‘Celebration of Cycling’ event brings two-wheeled holiday fun for families

Kick-start the summer holidays with a fun-filled ‘Celebration of Cycling’ event on the shores of Windermere. From guided bike rides and cycling skills sessions, to vintage bikes and even a bike-powered smoothie maker, families can enjoy a day packed full of FREE cycling related fun on Tuesday 22 July 2014.

Taking place from 11am–4.00pm at Brockhole, The Lake District Visitor Centre, the GoLakes Travel Programme has teamed up with the Lake District National Park Authority to give people all the help and inspiration they need to get out and about for some two-wheeled adventures this summer.

The day will include:

• A special outdoor exhibition of bikes through the ages, courtesy of the Lakeland Motor Museum. Among the bikes on show will be a folding bicycle used by paratroopers in World War II, a rare 1960s ‘Spacelander’ bicycle and a replica of what’s widely believed to be the first pedal-driven bicycle, an 1839 Macmillan.
• Four guided bike rides with British Cycling, including a free return trip on the ‘bike boat’ as part of the Sky Ride Local initiative:

Windermere - the Shore Line (11am and 1pm): This easy-going ride heads across Windermere to the lake’s peaceful western shore. Making your way south along a traffic free route, there’s plenty of time to stop off for a breather and some refreshments at the mock-gothic Wray Castle. Ideal for young families, bikes can be hired in advance.

Brockhole to Hawkshead loop (Midday and 2pm): Heading across Windermere, this route makes its way to Near Sawrey and Beatrix Potter’s home at Hill Top via Wray Castle and Hawkshead. Then it’s back up the shore of Windermere along the new cycle path for the return boat trip back to Brockhole.

Places should be pre-booked at: www.goskyride.com/lakes

• Free skills sessions: ‘Get biking with the experts’ and pick up some handy practical hints and tips, down to mending those pesky punctures.
• Electric bike try-out sessions: Try out a two-wheeler with added oomph, with a test ride on an electric bike.
• Family entertainment throughout the day, from face painting to jesters and even a bike-powered smoothie maker!

Claire Maclaine, Programme Manager for GoLakes Travel, says, “Last year’s first Celebration of Cycling event was a great success, with lots of positive feedback from cyclists and walkers alike. It was a great way to increase interest in cycling and bike hire, and to promote all the great ‘family-friendly’ cycle routes around Windermere. So this time, the event is back, even bigger and better. We’re hoping to appeal to families of all ages and reinforce the message that cycling is fun, accessible and easy to get into. Of course if the sun shines, it will be an added bonus!”

Edwin Maher, Director of the Lakeland Motor Museum, adds, “It is great to be showcasing some of the more unique and unusual bikes from down the years. Not many people realise that we have an extensive collection of bicycles, stretching from the early days of cycling in the mid-1800s through to the lightweight carbon fibre models we all recognise today. The Celebration of Cycling event is a golden opportunity to give people a new insight into the evolution of pedal-power over more than 150 years and hopefully inspire them to try out life on two wheels for themselves.”

Caroline Gilbert, Recreation Manager for British Cycling says, “This is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to get out on their bicycle and explore this beautiful area of the Lake District. You can relax and enjoy the scenery as our fully trained British Cycling Ride Leaders guide you around a stunning pre planned route, including a boat trip across Lake Windermere. Don’t miss out on this Celebration of Cycling!”

The Celebration of Cycling event is free to attend and visitors can bring your own bike on the bus or boat. Brockhole is accessible from the 800 Bike Bus and the Windermere ‘Bike Boat’, both of which carry up to 12 bikes and riders.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For more information, please contact:

Heather Sewell, 01539 825002 / 07795 487003 / hsewell@cumbriatourism.org

The GoLakes Travel programme is a £6.9 million initiative being delivered in partnership by Cumbria County Council, the Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria Tourism. It aims to reduce the area’s CO2 emissions by to 11,000 tonnes by 2015 whilst helping local businesses and the economy. This is all being done by influencing people to make fewer car journeys while visiting the Lake District.

The programme, which has been funded primarily through the Department for Transport, along with some matched funding, is focussed on the Central and Southern Lake District, including the towns and villages of Grasmere, Ambleside, Windermere, Kendal, Hawkshead and Coniston. This area has been chosen because it receives the majority of the 20 million visitors to the National Park.

1.There are nine project strands within the GoLakes Travel programme covering a wide range of activity, including enhanced public transport services, cycle hire and improvements to routes, better information about travel options, comprehensive marketing and PR activity, and training for the tourism industry in the region.

2. Helping more visitors to use buses, trains and water transport, as well as walking, cycling and hiring low emissions vehicles will reduce the impact of their travel on the local environment and community, while making their trip to the Lakes more enjoyable and relaxing.

3. For further information on visiting the Lake District and other parts of Cumbria visit www.golakes.co.uk