Dumfries & Galloway Council, unveiled the action packed programme for The Original Bicycle Festival, Scotland's Homecoming cycling festival, set to be staged across Dumfries & Galloway from 9 to 24 May 2009.
The sixteen-day Festival celebrates the region's two wheeled triumphs of all shapes and sizes, from the world renowned 7stanes mountain bike trails and annual host of road cycling's Tour of Britain; to its status as the birthplace of the pedal cycle, invented by Kirkpatrick 'Pate' Macmillan (1813-78).
Highlights of the varied and exciting Original Bicycle Festival programme include elite and open mountain bike and road cycling events, guided rides, rallies and coaching sessions, youth and women's activities and a host of cycling themed cultural and educational activities and events.
The Original Bicycle Festival is a showcase to promote access to and participation in cycling throughout Dumfries & Galloway for residents and visitors alike; people of all ages from families with children to youth groups and 'weekend warriors' to cycling commuters, the over 50's and those new to the sport but keen to have a go.
Festival events will take place in venues across the region including the world-renowned 7stanes mountain bike trail centres, Drumlanrig Castle, DG One in Dumfries, the Easterbrook Hall and Dumfries and Castle Douglas town centres working with the World Mountain Biking Conference.
The Original Bicycle Festival will be delivered by a solid partnership of government agencies, local government and community groups, sporting agencies and volunteers. Partners and stakeholders include:
- Dumfries and Galloway Council - Economic Regeneration and Leisure and Sport,
- Forestry Commission Scotland,
- VisitScotland,
- Scottish Cycling,
- Steppingstanes (youth coaching voluntary agency)
- and Dumfries and Galloway Mountain Bike Business Network.
Full programme available on www.originalbicyclefestival.co.uk
Picture: World record holder Mark Beaumont has shown what vision and determination on a bike really means. His 195-day, world record circumnavigation of the globe puts every other cycling trip into perspective. CREDIT: AB Images Scotland©
