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Get Your Wheels Racing at Eastbourne�s First Cycling Fest! This weekend the UK�s sunniest place is encouraging visitors and residents to get on their bike in the first Eastbourne Cycling Festival and it�s free! From 21-22 May Eastbourne seafront will be packed with cycling activity; from the chance to take on the wattbike and compete against times set by multi medal winning Olympic superstar Sir Chris Hoy to a distance challenge in the Eastbourne Cyclosportive. Families can enjoy a genteel ride with Bespoke while riders of all ages and abilities can test their speed in time trials. The Festival Village on the Western Lawns will offer plenty for visitors to browse while they�re not taking part themselves or cheering the road racers on, including Bexhill Classic Cycle Group parading in vintage costume on antique bicycles, the Cycling Information Unit with handy tips on local routes, and a special appearance from University of Brighton student Emily Brooke who will unveil a special product designed to make drivers more aware of cyclists. Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure Cllr Neil Stanley said �What a brilliant weekend we have coming up here in Eastbourne with our first ever Cycling Festival! Cycling is a fantastic way to keep fit and help the environment and it�s great that we have such a packed programme of activities meaning there really will be a way for everyone to enjoy cycling! We have worked with a variety of partners to be able to make this event happen and I hope avid cyclists as well as those who have never ridden a bike will come along this weekend.� The Wattbike Challenge will take place on Saturday and Sunday in the Festival Village with two challenges to choose from. Visitors can either team up in groups of three to take on a 250 metre challenge in a timed sprint to try and beat Sir Chris Hoy and Eastbourne�s very own professional cyclist Tom Copeland, or they can try to �Beat the Car�. The �Beat the Car� challenge is designed to demonstrate that the bike is a good alternative to using the car to get to and from work, and will compare car and bike journeys from various locations around Eastbourne to the town centre. The Wattbike Challenges will be staged by British Cycling and the Borough Council to promote cycling as an environmentally friendly way to travel and a good form of exercise. The bikes can also be taken to other public events in Eastbourne. The Go-Ride Challenge will take place on the Saturday and Sunday of the event offering the chance for a spot of team action with local businesses, schools and colleges invited to take on an obstacle course within the Festival Village to be crowned the most skilful rider, with prizes to be awarded. For those wanting to cover a longer distance, avid cyclists can sign up now to take part in the Cyclosportive on the Sunday of the Festival with three routes to choose from; 106 miles, 80 miles, and 50 miles, or riders of all abilities can enter the road races, which will see cyclists taking on laps along the seafront and up to East Dean. Entries are still being taken at http://www.srs-events.cc/event6/event-details.htm. The riding action continues into the evening too with a special Rollapaluza event at the Afton Hotel on the Saturday evening of the Festival. A contemporary take on an old sport, two cyclists will battle it out on a pair of custom made Rollapaluza rollers connected to a huge dial over a simulated 500m distance at speeds of more than 50mph! For more information on other activities taking place at Eastbourne Cycling Festival, including Cappuccino Rides, Off Road, Unicycle Displays, Bike Surgery and more, and to find special offer hotel deals for the weekend go to www.eastbournecycling.com or call 0871 663 0031. Eastbourne Cycling Festival is supported in sponsorship by The Tri Store and run in association with and supported by British Cycling, Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club, Pedal Power, Bespoke, SRS Events, On The Rivet, Hankham Motors, Bufferra, Shock Absorber, Afton Hotel, Eastbourne Hospitality Association, Ashprint, C. N. Pettett (Builder & Decorator), Haulaway Ltd, Eastbourne Scaffolding Ltd, Eastbourne Tyres Ltd and The Classic Cycle Group. |
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