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North Cornwall: Cycling Festival for North Cornwall

The event has been organised with a view to encouraging as many people as possible to consider using their bike.  Many aspects of cycling will be featured o­n the day including organised recreational rides, cycle safety and proficiency to stunts and exhibitions by contract professional riders.  The Festival starts at 10am and finishes at 4pm.

North Cornwall District Council Leisure Services will be co-ordinating the event in partnership with the National Cyclo-Cross Association and a number of cycling providers in Cornwall.  Other cycling activities will include: police bike security marking, a treasure hunt in Cardinham woods organised by the Forestry Commission, bike maintenance workshops, family leisure rides to Lanhydrock House, cycling proficiency, BMX display, circus skills, free cycle hire from Bodmin Cycle Hire plus a portable mountain bike demonstration course from Moore Cycles, Okehampton.

Colin Brewer, Chairman of North Cornwall District Council will be attending the opening of the Festival.  He said: " We are very happy to help co-ordinate this exciting event at the Dragon Centre.  There will be many opportunities for those attending to watch the events taking place, or even join some of the leisurely rides and guided tours organised o­n the day.  There is a fantastic national series Cyclo-Cross race happening in the middle of the day with experienced rider competing from all over the South West.  The Festival has something for everyone.  Everything is free - bikes are available o­n the day and even maintenance workshops are available for those who want to bring along their bike that has maybe been unused for a long time.  NCDC is a great supporter of sustainable transport and we hope this event may encourage more use of the bicycle".

National Cyclo-Cross Event

A main feature of the day will be a national series Cyclo-Cross event.  The event has been organised in partnership with NCDC and the South West National Cyclo-Cross Association.  Vincent Cox, event Director explains a little about the sport: "Cyclo-Cross racing is a traditional cross country winter sport for cyclists. Competitors cycle at high speeds whilst negotiating corners, banks and bunny hopping obstacles. Negotiating mud, steep banks and low hurdles often forces the riders to dismount shoulder their bikes, and in many cases this technique can be the difference between winning and losing races.  The Dragon Centre event offers a very demanding circuit with excellent spectator viewing points.  There will even be a novices event at 10.30 for 12u and a 16u event at 11am.  Keen local bike riders are welcome to enter o­n the day.  No previous experience is necessary and the circuit will be adjusted to suit.  The professional riders will start at 12 noon and it is expected this race will last for o­ne hour".

Geoff Samuels NCDC Sports Development Officer who is helping to organise the day said, "The cyclo-cross circuit will be very challenging with many climbs encompassing grass and road use.  The circuit will loop round the grounds of the Dragon Centre and will include two major climbs to the road around the Centre and the grass football pitch".

Geoff added: "In addition to the cyclo-cross event, the Festival will incorporate demonstrations, displays and "come and try it sessions" for all attending which will be located o­n the Dragon Centre grass football pitch. The Festival will be free to everyone and NCDC will be offering a bouncy castle, face painting, cycle maintenance, circus skills workshops and displays by local shops and cycling providers".

Lindley Owen, who runs the Cornwall Health Action Zone and Sustrans (short for sustainable transport) in the county, said: "The idea of a North Cornwall Cycling Festival is brilliant and imaginative.  We know from a survey we carried out this year, that many people of all ages want to ride more. This is a great opportunity to see and take part in the wonderfully varied ways of getting around o­n two wheels The Chief Medical Officer recommends cycling as a way of keeping fit and staying trim.  Sustrans aim is, with partners, to create 12,000 miles of safe routes to link homes, schools, workplaces, shops and leisure opportunities, by 2005. In Cornwall we will be organising and encouraging a whole range of events to celebrate and use our growing network of trails. We wish NCDC and all the partners involved in the Cycling Festival every success".

Melanie Kneale NCDC Community Leisure Officer explained: "3.6 million people ride their bikes o­n a weekly basis in the UK. Cycle commuting is especially popular in flat areas and university towns like York and Cambridge, where almost a third of journeys to work are made o­n bikes, yet, o­nly 3% of journeys in the UK are made by bicycle.  Despite these statistics, Cornwall offers excellent opportunities for cycling with an extensive network of Bridleways, off-road tracks like the Camel Trail and leisure cycle routes offered by the Forestry Commission". 

Melanie continued:  "The extension of the Camel Trail to the Dragon Centre and the healthy partnership between NCDC and 'Pedal Back the Years' will help the Council in its goal of encouraging the use of the bicycle in North Cornwall.  Details o­n all aspects of cycling will be available at the Festival from general advice, to displays and participation sessions.  The Festival has everything for everyone from the leisurely tourer to the racer.  All have a go sessions are organised by experienced professionals - so if you enjoy mountain biking, BMX racing, cyclo-cross, touring, commuting or family fun rides, the Festival has it all.  Have a go or just watch the professionals - everything is free.   There is even the possibility of a steam train ride back from Cardinham Woods after the treasure hunt organised by the Forestry Commission.  All Bikes are supplied free of charge by Bodmin Cycle Hire.

http://www.ncdc.gov.uk/