A new cycling festival is to be held in Kendal, with e-bikes, family cycling and carbon cutting lifestyles taking centre stage.
The team behind the Kendal Cycling Festival, which will take place on Sunday, April 30 and Monday, May 1, hopes that the event will provide the impetus for a step-change in the uptake of cycling in Kendal and the wider Westmorland area.
The festival, supported by Kendal BID, is hoping to attract dedicated cycling enthusiasts and people new to cycling to Kendal town centre to find out more about the growing sport.
The main attraction for youngsters will be the pop-up pump track located in Abbot Hall Park. Taster sessions and stunt demos will be the order of the day. For older would-be riders, Wheelbase of Staveley will have a fleet of e-bikes for trying out and there will be range of other bikes on display, which suit families, as well as older riders.
The festival will also have a town centre venue in Market Place where there will be a two-day programme of presentations, films and events which will showcase the benefits of cycling for carbon-reduction, low-cost travel and healthy lifestyles.
Festival organisers are very excited to announce key note presentations from cycling superstars Lee Craigie from the Adventure Syndicate, who will talk about her Resolution Race, and round-the-world cyclist Jenny Graham, who will introduce her new book.
Other highlights will include a bike repair café and a bike gear sale/swap.
Stuart Lockton, festival manager from the organising group, Wellbeing Westmorland CIC, said: “We want to show people a good range of modern cycling options that are suitable for all kinds of journeys, from commuting to touring, and how making good choices about our modes of transport can contribute to carbon reduction, as well as healthier lifestyles.”
Peter Brendling, the manager of Kendal BID, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Kendal Cycling Festival. It will promote all the benefits that cycling can bring and, by drawing in visitors to the town, will give an economic boost to local shops and hospitality businesses.”
