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Matt Ewings is new to Chelmsford, he's from Devon and is the Chelmsford Borough Council's new Cycling Development Officer.

Matt on his bike

At 25 years-old he says: "I'm settling in well even though it's a long way from home, I'm from Devon originally but it seems a nice town." 听

The role will involve Matt getting into schools and encouraging children and adults to take up more cycling.

"If we can get the kids more involved in cycling, hopefully we can give them the opportunity to progress through the sport," he says.

And that could mean a possible Olympic champion at a later date. Especially as Hadleigh Country Park is hosting the mountain biking for London 2012.

"It's really quite exciting that the Olympics are coming to Essex and the Olympic mountain biking competition. We need to get out and use the competition to promote sport," he says.

"I started mountain biking when I was 14 or 15 and then went on to road racing and spent a season in France. I just carried on developing and this year I've joined a new team racing at a national level."听

The Senior Sports Development Officer at Chelmsford Borough Council, Antony Bensley, believes Matt's position will help to encourage more people to use the local cycle paths and get on their bike.

"Part of Matt's role is to encourage more people to be active and that could be through cycling to work. As an added benefit it may well be quicker and cheaper and will help to reduce congestion," says Antony.

Antony Bensley and Matt Ewings

Matt's keen to point out he rides in to work most days.

Mud, Sweat, and Gears is the big project for Antony and Matt, a mountain biking challenge at Danbury Outdoor Activity Centre.

The competition is being staged on Sunday, 19, July 2009.

If Danbury isn't for you, then there are other dates at Codham Park near Braintree, Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire and Langdon Hills near Basildon.听听

Antony took part last year and is organising the Danbury event this year. He says it's great for both adults and juniors.

"The idea is to give people a taste of mountain bike racing. Beginners are welcome and I wasn't a competitive cyclist myself and was very happy taking part," he explains.

There are a number of different age groups and lots of time for you to dust down and clean off that bike.