Club Projects

History

P & L Hardware cycling club hatched the Zero to Hero plan. In 2004 when it was realised that there were quite simply no cyclists in Louis Trichardt to recruit into our club Zero to Hero was formulated to recruit “couch potatoes” and turn them into cyclists.

Past Success

Zero to Hero 2005 was launched in November of 2004. We decided to start early in January with the program when people had the motivation to lose their Christmas fat. Sponsors were approached and within a few days M Premjee and Son came to the fore. Our club and Premjee and Son shared the same goal of providing good service and a commitment to improve the quality of life in our town.
The extensive advertising campaign attracted 120 recruits cycling fever hit Louis Trichardt. Premjee committed to sponsor Zero to Hero in 2006. P&L Hardware cycling club had grown to 150 members in three months! Zero to Hero was here to stay!

The Program

The 12-week program takes a complete novice and “couch potato” from zero to a point where they can ride a 75km race. Participants do two upper body gym sessions and indoor spinning sessions a week, two group road rides and a long ride on Saturday afternoons. On registration each participant receives a training Dairy, programmes, diets and notes on training, cycling etiquette, safety and bicycle maintenance.
Each week notes on various topics are issued at the long ride to add to participant’s knowledge. The program carefully manipulates intensity and time spent training, gradually building fitness and confidence over the 12-week program. At the end of the 12 weeks our would be hero’s tackle the 75km Premjee Soutpansburg challenge. The final goal once achieved this makes our recruits heroes, and having “hardwired” the exercise habit into them, hopefully cyclists for life.

2006 Another success

January 2006 saw 96 “couch potatoes” sign up for Zero to Hero. It was encouraging to see that nearly 30% of the recruits were “twenty something’s” looking to experience the fun and thrills of cycling. Recruits ranged in age from 10 to 62, many whole families signed up.
Fees were set up at R160.00 joining fee and R100.00 per month. Student and family discounts were offered.

Club Member Commitment

The success depends on the time, effort and inspirational motivation given by training facilitators. Club members volunteered for the job, most of which were recruits of last years Zero to Hero. Twelve facilitators were chosen and trained, their enthusiasm and commitment made 2006 a heart warming success. The many hours voluntarily given improved many lives. I believe the feelings of all facilitators are summed by one comment made “When a fifty-five year old tannie stands in front of you and says “this is the fittest and best I’ve felt in my life, - you get a rush money cant bye”.

Spin offs

Zero to Hero has been responsible for our club growing from 30 odd members in 2004 to a current membership of 248. This year we filled our own Argus train to Cape Town. The local cycle shop, cycle centre, a keen sponsor has doubled in size due to our towns growing interest in cycling safe cycling routes have been identified and marked in town from easy flat cycling routes to the 25km red route- a leg burning that tackles lots of hills in town. An increased awareness of an active lifestyle is evident with more walkers and runners seen in town than ever before.
Zero to Hero has accomplished a lot more than any of us ever perceived possible.

Notes

Zero to Hero is a registered trademark and program and may not be used without permission however in the interest of promoting cycling, clubs or organisations interested in instituting Zero to Hero and maintaining the high standard and good name enjoyed by Zero to Hero may contact P&L Hardware cycling club regarding Free use of the program and knowledge gained by our club. E-mail Sean at spb@mweb.co.za