‘THE Flying Scotsman’, Graeme Obree, one of Scotland’s most successful speed cyclists, will officially open the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival’s Big Day event at 11:00 on Saturday 12 May 2012 in Aberfeldy.
He will be joined by local MSP, John Swinney, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth.
They will kick off the day with a ‘Challenge Graeme’ event – can anyone beat the big man on a static bike?
The Big Day is the flagship event of the week long Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival and is being staged between 11:00 and 16:00 at Victoria Park, Aberfeldy, on Saturday 12 May 2012, the day before the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive.
The free cycle fun day aimed at locals and visitors; cyclists and non-cyclists, has a packed programme of family focused activities that include awesome bike displays from The Clan stunt display team, a giant air bag to safely test jumping skills, open races, bikes to try, borrow and hire, funny bikes, cycling demonstrations, a cycle obstacle course, stalls, bouncy castles, cyclo cross, dress up your bike, music and food served all day.
Cycling enthusiasts attending this year’s Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival have the opportunity to end the week-long event in style by attending an inspirational talk by Graeme Obree.
On the evening of the Big Day, Graeme Obree will be speaking about his career on and off the bike at the Breadalbane Community Campus.
Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £2 for Children and this special event will give festival goers the opportunity to find out what it is that drives and motivates such a legendary cyclist, speed record holder, world champion and bike design innovator.
Obree twice broke the world hour record and was the individual pursuit world champion in 1993 and 1995.
He was known for his unusual riding positions and for the ‘Old Faithful’ bicycle he built which included parts from a washing machine. In 2009, Obree was inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame.
Graeme is a truly unique motivational speaker and inspires audiences with his life story, his journey to becoming the World Hour Record holder on two occasions and World 4,000m Pursuit champion twice.
This is an opportunity cycling enthusiasts cannot afford to miss.
Graeme Obree said: “I hope we get loads of people out at the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival on 12 May.
“I came up to the festival a couple of years ago and was really impressed with the energy, enthusiasm and fun that was so apparent for all participating. I am looking forward to seeing lots of new faces when I head back to the festival this year.”
Highland Perthshire Cycling (HPC), a community group who promote and develop cycling in Highland Perthshire, has organised this year’s Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival, a diverse programme of (mainly) free road and mountain bike events, aimed at cyclists of all ages and abilities.
It is being staged across the region this week.
The busy roster of races, guided rides (with local enthusiasts both on and off road), skills sessions, workshops, women’s events, a schools programme, family fun days and cultural events all culminate in the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive weekend; when 5,250 cyclists will ride the 81-mile road route on Sunday 13 May.
For more information on Highland Perthshire Cycling and The Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival – visit: http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/
You can find out more information on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Highland-Perthshire-Cycling/333320520038338 and Twitter: @HPCycling
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The Big Day:
Where: Victoria Park, Aberfeldy
When: Saturday 12th May 11am – 4pm.
Cost: Free.
More information: http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/events/festival
Graeme Obree talk:
Where: Breadalbane Community Campus, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy PH15 2DU
When: Saturday 12th May 5pm.
Cost: Adults £5 / Children £2
Book your tickets online now – http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/
Tickets will be available on the door if not sold out in advance.
Highland Perthshire Cycling
HPC aim to promote and facilitate more cycling in Highland Perthshire and to make the area a Cycle Friendly Community.
* To support, develop and promote cycling as a sport, and as a leisure activity within Highland Perthshire, particularly in schools, community groups and youth groups
* To organise and run events as part of the annual Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival
* To improve, and to encourage and support others to improve, the cycling infrastructure in the area
* To promote cycle tourism within Highland Perthshire
* To support local cycle clubs and other cycling organisations where appropriate
EventScotland is the national events agency
EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org.
The Year of Creative Scotland 2012 will spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage and is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.
Alpine Bikes – http://www.alpinebikes.com/
Cycle Routes for mountain bikes in Highland Perthshire
HPC have highlighted 16 accessible cycle routes throughout Highland Perthshire, ranging from easy flat riverside paths to more challenging treks into the hills. They are ideal for families and visitors to the area who enjoy getting out on their bike, but may be unsure about where to go. What makes these routes different is that the relevant landowners have been contacted and have approved the routes as cycle trails; and provided cyclists read and act on the information specific to each route regarding access, they will be welcomed as responsible cyclists.
http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/local-routes-info/offroad
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Podge Publicity. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Paddy Cuthbert
Phone: 07968699636
Email: paddy@podge.co.uk
Website: http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/
