New project launch/taster sessions - Nisbet House Estate in Homerton

Interlinkx CiC & CC Hackney's Xmas winter get together - 22nd December

Basquiat's work on show; T-shirt designing competition - Boom for Real!

To Follow up on the success of our last cultural visit by bike to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre for a performance of The Taming of the Shrew, riders from Elsdale and Concorde bases cycled to the Barbican Centre London EC2 to see the new art show of Jean-Michel Basquiat's work under the title 'Boom for Real!' During time inside the gallery members took part in a fun competition to encourage expression and creativity while looking for designs and ideas to take forward to make some CCH T-shirts with.
Thanks and appreciation must go to Hackney Council & Young Hackney for supporting this activity and to The Barbican for their pricing policy that allows U14s to enter free.

 

Riding to and from the exhibition during half term was a useful exercise because the roads were quieter than usual and our young cyclists had a chance to practice their safe, urban cycling skills. They saw more of London and learned some routes out of Hackney into the city for future reference. This type of experience is to be continued; where cultural events are visited by bike. Another good result for Interlinkx CiC, CC Hackney and our partners. 

There were two film areas, one that was showing a rare interview with two of Basquet's friends talking with him about his life and influences and the other a full length feature film about the man and his life in New York in the early 1980's called Downtown 81 - Trailer.  

Neil, Simon & Omarie getting the group ready.

And some thought parking our bikes under ground was a highlight:)

Taking part in our T-shirt designing competition, creating designs for all or any one of our cycling bases; Concorde, Elsdale, Fawcet and Pearson Street. The works of Basquiat were an inspiration and fired up our riders’ imaginations.

  

Young Hackney's Omarie

Rico & Ryan

 

19th October Session

Upper Clapton & Fawcett's Rico is now in possession of his new ride, his first proper bike. This cycle was donated by Rico's peer; one Ryan Da Costa of the Concorde Bike Club in Homerton.

Well done Ryan top fella, what goes around comes around - patience works - keep it coming!

It's getting dark out there...lighten up!

Fawcett bike club youth members who have been riding without lights for so long have been taken care of by Hackney Council (Sustainable Transport) and protected with sets of low cost but efficient LED lights. All appreciated this thoughtful act by showing off their bright lights and feeling a whole lot safer on the way home.

 

 

Daubeny Fields Fun Day by Concorde bike club

The Daubeny Fields Fun Day. 

Interlinkx CiC and CC Hackney's Concorde bike club members along with family, friends and residents experienced the full effect of the MiHS (Made in Hackney Sound system) All units were out in force today, back to the roots of where it began (Concorde Youth Club sound system project)
Assisted by local sound man Devon, the rig rang out better than it ever has done, doing the event proud and a making a name for it's self. This is in advance of the future CC Hackney, Interlinkx CiC and ARDP fund raising events coming up.
The dates will be at: The Hackney Marshes Centre, Lea Valley Rowing Club and the Concorde Centre. More information to follow.

The Daubeny Fields Fun Day (by Concorde bike club) was manged and funded by Hackney Marsh Partnership.
  

 

Alex Peters and our U23 Eritrean race cyclists visit Concorde Bike Club

Saturday 29th July 2017
Today Interlinkx CiC & CC Hackney's Concorde bike club had some in house guests; professional rider Alex Peters and our U23 Eritrean racing cyclists (Haben, Fnan, Sham & coach Zemi) came down as part of the beginning of a new initiative. The Aspiring Rider Development Project (ARDP) is focused on helping more young people in Hackney (and London) to access quality cycling and the opportunity to travel, learn and train further afield. From here the commitment is to encourage and support more from BAME & socio-economically challenged backgrounds towards cycle sport participation.

 
Here is a section taken from the Aspiring Rider Development Project guiding overview:  

Interlinkx CiC & CC Hackney (ICiC CCH)
Sponsors, partners and funders are sought to bring forward the development plans detailed below. Over the last 10 years ICiC & CCH have prepared out reach foundations in East London, where the prospect of raising the sport of cycling for all is there to see but yet to realise. 
Aspiring Rider Development Project (ARDP) is an extension of our established outreach coaching program in East London that’s been run by ICiC & CCH since 2007. The aim now is to manage and assist youth and 18+ riders from multi-cultural backgrounds towards performing to their highest potential. From there we will help and encourage athletes to progress onto the ultimate target of representing their country at international level. London’s population of all nations means much is possible and achievable here. Targets would move on from regional and national races to UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) sanctioned qualifying events and championships such as; The All African Games, Youth Olympics, Asian Cycling Championships, Pan American Championships, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, the Para & Olympic Games.
In any case training camps and sessions will routinely include a wide catchment of age groups and abilities sharing the same roof and table; that’s from explorer leisure riders up to elite athletes; benefiting all taking part.

