"We love that pump track!"

Thanks to Charlie, Mark & co this is our very exciting plan for a 4x scale up of disabled BMX onto the ABLE2 Kirklees site in Heckmondwike. For more information read the Spenborough Guardian. Latest news from Ravencliffe Special School track "You will be pleased to know that the pump track is being well used, we are trying to use it as much as possible before the winter. It's mainly our younger students either riding it or running round it!"

Institute for Outdoor Learning

The project features in "Horizons", Winter 2012 (60) pages 22-24
- a professional development magazine for outdoor practitioners.

To read (pdf), click here

BMX at the Velodrome

The cycle development programme at Ravenscliffe has now entered its seventh year and involves over 100 young people with a vast range of special needs undertaking purposeful and relevant cycling opportunities on a weekly basis. In 1996 only 2 students could ride a 2 wheel bike independently. The school now has over 70 competent two wheel riders who are accessing mainstream cycle proficiency sessions and cycling the track at the Manchester Velodrome on a regular basis. In October 2012 8 students cycled the full BMX track at the Velodrome for the first time. We have more sessions on the track booked for 2013. Through highriders we remain committed to further extending cycling opportunities for people of all ages and abilities across the west Yorkshire region.

Disabled riders in BMX

Follow a recent BMX Talk discussion here

We are now actively pursuing our plans to scale up our disabled BMX pilot project onto the 10 acre ABLE2 site next to Spen Valley Greenway, Heckmondwike. The new pump track will follow the 'lost' Leeds New Line.

We are grateful to Sported for providing mentor support during this exciting next stage of our pioneering disability BMX project.

Blind BMXer

Article here and Video here

Disabled BMX Case Study

Available on request - see Links for "Get in touch with us"

Summer 2011

Exploring the potential of Pump Track sessions with (clockwise): primary school age; girls; gifted & talented; and toddlers!

May 2011 - all systems go

Mission accomplished : BMX for all, with a twist of (wild) garlic

Grand Opening 8th April!

Thanks to The Big Lottery Fund Awards For All and Marshalls plc. Halifax Courier article here. Now the After School Club begins.

April 2011, now and next

Our Pump Track will have its Grand Opening April 8th and already we're planning a major follow on project. Click images to zoom.
You can follow progress in Crawley too!

Step 1, get used to the track ...

The first training session on Friday 25th March in glorious Spring weather. A small group with learning disabilities (but capable of independent travel to school) begin by "pumping" the track on foot.

March 2011: Our Track is IncrEdible

Training sessions begin and wild garlic is sprouting in the berm!

February 2011: finishing touches

10 tonnes of "4mm to dust carboniferous limestone" (crushed rock sand) was donated to the project free of charge for top dressing. Thanks to Marshalls plc for this totally local product in keeping with our guiding principles. See more photos in 'Pics of track' (top).
Stop Press: the Grand Opening will be 8th April 2011.

January 2011 : all finished!

All the shaping is complete (19th Jan) after 12 half days work. Click "Pics of track (see top)

Watch our test runs

YouTube (24th November 2010)

YouTube (24th February 2011)

(We didn't do any work on site in December 2010 because of continued snow and ice!)

Week 9: the numbers are in

This is the very last barrow of soil, which was wheeled in today. Our BMX Pump Track is 55 metres long, 1.2 metres wide, used 14 tonnes of soil and has 12 rollers. The track now provides 215 square metres (~2300ft2) dedicated to disability BMX.

Week 8: bikes arrive (Mongoose Logo)

... and Casper T looks well happy with how the track is developing after just 4 days effort (click the photo to zoom in - on the track, not Casper!!).

Here is the spec of the bikes.

Read down the blog for the story of the track, so far ...

Week 1: at the starting gate!

Dave Blackburn (Garden Manager), 'Casper' Taylor (Chain Brakers) and a student, celebrate the exciting launch of the 'highriders' project in September 2010.

Casper already runs ABLE's own pump track in Wakefield (see links). He is now helping with this Halifax pilot project.

Is this enough dirt .......... ?