The marshalls' advice at busy junctions was not what most LCC-ers consider best practice.

It would have been good to be in touch with those who came on the feeder ride before the event so that Doctor Bike (http://www.doctor-bike.org.uk) sessions could have been held and advice dispensed to novice cyclists. One of our riders had never used her bike's gears.

In fairness to the organisers, far more registered than they expected and could cope with. Organisation was overall pretty impressive on the day.

Next year's Freewheel will (presumably) be on Sunday 21 September 2008