About Us

Trailnet was founded in 2006 by David Porter and Geoff Fletcher as a not-for-profit company dedicated to the promotion of outdoor physical activity. In July 2009 Trailnet became a community interest company and formally changed its name to Trailnet C.I.C.  Our goal has always been to increase the number of people taking part in outdoor exercise by:

• Working with healthcare providers and local authorities to develop, manage and monitor healthy living programmes for local residents
• Organising and managing outdoor sporting and leisure events
• Providing advice and support to organisations and individuals interested in promoting or taking part in various outdoor activities
• Leading off-road bike rides for all abilities but especially for novice and special needs groups who benefit most from supported rides in safe, attractive environments
• Providing low cost rental of bicycles and other equipment
• Offering a range of cycle trips, from independent half-day outings to week-long fully supported bike tours
• Planning and developing recreational routes and links into and between local country parks and other open spaces.

Meet the Trailnet Team

DAVID PORTER has been the proprietor of Herongate Cycles since 2003. Herongate Cycles has been a major sponsor of local competitive and recreational cycle events and David has considerable experience of organising and managing such events. David also sponsored and run Heron Cyclesport, an elite cycling team and was a founder member and Chairman of Gateway Cycling, the area’s newest cycling club whose focus is on encouraging novices to try recreational, fitness and competitive riding.

Prior to starting Herongate Cycles, David worked as a Route Development Officer for Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity. He therefore understands the needs of both cyclists and walkers and has considerable experience of the planning, negotiating and funding of new routes.

David has a BEng in Polymer Engineering, holds a MIAS level 2 mountain bike leader qualification, a current first-aid certificate and has enhanced CRB clearance.

GEOFF FLETCHER has been active in the sport of triathlon as competitor, event organiser, coach and administrator for over 20 years. As a competitor Geoff has completed over 100 triathlons, representing Great Britain in the World Long Distance Triathlon Championships in 2004. He has finished ten marathons and was part of a four-man cycling team that completed the 2005 Race Across America in under seven days. Geoff has organised numerous cycling, walking, running and multi-sport events and has been president of a 200-member Triathlon Club.

Geoff worked as a design engineering supervisor at a major automotive manufacturer for over 25 years before leaving in 2006 to pursue his interests in activity promotion. He is currently a part-time lecturer in Exercise Physiology and Sport Psychology and has a particular academic interest in the psychological benefits of physical activity.

Geoff has a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, a BA in Psychology and an MSc in Sport & Exercise Science. He is also a qualified Triathlon coach, a qualified Chair-Based Exercise Leader, holds a MIAS level 2 mountain bike leader qualification, is Cytech trained, holds a current First Aid certificate and has enhanced CRB clearance.

ALISON KEMP has been actively involved in sport for most of her life with an impressive set of achievements that include a black belt in Karate and a London Marathon finish. She is a qualified gym and circuit training instructor and is working towards an advanced gym instructor certification.

Outside of sport Alison has completed a range of nursery nursing courses and has worked for several years with special needs children. She has specialist training in speech and language disorders; autism, asperger syndrome and semantic pragmatic disorder; and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Alison has a MIAS level 2 mountain bike leader award, enhanced CRB clearance and holds a current First Aid certification.

JANE BROWN joined us in April 2010 as manager and activity leader at our Great Notley Cycle Centre after working for five years as a primary school teaching assistant where she gained experience of working with children with a range of learning and behavioural difficulties. Prior to this she worked as a carer in an elderly care home, in the accounts department of a major motor manufacturer, as a secretary and even as an actor!

Jane has a broad sporting background that includes swimming, badminton, tennis, aerobics, yoga, pilates, karate, trampolining and dance. She only started regular cycling when she joined the Trailnet health rides at Thorndon in the autumn of 2008 but has since gone on to complete numerous road and MTB rides. In June 2009 Jane completed her first triathlon. Outside of sport, Jane is a talented musician, playing both saxophone and piano, and can converse in German and Spanish.

Jane holds a number of relevant qualifications including British Cycling Ride Leader, CTC Trail Leader, and Bikeability Instructor. She has enhanced CRB clearance and a current First Aid certificate.

CHRIS TOGHER is our newest member of staff, having joined us in January 2012 after several months working as a volunteer.  Chris is an experienced cycle mechanic and has proved invaluable in helping with our Dr. Bike service, bringing unroadworthy bikes back to a safe, usable condition. Chris also has a hidden talent: he can ride a unicycle and is a big hit at our school and community events.

Chris is a lifelong cyclist, favouring off-ride riding, and is a member of both Crest Cycling Club and the Century Cycling Club.

Chris has an enhanced CRB.

Our Volunteers

In addition to our paid staff, Trailnet relies heavily on help from a team of dedicated volunteers, some of the longest-serving we highlight below:

Keith Walker joined Trailnet as a volunteer soon after its formation and has assisted with our Health Rides and other activities ever since. During his time with us Keith has gained his MIAS Level 2 Mountain Bike Leaders award and is also a qualified Bikeability Instructor. He holds separate CRB clearance for both of these roles.

Keith has always been a keen Sportsman; playing football well into his 40′s, has completed over 10 Marathons and competed at Triathlon for many years; regularly representing the Great Britain Age Group Teams at both World and European Championships, in Duathlon as well as Triathlon. In 2009 he gained a Bronze Medal at the European Ironman Championships in Frankfurt and has a couple of Duathlon National Championships Bronze medals to his name.

Keith is a member of Billericay Striders Running Club, Shaftesbury Cycling Club and Tri Sport Epping Triathlon Club, for whom he also organises events. He was instrumental in encouraging over 20 of our health riders to enter their first triathlon in June 2010.

Keith is now working in an environment that he loves, having previously been employed as a Structural Engineering Technician with an HNC + Endorsements in Structural Engineering and Construction.

Greg Smith has helped us out on many occasions: clearing new trails for our Langdon Hills MTB race and assisting with ride leadership for several recreational rides. Greg raced bikes as a Junior and has returned to cycling in recent years: now mostly time trials and long-distance mountain biking. Greg is a keen walker and has completed a number of classic walks. Greg holds a CTC Ride Leader qualification.

Vivien Lugg had done very little cycling before she became our first regular Thorndon Health Ride member in late 2009. Since then her cycling has improved out of all recognition and she is now a qualified CTC Ride Leader and helps out on many of our beginner rides.

Inspired and accompanied by her fellow health riders, Vivien has entered and completed two triathlons. She also finished the 2011 London Marathon and has taken part in the marathon-length Moonwalk four times.

Vivien holds a First Aid certificate and enhanced CRB clearance.

Paul Vaux

Rebecca Hammond

Other volunteers whose help has been invaluable in setting up and running our ReSpoke Bike Recycling Project include: