Thurrock school children will be treated to a display of jaw dropping stunt cycling with a health and safety twist from mountain bike stunt rider Rich Johnson – as he aims to teach them the same lesson he gave Simon Cowell.
The ambassador for safe cycling reprimanded the Britain’s Got Talent judge and multi-millionaire in front of 5,000 people at London’s Hammersmith Apollo for claiming cyclists look stupid wearing helmets.
But Johnson says he is living proof of helmets’ life-saving capabilities as he could not have learnt his dazzling array of stunts without falling off and banging his head countless times.
The safety message will be central to Friday’s show at Woodside Primary School, where children are being inspired to cycle as part of Bike It – the nationwide project by sustainable transport charity Sustrans.
Johnson, whose skills have also led to appearances on Top Gear and Blue Peter, said: “Cycling is super-safe but accidents do happen so when children are developing their skills it’s particularly important they wear a helmet. The stunt show is a way of grabbing these youngsters’ attention to get this message across.
“It is much more rewarding to perform these skills for a purpose rather than purely as entertainment, especially when you get idiotic comments from the likes of Simon Cowell.
“Hopefully it will encourage youngsters to use their bike as an everyday form of transport, and perhaps even lead to cycling as a favourite sport or hobby.”
Woodside Primary is one of 10 Thurrock schools taking part in Bike It, which aims to boost children’s health, confidence and sense of independence by encouraging them to cycle to school.
After the show children will learn how to give their own bikes a road safety check with the help of a Dr Bike mechanic.
Thurrock Bike It Officer Katie van Dop said: “In the Netherlands where I grew up cycling is as much a part of everyone’s day as brushing your teeth in the morning; I’m aiming to encourage a similar pro-cycling culture in Thurrock that will last long after this Bike It project.
“I’m sure this event will inspire the children to take lots of pleasure from riding their bikes safely during the half-term holidays and again when school re-starts.”
For more info about Sustrans and Bike It visit www.sustrans.org.uk.
The valves are a weak point on Revoloop tubes. I've had a number of them fail at the valve, generally after a few hundred miles. If you look...
The truth is than in the Netherlands that I saw them, they were indeed a bit huge for cycle infra. However they were rather rare.
Race you there!
Those calipers arent the prettiest. Makes them look like Post-mount.
I'm all for a much more socialist approach to the sorts of things you mention, where there are clear market failures and a need for decent...
Zorbing balls - if it saves just one life
12 corners in just over 2km is a terrifying prospect if it rains!
I think it's:...
As it's often said -'the way to justify the building of a bridge is not too count the number of people swimming the crocodile infested river!'
I used to go that way to work. It's nasty and congested. I doubt any changes will make the congestion worse.