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Bike It in Sheffield

There are currently two Bike It officers working in Sheffield. Find more information on Emma Peasland and Henry Norman below.

Emma Peasland - Bike It officer

Contact Emma: Bike It officer, Development Services, Howden House, 1 Union Street, Sheffield S1 2SH
Tel: 0114 2735828, Mob: 07500 832734 or email Emma

Emma joined Sustrans in September 2010

"I have loved riding bikes for as long as I can remember and used to love the speed and independence of being able to cycle to school. My enthusiasm for cycling was renewed when I was at university and started mountain biking. Now I spend as much of my free time as possible out meeting friends and seeing the UK by bike. Having moved from Blackpool I am really looking forward to helping pupils in Sheffield have the same positive experiences and independence as I have found through cycling.

After graduating with an Environmental Science degree I spent seven years teaching outside the classroom on Box Hill at the Field Studies Council centre in Surrey."

Emma's schools for 2011/12:

What's Emma up to?

It has been a pleasure to meet Sheffield’s Bike It schools this term and find out what has been going on.

It’s been a busy term at Valley Park, Reignhead, Halfway and Lower Meadow who have all been organising and running their own activities such as Breakfasts and Bling Your Bike competitions. The Bling Your Bike at Halfway Juniors was particularly successful with 50 children turning out on spectacular bikes. A thank you to the Bike It Crew at Lower Meadow who are also doing a great job monitoring the number of cyclists.

Deepcar St John’s are a new Bike It school who turned out in force to the first Bike Breakfast we had there, around 90 children and parents came for breakfast, many of them had a Dr Bike safety check the same day, I’m looking forward to more of that enthusiasm this term.

In the run up to the Christmas holidays I went to the Fairs at both St Catherine’s and Rainbow Forge Primaries. Rainbow Forge held a Mince Pie Pedal on a cold and wintry morning where 25 children braved the weather to cycle in for free Mince Pies.

Finally a big thank you to everyone who helped make our Action Day such a success, all the staff who came from schools to share your enthusiasm, especially to everyone who spoke and Heeley Development Trust for running the North Shore session.

Henry Norman - Bike It officer

Bike It officer Henry NormanContact Henry: Bike It officer, Development Services, Howden House, 1 Union Street, Sheffield S1 2SH
Tel: 0114 273 5828, mobile: 07810 635 990 or email: henry.norman@sustrans.org.uk

Henry joined Sustrans in 2009

"Bikes have always been a part of my life, but it was getting a mountain bike 20 years ago that really sparked my interest. Since then, many bikes of come and gone, mountain, road and other but my passion for bikes remains undimmed. Riding and racing has taken me to some amazing parts of the world as well as giving me fantastic experiences, friends and sometimes even jobs. Where would I be without a bike?

A life spent outdoors - and a love of geography - means that the environment has always been an interest of mine. I've been lucky enough to have spent most of my working life educating young people about the environment. Bike It is a great opportunity to combine so many of my interests."

Before Bike It, Henry taught geography, ecology and environmental education on the Dorset coast and for the field studies council on the North Downs. He's also spent over a year working in the mountains of California and has now completed a PGCE in secondary geography in Sheffield.

Henry's schools for 2011/12:

What's Henry up to?

Back to school after the summer holiday normally means a bit of a slow start for Bike It officers as schools get themselves back into gear, but not this term; with a new colleague to show around the city we hit the ground running. Fortunately what seemed like endlessly good weather made life a lot easier. Along with that we also planned and held our action day, which went down well with all that attended. It was made extra special with world downhill mountain bike champion Steve Peat and world silver medallist and Olympian cross country rider Annie Last coming to give us an inspiration chat: We had a great time (lunch) as well.

Not only that but the term was spent out in a lot of schools too. Arbourthorne, the new kid on the block had over 6o pupil’s cycle to school in their first cycle to school day.  Acres Hill got over 100 pupils on a cycle to school day, which also made for a very busy Dr. Bike session.  Brunswick continue to break records, with 260 pupils (and lots of parents) turning up for a free breakfast. But also to receive their prize for winning Fast as Last, covering 420km in a days riding. Annie Last came in to talk to parents and students, gave away some exclusive Team GB goodies and presented a £200 gift voucher – part of the prize from the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative. Annie then spent the rest of the day coaching pupils on a mini mountain bike course.

Lots of schools have had bikes doctored this term, a few more pupils have learned to ride and several Christmas fairs were visited. Most notably Sharrow, who held a very competitive Virtual Velodrome competition with staff, parents and pupils all taking part.

After that terms warm up, everyone is really excited for the main event that will be 2012.

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