Bike Week, the UK’s annual ‘celebration of cycling’, will be 11-19 June this year.  More than 2,000 local cycling events and rides are expected to attract at least 300,000 participants, most of whom will be new or returning to cycling. Bike Week is the only nationwide promotion of all kinds of free cycling activities for cyclists of all abilities. There are all sorts of events from time trials and road races to treasure hunts and leisure rides.

This year’s Bike Week is promoting ‘everyday cycling for health and fitness’.  Many fun events will be aimed at novice or lapsed cyclists, including children and young families.  Hundreds of Bike2Work rides are being organised by employers and workplace bicycle user groups, helping to reduce the number of unnecessary car journeys by commuters.

Most Bike Week events are free to enter.  Some will raise funds for charities, including Leukaemia Research.  Organisers range from local authorities to cycling clubs, National Cycle Network volunteer rangers to campaigning groups. 

The first national Bike Week was held in 1923.  Last year more than 1,400 events attracted 250,000 cyclists.  Bike Week is organised for 16 organisations that want to encourage ‘more people to cycle more often’, funded by UK governments (England, London, Scotland and Wales) and sponsored by the cycle industry’s Bike Hub.

All Bike Week and Bike2Work events and rides will be listed at www.bikeweek.org.uk (or telephone 01243 527444).