Cycle Festival rides into Cornwall

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Jun 2006

An amazing "conference bike" which allows up to six people to stage a meeting while cycling and a "pedalling settee" are just some of the weird and wacky bikes which are being brought to the county by the internationally renowned Company of Cyclists for this year's Cornwall Festival of Cycling.

The four week long Festival, which runs from Monday June 26th to July 23rd, is a cycling road show which will visit schools and public locations throughout the county offering children and members of the public the chance to try out more than 30 brilliant and bonkers bikes.

This is the third year Cornwall has been visited by the Company of Cyclists. "The aim of the Festival is to promote the benefits of cycling by encouraging people to try out a range of bicycles in an exciting but controlled environment "said Tamsin Ferris, the County Council's Walking and Cycling Co-ordinator .

"The last two Festivals have been hugely successful and we are confident that this year's event will be the best ever. We have extended the Festival from two to four weeks which is enabling the road show to visit many more venues throughout the county".

The public Roadshows, which will be staged at the weekends, will visit Penzance, Truro, Bodmin, Bude, Falmouth, St Austell and Carn Brea. The Company of Cyclists will also visit primary and secondary schools at Illogan, Indian Queens, Newquay, Truro, Falmouth, Saltash, Bude, Wadebridge, Liskeard, St Ives, Bodmin, Pool, Redruth and St Austell.

The Roadshows, which are FREE for all ages and will run from 10 am to 5 pm, will also include the opportunity for a Dr Bike Session (bike check up) from various local cycle retailers. There will also be free police security bike marking available at most public roadshows. Bring your bikes!!

Cornish Way leaflets and other information on cycling in Cornwall will also be available, with representatives from Sustrans, a charity to promote sustainable transport being on hand to provide information. Information will also be available on the Cyclewise Training Scheme, a voluntary cycle training scheme organised by the County Council's Road Safety Unit for children aged 10 years old.

The success of the Festival has been welcomed by Matt McTaggart, the County Council's Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, who said "The County Council has a responsibility for promoting healthy lifestyles and cycling is recognised as a healthy and suitable form of exercise for most people, regardless of age, fitness levels and disabilities. "

"It is also a great way to discover Cornwall and the Cornish Way cycle network is constantly improving providing more opportunities for people to enjoy this practical, fun and healthy way of accessing local shops, work and leisure opportunities".

The Cornwall Festival of Cycling is a partnership comprising:Cornwall County Council; Health Action Zone; North Cornwall and Caradon District Councils; West and East Cornwall Rural Transport Partnerships and Sustrans.

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Local MP Julia Goldsworthy, who will be joining the festival when it visits King Charles Primary School and Redruth Secondary School, commented:

"Riding a bike is a great way to beat the traffic, keep fit and enjoy the Cornish sunshine all at the same time. This festival is a brilliant way of putting smiles on people's faces and reminding them how much fun cycling can be."