ARDP Management & coaching team: Keir Apperley (lead) Marlene Laverns, Zemichael Abrha, Judith Philip, Alex Peters, Virginia Gakuya & Prosper Watts.
Pilot scheme junior and youth riders: Haben Gebrehiwet, Fnan Afewerki, (Eritrea) & Kai Watts (Ethiopia, Barbados & st. Lucia) Tyshah Daley (Jamaica) & Ryan Da Costa (Angola) Israel Oketade (Ghana)
Our Hackney outreach projects: Concorde Bike Club, Fawcett BC, Pearson Street BC, Jack Watts BC, Elsdale BC & the Hackney Primary School Cycling League.

Sham, Zemi, Haben & Fnan

Alex

A snap shot of Fawcett community bike club

Some snap shots taken during Fawcett Estate community bike club session on Thursday 27th July 2017. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready for the return ride at Haggerston BMX pump track

The Concorde Group

2017 Young Hackney Sports awards

Concorde regular Ryan da Costa and Kai Watts receive 2017 Young Hackney Sports awards. It was for volunteering and their consistent, helpful attitude with Interlinkx CiC & CC Hackney. Presenting the trophies after an inspirational talk was Team GB (running) sprinter; Adam Gemili.

Young Ryan on stage with his award.

Neil, Adam, Kai & Keir

Manager Keir Apperley invites Ryan Da Costa to the stage.

Club Coach Neil Irons praises Kai Watts & Ryan Da Costa

Former Fawcett regular returns to say hello & a new CoD

Thursday 6th July 2017

Ahead of this session we posted up of our newly agreed code of conduct. This was in response to a general slackening of discipline and behavior over recent weeks. We needed to call a group meeting where we took time to discuss and identify areas for improvement and lines that cannot be crossed.

 
Apart from the act of maintaining people there was nothing so day-to-day about the return of one of our former Fawcett regulars known as Dutch. Our man dropped in to say hello and check out how we're doing, this happens from time to time. Grown up now, Dutch is leading a successful career as a UK rapper in the growing UK Grime scene. He assured me that the class of 2007 had benefited from their time at Fawcett Bike Club (FBC) by learning to take their time and do the right thing. After checking out the names of his mates on our tag wall, he said "a big one here was that he and his peers realised that there was no need to resort to steeling bikes". That's while the FBC was on hand and running well. He also agreed that his class learned to be more open and accepting towards any visitors (no matter who they were and where they came from) that shared an interest in cycles and cycling. Remembering this was at a time when serious territory issues were striking grief, fear and division all over - let's hope that this dodgy period is confined to history. 

Well done Dutch, it was good to see you again.    

Not forgetting our revised Code of Conduct:

Planning meeting - setting up a new estate based bike club in Hackney

Interlinkx directors Keir Apperley & Giuliana Molinari (behind camera) meeting with young Fawcett bike club member Zen and community engagement officer; Siovhan Cromby at the Hackney Council area offices in Stamford Hill.

We gathered to check and agree on our new project plan and contracts for the planned opening of our latest estate based bike club to open on the Jack Wattts Estate This is set to launch in September 2017. We also discussed ideas around supporting developing Zen's start up programming work in social event management for her peers across the borough.

The squeakiest wheels get the most oil.

This youngster has finally taken charge of the bike he has been patiently waiting for. It's taken us quite a while to get this done and see him sorted with a ride of his own. He is so quiet compared to the others, but his patience and politeness has not gone completely unnoticed. It's said that the squeakiest wheels get the most oil - not always!  

Opening social event at Elsdale Community Hall next Saturday evening May 20th

Mosaic for ICiC

Hackney Mosaic have created a fine piece for Interlinkx CiC that is bound to be on display at the Elsdale Centre. This is our new base and community project, supported by Hackney Council and in partnership with Cycling Club Hackney.

New Centre new storage solution

On the way down Well Street

Yesterday (Tuesday 25th April) ICiC & CCH took delivery of refurbished 40 foot shipping container from the Budget Container Co. It is to serve as a bike and equipment store for the Elsdale Centre's on going cycling delivery programme. This week we are moving out of Nightingale Estate after a 10 year residency, the old 70s concrete, condemned building is finally coming down as part of the wider regeneration project going on there. We'd like to thank our main supporter and partner Hackney Council Housing for setting us up in our replacement base and office. 

The Elsdale Yard & truck hauler Adrian up top taking off the lifting gear chains.

The address:

ELSDALE COMMUNITY HALL FRAMPTON PARK ESTATE, ELSDALE STREET, LONDON, E9 6PW 

Ariel view - Elsdale Centre; the diamond shaped building to the left, the yard just NW of here.