Velo Belle – Women’s cycling day in Leicester, 16 March 2010, 10am – 4pm
VELO BELLE is a new project dedicated to promoting cycling amongst women by proving that cycling is more than just practical and healthy - it can also be stylish and fun, and it’s easy to fit into the average woman’s life.
March 16th sees a festival of women’s cycling taking place in Queens Hall and the surrounding grounds at the University of Leicester, supported by the CTC and organised by Cyclemagic. The day includes: Funding partners
· a cycle try-out area with odd and unusual bikes,
· free bicycle maintenance,
· stalls and representatives from innovative cycle clothing manufacturers,
· a cycle history display,
· a recycled art workshop,
· Go-ride games and Watt Bike challenges
The aim of Velo Belle is to show that you don’t have to model yourself on an elite sportswoman to happily ride a bike. From complete beginners looking for advice on learning to ride, through to everyday cyclists looking for more challenges, the festival will appeal to cyclists of all levels. However you want to incorporate cycling into your life, the event will be full of tips to show you how you can.
Elizabeth Barner, CTC Cycling Champions Officer in Leicester, said: ‘Across the country, about 1/3 of cyclists are women. The Department for Transport published research suggesting that women don’t cycle across town for two basic reasons: concerns about safety and confidence, and concerns about how they might look when they arrive. This event tackles both concerns in a fun and easy way.’
Women can come along to discover (or simply admire) different types of cycles - everything from vintage shoppers and Dutch bikes to mountain and racing bikes. As well as the opportunity to try out bikes, there will also be information on learning to ride or improving skills from registered Bikeability trainers. There will be details on Cyclemagic’s maintenance courses if you’d like to learn how to take care of your ride and free maintenance offered on-site by Dr Bike.
Other stalls at the event will show how the latest innovations in accessories and safety gear mean that style need not be compromised on the bike. Exhibits from leading cycle clothing manufacturers will help show just how much cycle-specific clothing has changed in recent years. Creative Problem Solvers will also be offering recycled accessory and art making workshops throughout the day
If this all sounds too much and you just want to put your feet up, there will be free chauffeured rickshaw rides available round the site all day!
Organised byCyclemagic
VELO BELLE is being organised with funding support from the Big Lottery Fund through the Cyclists’ Touring Club’s Cycle Champions project.
Supporting Organisations
University of Leicester Students Union
Contact Student Volunteers
LOROS
Published by: Travel Actively on Monday March 01 2010
