Cycling Success For The Caerphilly Borough

With the Rio Olympics, Velothon and Tour of Britain all recently being in the public eye, it seems they have inspired many of us to strap on our helmets and grab our bikes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cycling participation has seen a great increase in the last year, with the number of Welsh Cycling Clubs rising to 166, 20 of which are youth focussed and Go Ride registered. Altogether there are now more than 5,700 British Cycling members in Wales, the highest ever. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After a successful year for clubs, volunteers and elite athletes, Welsh Cycling is congratulating the cycling community by revealing the shortlist for their annual awards ceremony. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly Cycling Club has not only been shortlisted for Club of the Year but a member of their club, Chris Corbett has been nominated for Club Cyclist of the Year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anne Adams-King, Chief Executive Officer at Welsh Cycling said, “The cycling community has continued to grow and I am proud of each and every person who has been nominated to make the shortlist.”
Cycling in the Caerphilly borough has increased by 10% over the last year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly borough currently holds five cycling clubs, suitable for all abilities, Caerphilly Cycling Club, Castle Mountain Biking Club, Cwmcarn Paragon Cycling Club, Machen Moos Mountain Biking Club and Union Cyclists in Ystrad Mynach, which altogether hold 450 members. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To encourage these clubs to build and other cyclists to visit the borough, the council’s Destination Management Plan has prioritised the increase of cycling provision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With Caerphilly being the home to beautiful landscapes and country parks, these clubs certainly make the most of what the borough has to offer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Celtic Trail, Aber Valley, Darran Valley and Aberbargoed to New Tredegar cycle routes all offer beautiful scenery whilst being amongst wildlife and their habitats. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Aside from the manmade trails, Caerphilly is filled with natural paths utilising birdleways, restricted byways and forest roads. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mountain biking is also hugely popular, Cwmcarn Forest offers an award winning cross country trails, The Twrch and Cafall trails, both involve 15km of tight technical turns and slopes. The Cafall trail was built by Rowan Sorrell from Bike Park Wales. Or, for the more daring adventurers, Y Mynydd Downhill is a trail designed by Phil Saxena of ‘Full Contact Racing’ and built by local riders, making it one of the best downhill tracks in the UK for mountain biking. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure services said, “It is great to see so many people inspired by the recent events to get up and explore our wonderful borough. There are a number of clubs available to join and it is encouraging to see residents are taking up these opportunities. Congratulations to those who have been shortlisted in the Welsh Cycling Awards and I wish them all the luck in their categories.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​