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Cycle a mile during Samsung bike week and raise money for charity

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Written by Tim Barnes-Clay

Samsung Bike Week 2012 will donate £1 to charity for every mile cycled and offers plenty of routes across the UK – for everyone to take part.
12th June, London – Samsung Bike Week (16 – 24 June) is the UK’s biggest mass participation cycling event and this year there is more reason than ever to take part and re-discover the joy of two wheels.

Samsung Electronics, the Worldwide Olympic Partner, in the wireless communications equipment category is supporting Bike Week 2012 and offering those taking part the chance to raise money for charity through the Samsung Hope Relay initiative as an added incentive to get people on their bikes. 

For every mile cycled, Samsung will donate £1 to charities such as London-based Kids Company and London 2012’s international sports legacy
programme, International Inspiration.  Last year, almost half a million people took part in Bike Week, and organisers believe the Samsung Hope Relay app will get more people on their bikes in 2012.

It takes only five minutes to cycle a mile and double World Track Cycling Champion and Samsung ambassador, Laura Trott advises on ways to make your mile an easy and safe ride:

Take your bike to a local bike shop and have it checked by an expert to make sure it’s safe before you go out on the road. The essentials for them to check are cables and brake pads while making sure that all nuts and bolts are done up tightly.

For short journeys any bike is okay as long as it is in good working order – it doesn’t matter if it’s a 10-speed racer, a shopping bike or a mountain bike

Practice manoeuvres such as looking over your shoulder both ways and hand signals before you go out on the road. Safety always comes first.

If you’re just getting started, take it slowly and increase your rides gradually. Cycling for 30-minutes, where your heart rate goes up, counts towards your recommended weekly activity target – and if you download the Samsung Hope Relay app it will raise £1 for every mile cycled!

Getting involved is easy – the Samsung Hope Relay app is free to download to most smartphones and as they cycle their mile(s), GPS technology tracks the distance and records the results.

Laura adds: “Samsung Bike Week will be a great reason for people to get cycling and get fit during summer. I’ve been training hard ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games, but everyone can get involved in cycling regardless of ability and Samsung Hope Relay brings with it the opportunity to raise money for some incredible charities.”

To take part, download the free Samsung Hope Relay app at www.samsung.com/uk/bikeweek  and visit www.bikeweek.org.uk to find a local Samsung Bike Week event. GPS technology tracks the distance cycled and records the results.