Bike Week in Gloucestershire

20 to 21 June – Gloucestershire is being encouraged to get cycling this Bike Week 2009, with a series of two-wheeled events taking place across the county.

Bike Week, the UK’s biggest cycling event, is challenging families to get more out of life by swapping their four wheels for two and exploring new places in their local community, from Saturday 13 and Sunday 21 June 2009.

With over half of all car journeys being less than five miles long, organisers say by switching to an easy 30-minute bike ride families will save money, find new places they didn’t know existed, shrink their carbon footprint and get fit too.

On Saturday 13 June 2009, outside Stroud Subscription Rooms there will be a green travel event entitled Trip Switch, from 9.30am to 2.30pm. Promoting cycling, lift-sharing, and public transport, visitors will be able to buy used bikes, bike parts and clothing, have Dr Bike look at their bicycle, and have their bikes marked with security postcodes. At 11am there will also be pedal-powered spray painting for children at the free event. Contact (01453) 762233 for more information.

On Saturday 13 June 2009 the Cheltenham & Tewkesbury Cycling Campaign will be giving a bike display and drop-in event at Watson Hall, High Street, Tewkesbury. As well as talking to residents about its plans to boost cycling in Tewkesbury between 9.30am and 4.30pm, organisers are also keen to hear residents’ views, and will be giving free tips and advice on cycling to all ages.

On Tuesday 16 June 2009, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, a free basic cycling skills session will be held at St Luke’s Church Hall in Cheltenham, GL53 7JL. Focusing on how to be safe and confident in traffic there will be a presentation by John Franklin the author of Cyclecraft, as well as teaching sessions on cycling skills for participants of all ages.

On Friday 19 June 2009, as part of Velo Club Montpellier’s Leisure Lakes Bikes Circuit Series, Cheltenham Racecourse will be hosting an evening of races which members of the public can watch for free. Starting at 7.30pm with youth racing, organisers say the main event will be the senior race, held on a tight and fast 40km circuit. For more information, and to find out about taking part, contact VC Montpellier on 07841 707062.

On Saturday 20 June 2009 the Cheltenham & Tewkesbury Cycling Campaign will be giving a bike display and a drop-in event in Cheltenham town centre, on the High Street in front of M&S between 9.30am and 4.30pm. As well as talking to residents about its plans to boost cycling in Cheltenham, organisers are also keen to hear residents’ views, and will be giving free advice on cycling to all ages.

In Gloucestershire there are a number of cycle routes to explore throughout the year. The six-mile Stroud Valleys Pedestrian Cycle Trail runs from Stonehouse to Nailsworth along a disused railway line. In the Forest of Dean there is the off-road 11-mile Family Cycling Trail, which runs along forest tracks and old railway lines, while the Cotswold Water Park has a flat landscape that makes for very gentle cycling between the lakes, for example.

Event: Bike Week 2009
Venues: Across Gloucestershire, see above for more information
Dates: Saturday 13 and Sunday 21 June 2009
Times: Vary, see above for specific details
Tickets: Bike Week events are free. Contact the Bike Week organisers on 0845 612 0661 for more information.

SoGlos.com
2 June 2009