The Pedal Project mission is clear: to get as many children as possible enjoying cycling.
Cycling has so many benefits, particularly to both physical and psychological health, as well as the freedom it affords. But perhaps the greatest benefit of learning to cycle is the huge boost in confidence it gives; learning a new skill for life. This is well illustrated by Sam’s story, as told by his mum Debbi:
“Learning to cycle has had a bigger impact on Sam than just being able to ride a bike. It has boosted his confidence and attitude to all aspects of his life including improving at swimming and trying harder at school, especially with aspects he finds challenging such as his handwriting. Pedal Project has shown him that you can learn to do things that seem hard and scary at first. Plus he’s learned that practice does make perfect – the more he rides his bike the better he gets.”
The two key principles of Pedal Project are safety and fun. Our fully qualified DBS checked instructors make sure everyone learns to ride bikes safely in an enjoyable environment.
After studying maths at Trinity College, Cambridge, Ed’s career path was rather a circuitous one, taking in a job at Stanfords map shop, a Masters degree from UCL in cartography and work creating mapping solutions for local authorities and marine conservation projects in Madagascar, ending up at one of the Big Four accountancy firms as a software developer in their tax practice.
Nothing wrong with that, except that it wasn’t right for Ed.
He always had a passion for bikes and cycling. A touring trip with his father along the North and West coasts of Scotland began a love of long distance riding and now every year he heads to the French Alps, Pyrenees or Dolomites for a week or two to tackle famous cols.
Ed left his job as a software developer in 2012 to focus on what he really loves doing: helping others enjoy cycling. Since then he has taught many hundreds of children and adults cycling, from pedalling for the first time to learning road safety.
With Pedal Project, Ed’s sole aim is to get more children pedalling for the first time, safely without stabilisers. According to one parent “he has a gift for communicating with children and a technique that instills confidence from the start”.
Ed went to East Sheen Primary School, followed by Shene School (now Richmond Park Academy) and Richmond Upon Thames College. He knows and loves the area and this is where the first Pedal Project courses took place.
He has since emigrated to North London and Pedal Project now runs courses in different parts of London.
If you have any questions about Pedal Project, cycling or bikes, please do get in touch. Questions about tax, topography or topology less so, but we'll give them a go!
Email info@pedalproject.co.uk