Festival of cycling

Karen Neville

Posted on

bicycle

Cyclist all over are gearing up for this year’s Wallingford Festival of Cycling

When three dads set up a cycling club for talented 16-19 year olds in Wallingford in 2014, little did they know the chain of events that would follow.

A year later, they went one further and the town’s very own cycling festival was launched attracting more than 3,000 people and gaining a starring role on TV in what else but Midsomer Murders when the race featured in Breaking the Chain.

But ‘stardom’ aside the real aim for the festival is to be a celebration of cycling, encouraging more people to get on their bikes more often.

The festival begins on Friday, 12th July with the dual track course testing riders on speed and handling skills as they go downhill, over jumps, rollers and bermed corners and is suitable for anyone aged 5 and over with a mountain bike or scooter.

New to the festival this year is the Dirt Factory air bag for bike stunt jumps – check out the video on the website to see this in action, but it’s sure to attract a few daredevils!

Saturday 13th includes these as well as wheels for all taster sessions and pump track competitions. Sunday 14th is the day for all the rides with distances ranging from 13 miles to 100 miles to choose from. If you’re new to cycling or want to ride as a family then try out the five mile festival fun ride and if it’s cycling of a different type or to be precise from a different era you want to try out then how about learning to ride a penny farthing?

Find out more

For more details, entry information and costs, visit the Wallingford Festival of Cycling website

 

Click here

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Get into gear

Karen Neville

Posted on

bicycle

Join Wokingham Bikeathon on 30th June and take on 15 or 35 mile route

This year’s Wokingham Bikeathon on Sunday, 30th June, is literally bigger than ever – in addition to the 15-mile route, there’s a 35-mile challenge for riders to take on as well.

The new relatively flat route should be an easy ride and at an average speed of 12 miles per hour, should take about three hours to cycle.

This longer distance builds on the success of the bikeathon which started in 2008 with just 143 riders – since that time thousands have taken part with the invaluable help of volunteers, local businesses, charities and organisations.

Run by a committee, headed by Wokingham ‘champion’ Stan Hetherington the original aim was to get people out on their bikes and enjoy the local area, over the years it has developed into a vehicle for fundraising with many charities benefitting.

Money from entries each year goes back into the event for the following year with any surplus after covering bills going to good causes.

Cyclists of all ages and abilities are welcome to saddle up, with many cycling as families. For these the 15-mile route is perfect, it provides the quietest route for families, is easy and should take around 60-90 minutes to complete. There is a drinks stop at 9.3miles with snacks available too.

Over the years it has developed into a vehicle for fundraising with many charities benefitting

Course split points will be used to highlight where the route divides between the 15 and 35 mile courses. For those taking on the longer distance, there’s a drinks stop at 19 miles.

Registration is open now for those wishing to do so online but you can just turn up at Cantley Park on the day.

Get involved!

For all the important information you need to take part and to register in advance

Click here

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter:

Get into gear with Bike Week

Round & About

Posted on

bicycle

Today marks the start of Bike Week – a great opportunity to celebrate the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling. 

The aim is to get many thousands of people across the UK to give cycling a try, encouraging people to get out on their bikes between Saturday, 8th June and Sunday, 16th June. 

Any outing on a bike counts – whether that’s nipping round to a friend’s house, cycling to work or school, enjoying a leisurely ride with the family or tackling a cycling challenge. 

Bike Week shines a light on everyday cycling for everyone. This year, Bike Week is set to add another 240,000 people to the 2.4 million who already cycle three times or more a week. 

Across the UK, hundreds of events will be taking place to help you enjoy cycling. 

Bike Week events are suitable for people of all ages and experience. There will be lots of different opportunities, such as family-friendly rides, bike maintenance, bike breakfasts and group rides, among others. 

There are so many health benefits associated with cycling as well as the obvious aid to weight loss, it can help reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, boost immunity, aids mental health, helps to reduce air pollution and can also help you save money. 

There are many events you can get involved in all around the country although you can of course just get out on your bike under your own steam. 

Closer to home at the end of the month Wokingham Bikeathon takes place on Sunday, 30th June with both a 15-mile route and a 35-mile route to take part in. 

Cyclists of all ages and abilities are welcome to saddle up, with many cycling as families and the 15-mile route is perfect for families to tackle together. 

Registration is open now for those wishing to do so online but you can just turn up at Cantley Park on the day. 

For all the important information you need to take part and to register in advance, visit Wokingham Bikeathon

However you cycle it’s important to make sure you do it safely and the Cycle-Smart Foundation based in Reading has some great tips and advice on doing just that and the importance of wearing of a helmet.

  Find out more about them at Cycle Smart Foundation

Get the latest news straight to your inbox

Choose which newsletter: