Summer of cycling saddles up in Dumfries & Galloway

To celebrate the UCI Paracycling World Championships coming to the area from the 9-12 August, Dumfries & Galloway Council is urging people to saddle up for a ‘Summer of Cycling’.

The Council has partnered up with a range of cycling and community groups across the region, to organise dozens of events designed to motivate people to get on their bike.

Events range from Galloway Forest Gravel Epic at Talnotry, Newton Stewart, to the Galloway Hillbillies Bike Club’s ever popular 10@Kirroughtree, together with a host of community cycles for all, including a trip around the Crichton Campus in Dumfries

The Summer of Cycling was launched by the Council’s Chair of its Communities Committee, Councillor Ian Blake.

‘It is a real feather in our cap to attract an international event of the standard of the UCI World Paracycling Championship and reinforces for us that Dumfries & Galloway has an international reputation as a centre of excellence for cycling,’ said Councillor Blake.

‘To get the most out of the World Championships we wanted to create opportunities to help local people and visitors embrace cycling across the whole summer, not just the four days in August.

‘We are committed as a Council to supporting cycling across the region for all ages and all abilities and our Summer of Cycling programme has something for everyone.’

There are over 450 miles of signposted cycle routes across the region as well as many off-road cycle routes and world class mountain bike trail centres.

Joining Councillor Blake at the launch was Michelle McRoberts, chief executive of the Dalbeattie Community Initiative that runs the Rocks and Wheels project and Derek Pennycook of the hugely popular Dumfries and Galloway What’s Going In website and Facebook page.

Rocks and Wheels aims to create an activity centre where it will bring Dalbeattie’s former Primary School back to life as a cycling and bouldering community resource.

‘We have a world renowned resource on our doorstep with 7stanes mountain biking trail, but we have so much more to offer cyclists of all abilities in the area. Anything that helps promote wider cycling opportunities and gets people on their bikes is to welcomed,’ said Michelle.

Dalbeattie Rocks and Wheels own Bike Fest takes place on August 5.

Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice-Chair of the Communities Committee said, ‘The Council works closely with community and events organisations across the region and we are thrilled at the efforts of so many people who put together this Summer of Cycling. We really are serious about cycling here in Dumfries and Galloway, and there is so many great options to enjoy if you want to dust down your bike in the garage and get out and explore.’

All Summer of Cycling events are listed at moo4events.com