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Sunday: sunny intervals, Max Temp: 5°C (41°F), Min Temp: 6°C (43°F)

Cycle Hire

The Village Bike

Based at the Cwmaman Institute, the Village Bike project aims to make cycling accessible to the local community. The project’s coordinator, Lee Davies, is a keen mountain biker, as well as a qualified ride leader, and applied for funding from the Sports Council for Wales for 12 bikes. The project uses the bikes, which include 10 mountain bikes and two ‘hybrids’ (suitable for track, trail or road cycling) to run organised sessions as well as a public bike hire facility.

Based in the Cynon Valley a short cycle from Aberdare, Cwmaman is a former mining town with a thriving community scene, much of which centres around the Cwmaman Institute itself. Originally opened in 1868, the hall was built with deductions from colliers wages, with half a penny in every pound being donated. A century and a half later, the hall has been rebuilt with £3.8million of funding from a range of sources, and houses over 40 community societies. The bike project is a relatively new addition to the institute, and is being targeted initially towards those who use the on-site gym and fitness facilities. ‘’People who are already using the gym to improve their fitness are in a good position to benefit from trying cycling. A few of the ladies who are regulars have tried the bikes out, but we are waiting for the spring and summer months to really promote the bikes as an alternative to the treadmill!’’ said Lee Davies.

Cycling in the valleys of Rhondda Cynon Taf

In addition to promoting use of the bikes to adults who use the facilities at the Institute, Lee, who works at the centre promoting physical activity and fitness, also takes out groups of young people on organised rides. Qualified as a mountain bike leader, Lee takes out groups of young people from Cwmaman on the many forest trails located close to the town. Situated in the middle of a variety of mountain and forest trails, the location of the Cwmaman project offers a lot of opportunity for mountain biking. For those who prefer to keep both wheels on the ground however, there is also a very accessible traffic-free cycle path leading to Aberdare (around 3 miles) and into the Dare Valley Country Park, which has a variety of flat circular routes as well as a café and its own bike project.

The Village Bike project looks set to expand in 2008, with new promotions planned, and previous successes to build on.

To enquire about cycle hire, contact Cwmaman Institute on (01685) 887100 or by email here