THE Guardian’s Pedal Power campaign champions cycling in all its forms.

It can be about sport, a hobby, a way of keeping fit, a simple mode of transport or a way of life, there is a kind of cycling for everyone.

The easiest way of getting into it is everyday cycling – all you need is a bike and yourself.

This month Pedal Power is taking part in a national celebration of everyday cycling and hopes to encourage readers to join in.

 

MANY people are put off cycling by the thought that they may need to don a whole load of specialist gear, have a top of the range bike and go like the clappers for miles and miles.

But this need not be the case and one of the most joyful forms of cycling is simply riding your bike, any kind of bike, whether just for fun, to visit friends, travel to work or nip to the shops.

This month sees a UK-wide celebration of the great but humble world of everyday cycling with National Bike Week from June 14 to 22.

Bike Week is an annual opportunity to promote cycling, and show how riding a bike can easily be part of everyday life by encouraging ‘everyday cycling for everyone’.

The initiative was started in 1923 by the Cyclists’ Touring Club – now known as CTC.

Demonstrating the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling, the week aims to get people to give cycling a go all over the UK.

There are two Pedal Power events planned for the week, including a lunchtime ride around Northwich Woodlands on Thursday, June 19, and a Pedal Power picnic at Marbury Country Park on Saturday, June 21.

The lunchtime ride will meet by the entrance to Carey Park, in Cumberland car park, at 1pm and cover a five-mile route through Carey Park, Ashton and Neumanns Flashes and along the River Weaver – a similar route to that used in the Pedal Power Festival in May.

The aim of the Saturday Pedal Power picnic is for people to travel to Marbury Park by bike with a picnic.

You could link it in with a longer bike ride of your own before or after the event, but the picnic, which starts at 12.30pm is a chance for cyclists to get together and relax in the beautiful surroundings of the park.

The events are both free to join.

Do you have any plans for Bike Week?

Whether you have organised a Bike Week event, plan to ride to work every day that week, go on your first bike ride for a long time, treat yourself to a new bike or go cycling in fancy dress, we want to know about it.

Email gbebbington@guardiangrp.co.uk or ring 01606 813624 to share your plans, pictures and stories.

For more information about the week visit bikeweek.org.uk