HCT Instructors

Francesca Flaxton

I am proof that it is never too late to get back on your bike! Having not owned a bike since I was a teenager, I started cycling again some 7 years ago, when my husband, Giles, and I bought new bikes with some redundancy money I had saved. I remember feeling very nervous to start with at having to cycle with my 2 year old son in the baby seat behind me. I soon caught the cycling bug and my children have both been cycling to school on Haddenham's roads since they were 5. We now love to cycle as a family and usually take our bikes on holiday with us.

I have been the co-ordinator of cycle training courses at Haddenham's schools since May 2005. To start with all courses were off-road and run by a team of volunteer parents. In January 2006, I started my National Standards instructor training because I wanted to be able to teach children to cycle safely on the road. I have been a fully accredited cycling instructor since July 2006 and since then have gone on to officially form Haddenham Cycle Training as a community organisation, with the support of many wonderful volunteers. Although, now qualified, I am beginning to be paid for some of the training I do, I am happy to continue to give many hours voluntarily because I believe so passionately in the importance of teaching our children to cycle safely. I feel it is a privilege to have the opportunity to make a difference to their cycling confidence, ability and enjoyment. I am actively seeking external funding so that Haddenham Cycle Training can offer even more cycling courses in the future. I am looking forward to the day when we can offer all cycle training free and we see more bikes than cars in our village. I am sure that day will come!

Francesca Flaxton
Chairman, Haddenham Cycle Training
Accredited National Standards Cycling Instructor
Send an email to Francesca
27th March 2009

Claire-Lise Kessler

For as long as I can remember, I've always loved cycling. I have particularly fond memories of mountain biking in Switzerland (my home country) and cycling holidays. When we had our children, all this needed a bit of reorganising. How do you fit a baby car seat in a trailer?

When we arrived in Haddenham 4 years ago, I was very pleased to notice that the village was flat, compact and the traffic mostly local. I thought that this was the perfect place to cycle everywhere with my children. At St. Mary's School, I first approached the PTA with the idea of a walking bus and the need of a cycle rack, and later proposed to coordinate the School Travel Plan. And as a member of the Safe Walking and Cycling Group, my goal is to help promoting safer cycling in the village, as well as better links between Haddenham and the surrounding villages and towns.

I initially became a cycle instructor for the sake of my children, to teach them and their friends how to stay safe on the road. I strongly believe that all these years of practice I'm sharing with them will help them to cycle safely on their own later. I also passionately believe that learning to ride a bicycle should not end the day you take off the stabilizers. Cycle training teaches you countess little tips, either to better control you bike or to better deal with the traffic. And now I'm very glad that I can share this with you.

Claire-Lise Kessler
Accredited National Standards Cycling Instructor
Send an email to Claire-Lise
27th March 2009

Jacqui White

Since I was a child I've enjoyed cycling. Growing up in the countryside, I used to cycle both with friends and family. As a very keen cyclist himself my father instilled a love of cycling in me, and even now as a guy of 80 he regularly cycles along his local cycle paths to town!

Before the birth of our children my husband and I used to enjoy cycling, and we completed the London to Brighton cycle ride on a number of occasions, however we were very admiring of the mega fit cyclists who also cycled back!

With the arrival of our children we went through the baby in a seat on the back of the bike syndrome/stabilizers etc, but now I enjoy cycling with the family, as autonomous, independent cyclists.

I am pleased to be able to offer training in cycling to young people, to increase their confidence and encourage them to be able to confidently cycle initially in the village, and then further a field as their maturity and confidence increase. Cycling has always given me great pleasure, and I hope that I can enthuse others to take it up both as a means of transport, and as a hobby!

Jacqui White
Cycling Instructor
Send an email to Jacqui
27th March 2009

And our newest Instructors - Many congratulations on passing your Accreditation!

Fiona Quinn

As a teenager I cycled to school, despite the fact it was not considered ‘cool’! I loved the freedom cycling gave me to go out without relying on my parents for a lift. When I was a student I lived in Germany for a year and used my bike every day, often cycling along the Rhine path between Cologne and Bonn. Once I began work, petrol price increases convinced me to use my bike instead of my car for a 12 mile journey each way, which also helped me get fitter.

Cycling took a back seat when my children were small, but as they grew up I was able to cycle with the two youngest to school. I became involved with HCT as a volunteer in 2005, until late last year when I decided to train as an Instructor myself. I became fully accredited in February 2009.

I am delighted to be able to help young people learn about and use safe cycling practices and to achieve the sense of freedom and fitness cycling can give you. I would also like to encourage more adults to take to the road on their bikes through training and simple maintenance skills so they can join in the fun too!

Fiona Quinn
Cycling Instructor
Send an email to Fiona
27th March 2009

Helen Krauze

As a student and then as a working girl in London I cycled everywhere and knew no fear!

Times change, and by the time I had moved to Buckinghamshire, 11 years ago, with a very young family, my bike soon started to gather dust in the garage. There is a limit to how many children you can carry on a bike at any one time, especially when I had twins! My husband moaned at me to get rid of my bike …

Then, in 2007, I moved to Haddenham (children much bigger by now) and soon realised it was the perfect place for cycling. Haddenham is a big village, and a bike is just the thing for getting around quickly without resorting to the car. Out came my bike again! When Haddenham Cycle Training asked for volunteers I was keen to become involved.

All the instructors with HCT are passionate about what they do. Their professional approach was really inspiring. So much so, that in March 2009 I exchanged my volunteer status for that of a Fully Accredited Instructor.

I love being part of a community organisation and doing something really worthwhile. It’s fantastic to watch the children grow in confidence with their cycling and know that we give them the skills to become independent cyclists.

I hope that by adding to the complement of instructors, I can help Haddenham Cycle Training to offer more in the way of courses and clubs. Lots more confident children cycling safely on the road, now that has to be a good thing!

Helen Krauze
Cycling Instructor
Send an email to Helen
27th March 2009