KPT Development Trust’s Tracks and Trails Group are busy organising a Celebration of Cycling taking place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August 2021 between 10.00am and 3.00pm each day
“We are really excited about this celebration” said Maureen Halkett, chair of KPT Development Trust, “being the first big event the Trust is organising since Covid. Last year we were awarded £1,000 from Cycling Scotland to organise a mass Bike Ride and then this year we received just over £1,100 from Dumfries and Galloway Council Events budget which is allowing us to make it a real celebration”.
On the Saturday, the main event is going to be the bike pump tracks from Muckmedden. They are bringing their Shoretrax Mobile Bike Track and a novice track. They will also bring bikes and helmets of all sizes for people to try. 4 qualified mountain bike leaders (all first aid trained) will be on hand to offer coaching and guidance. “They provide all the necessary systems” explained Senga Greenwood, Development officer of the Trust, “ which includes a sign-on system and all the Covid safety requirements”.
At the same time there will be skills sessions for all ranges provided by Sustrans’ Bike Officer, Briony Kincaid.
Once all the skills have been honed, obstacle races are to be organised with prizes of vouchers donated by the Frothy bike Co., Dumfries.
As this is a celebration of cycling, the Trust has asked to loan the Kirkpatrick Macmillan replica bike from Drumlanrig Castle to have on show in the park. “And at the other end of the scale,” Senga reports, “ we are inviting all local electric bike owners to come to the park on the Saturday to show off their bikes and hopefully offer folk to have a go.”
There will also be various stalls relating to cycling and the environment in the park.
On the Sunday, the mass led bike ride will set off from Gladstone park and make for Barjarg Lodge through Keir. Maureen explained “we chose this route so that the ride would pass Courthill Smithy, where Kirkpatrick Macmillan invented the velocipede, the fore-runner of the bicycle”.
To participate in the bike ride, you can pre-register through Eventbrite as well as booking in on the morning. Registration link ; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebration-of-cycling-mass-bike-ride-sunday-29-august-2021-tickets-165396801285
The Group are also working on a teen bike race or time trials, the route still be to be confirmed.
For more information, please check out our Facebook page or email for further information.
Volunteers to help out at the weekend are more than welcome, please contact Senga on…….
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