Edinburgh Bike Club project “Belles on Bikes” is calling the city’s women to haul their bikes out of the shed, dust them down and pedal along to the Leith Festival Gala Day on 8 June.
The project is funded by Cycling Scotland and is delivered in partnership by Youth Scotland and CTC Scotland – the national cycling charity. It aims to get more women interested in cycling and will be at the Gala Day on Leith Links from 11am to 4pm.
Cycling activities will be available for everyone to try – “belle” or boy – and will include cycle rides led by qualified cycle leaders, maintenance workshops run by female bike mechanics, and Dr Bike, who is on hand to fix punctures and minor bike ailments.
The Bike Club Skills Trail will also be free for cyclists to test out their skills, and the Leith Cycle Company will have bikes and children’s tagalongs to try out, so “baby belles” can go out for a spin too. Adventure trails will be available for children and young people and are always popular.
Kirsteen Torrance, Bike Club Development Officer, said:-“We want to encourage more women to get on their bike and enjoy all the benefits of cycling. Edinburgh is a wonderful place to get started on a bike because of its extensive cycle network and supportive cycling community, and the “Belles on Bikes” project is a great way to introduce more women to the idea of getting around the city on two wheels.
The Leith Gala Day event will be great fun and the range of cycling activities on offer will appeal to all kinds of people. So even if you’re not a girl, come along and get pedalling with us!”
For more information on the event, please contact:
Kirsteen Torrance, Bike Club Development Officer: Kirsteen.Torrance@CTC.org.uk
Suzanne Forup, Network Development Manager: Suzanne.Forup@youthscotland.org.uk.
Both Suzanne and Kirsteen can be reached on 0131 554 2561.
Submitted by Claire Connachan
