A cycle club launched by the Bermuda Bicycle Association has attracted a steady following of enthusiasts in Government's senior schools.

BBA president Peter Dunne is the man behind the programme. With the help of volunteers and the support of Bicycle Works and Winners Edge, he's managed to turn handfuls of high school students at the Berkeley Institute and CedarBrigde Academy on to the sport since the club was started earlier this spring.

The initial idea came from BBA member Aaron Place, an S4 student at CedarBridge who has represented the Island in several international competitions. The teenager thought a cycle club would be a good way to get more youngsters involved with the BBA and took the idea to school principal Kalmar Richards.

The programme was well-received from the start.

"Currently we have six or seven regular participants (at CedarBridge) but lots of kids have shown interest," said Mr. Dunne. "I believe that if students are not forced to participate in an activity, then they enjoy it and are more committed to it."

As a result of the success at CedarBridge, Mr. Dunne decided to try and extend the club to the Berkeley Institute.

"We were very well received over there as well. We have 12 students who attend the programme – that's more students then bikes available."

Thus far, news of the programme – and membership – has spread by word of mouth. Association members and residents have aided its success by donating old bikes for the teenagers to ride on.

"I want to thank everyone for their donations as they have helped us to keep the cost for the programme down," Mr. Dunne continued. "If anyone has an old bike we will take it off their hands.

"We have had tremendous support from Bicycle Works and Winners Edge, who have donated a brand new bike and supplies up to $1,000 to us. The shops have also offered us free labour and parts at a discounted price.

"People are enthusiastic about seeing kids get into the sport," he said.

Twenty-speed racing bikes are used in the programme. The students cycle on public roads in small chaperoned groups for about 15 to 20 miles, usually along North Shore Road, Harrington Sound and back to their schools. The ride takes approximately an hour and 15 minutes.

Added Mr. Dunne: "We teach them road safety before they go out on the roads. The programme teaches the kids how to be responsible riders as well as allowing them to have a fun and exciting time with their peers."

He said that all students are required to wear helmets and practise in the school parking lot until they feel confident enough to go on the road.

"There are people who are very unsafe drivers, people on the road who are going at dangerous speeds. When someone is doing the speed limit everything is O.K. It's when people speed on the road that things become unsafe."

CedarBridge Academy maths teacher Everton Dawes, Berkeley Institute teacher Richard North and former Berkeley Institute student Duncan Simons help out with the programme each week.

At the moment, the programmes are run without Government assistance. However Mr. Dunne envisions the day when he will be able to take some of the students abroad as he recently did with eight BBA youngsters who travelled to Curacao to compete in the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships. Such a trip would require a greater budget than the programme currently has.

"The students seem to really enjoy this programme," he said. Sometimes when I'm riding with them and I look back, I see them with smiles on their faces. Eventually we would like to get the private senior schools involved in the competition as well, and have an inter-school competition."

Persons interested in joining or donating to the cycle club may contact Mr. Dunne on 799-8614, or send an e-mail: president@bermudabicycle.org.

Alternatively, students can speak with PE teachers at their schools.