Meet the instructor – Tracey Clapton

How old were you when you started cycling?

Eight. My Dad started me on top of our garden and I went straight down the bottom! I had to learn over a weekend. 

The school taxi that I used to be on, once somebody else moved to the village the older one had to be taken off and you had to cycle three and half miles to school and back! Literally on the Friday I was taking off the taxi and on the Monday morning, having not been able to ride a bike, I had to cycle to school!  

My dad started BMX racing, he built the club and track in Cornwall in Truro in 1981. But girls weren’t allowed, we weren’t allowed to join in, but then in the following year I was allowed to race the boys. And I’ve continued ever since. I’m a former British national champion for BMX racing. 

What motivated you to become a cycling instructor?

Giving back to children and getting children involved. 

As well as Bikeability I’ve taken on a job role recently with British Cycling as the Cornwall’s Community Coach and that’s to get adults back on bikes, [it’s called] Sofa to Saddle. 

It’s only really started in July. I’m now getting out into the community and meeting the people and it’s really lovely. Get more and more people on bikes! 

What’s your your favourite part of the job?

Giving children the confidence, so they can do it, they can ride. And fully immersing themselves with like actually, I can do it! I absolutely love that. And by the end of Level 2, [I love] the children’s positivity of what they’ve done and how buzzing they are. 

Do you have a favourite memory of cycling?

It was when I became a British champion up in Derby in 1987, it was never ever expected. Especially from being down in Cornwall, it was so far to travel back then. Just to be able to have given that to my family and the whole club, everybody was involved. 

It was such an amazing experience for everyone, and people still talk about it now! 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

 I do love going to coastal walks and going to beach. At the moment my whole world is bike. Yeah, like the bike for everybody else, but not for me. Helping everybody else and doing everything for everybody else. At the moment I’m finding I’m riding my bike a lot less. 

Where’s your favourite place in the world?

Holywell Bay Beach. We got engaged on that beach. It’s been our beach ever since we’ve met really, so that’s since 1991. It’s absolutely beautiful. You just don’t go in summertime! 

Do you have any top tips for people who want to start cycling or cycle more?

For adults, what I’ve found is doing that initial step of turning up is the hardest part. Once they turn up, then they’re OK and they see other people and think, well, actually it’s OK. So it’s encouraging them in the beginning. 

And then they will be OK and there are more people exactly the same that they are. It’s making them feel I’m Ok here, I’m relaxed, and we’re going to have fun!  

Just come and have a go! 

Who’s your cycling hero?

A lady called Sarah Jane Nichols, she’s come back to BMX now. She was my cycling hero back then. She was a world champion. 

If you if you weren’t a cycle instructor, what would be your dream job?

That’s tricky, because I’ve now got to my dream job! I’ve worked in school for 13 years before and stuff like that, and I’ve always wanted to do bikes. Bikes are my life! So I think now where I’m at with my own business and Bikeability and British Cycling, I’m now at my dream job. 

Are there any projects or things you’re doing that you’d like to tell us about?

For me. They’re my business now is a lot of different parts. I have my cycling after school club Monday and the Friday, then my Bikeability on weekdays and in the evening I’ve got Sofa to Saddle And then I’m leading breeze rights as well. Plus I do every other Saturday BMX coaching.  

So I’m quite busy! I absolutely love what I’m doing. My husband say, no more bikes! There’s a world of bikes around me at the moment.