Coming Up: Cycling Fun Day in Barnstaple

Barnstaple on the north Devon coast will be launched as the county's fourth cycling "hub" as it hosts a Family Fun Day at Rock Park from 10am to 4pm next Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May. Devon County Council has been awarded a £2 million grant from Cycling England to promote leisure cycling and the County Council is holding the fun days in five towns across Devon to encourage people to take to two wheels.

The fun day will provide a chance for regular cyclists, absolute beginners and non-cyclists to enjoy a ride along the Tarka Trail.

As well as the cycle ride, there will be plenty more to see and do, with a breathtaking mountain bike trials display by Devon County Council Cycling Ambassador Andrei Burton, a Cycle Circus, and a variety of bikes on show with everything from old fashioned roadsters and mountain bikes to trikes and disability bikes.

There will be free bike security marking and qualified mechanics will be available at the Dr Bike clinic, offering a free health check for your bike. Brush up on vital skills with sessions to learn how to fix a puncture under supervision of an expert, and Devon County Council cycle instructors will be on hand to help children learn to ride without stabilisers. Adults and children can also fine tune their cycling ability on the skills course.

There will even be the opportunity to try the “Smoothie Bike”, where you can pedal your way to a healthy refreshment and burn calories at the same time.

Everyone who takes part in a ride will be asked to fill in a questionnaire to give feedback on their experience. The County Council will also be looking for volunteers at each of the events to take part in keeping an online diary throughout the year detailing what cycling they are doing. Those who take part will receive incentives and have the opportunity to win prizes.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “We've had excellent turn outs at our cycling fun days which goes to show what a popular activity cycling is and it's growing all the time. The aim is for people to enjoy themselves, whether they are new to cycling or not and to either take up cycling or cycle more often. Everyone’s welcome to turn up with their bike and take part. Even if you haven’t got a bike there will be some available for people to try. There are no excuses not to come along and have a go!

“We would ask everyone considering coming along to take care on their journey to Rock Park and we recommend that participants wear a helmet when cycling."

The other cycling hubs in Devon are Exeter, Exmouth, Tavistock and Newton Abbot, where the aim is to improve access to local cycle networks and increase levels of cycling.

The date and venue of the remaining cycle fun day is:

Saturday 29 May – Exmouth, King George V Playing Fields.

For more information visit www.cycledevon.info