ORGANISERS of TweedLove Bike Festival have announced the full events programme for this year’s event, and are already reporting record entries and interest.
Held over two weeks around Peebles and the Tweed Valley, TweedLove is now recognised as one of the UK’s biggest bike festivals.
From toddlers on balance bikes to the world’s fastest elite mountain bike riders, the festival embraces almost every aspect of cycling.
The festival’s highlight is the Enduro World Series mountain bike race, when riders from all over the world will descend on Peebles for two days of racing on the area’s world-class trails, taking in the special welcome that only the Tweed Valley’s unique population of cycling fans can provide.
Says a spokesperson: “This year, the TweedLove round of this elite race series was the fastest-selling event, worldwide – also making it the fastest-selling mountain bike race ever held in the UK.
“With over 30 other individual events including family rides, kids’ events, road and trail rides, a film night and social events, this year’s TweedLove Bike Festival is the biggest and best, to date.”
Festival director, Neil Dalgleish, says: “We have new events, established events, some serious bike battles and fun races.
“Whether you are a elite global athlete or someone who is just learning to ride a bike, TweedLove has something cool for you to ride.”
Many of the mountain bike events take place on Forestry Commission Scotland’s mountain bike trails in Glentress and Innerleithen.
Katie Jarvis, of Forestry Commission Scotland, says:
“We are delighted that the EWS and many of the other bike events are being hosted on Scotland’s National forest Estate.
“Since we were awarded global superstar status for our 7stanes mountain bike trails by IMBA in 2004, we have invested around £170,000 each year to our trail network.
“Our staff are rightly proud that we can attract prestige, global events such as the EWS to the Tweed Valley Forest Park, which is a great boost to tourism in our area and supports the local economy.”
Event director, Neil Dalgleish, added: “There’s no doubt this is now a world-class mountain bike destination.
“There’s an incredible collection of trails at all standards throughout the Tweed Valley.
“The Forestry Commission have done an amazing job of creating something here which is now forming the backbone of the area’s tourist industry and creating a unique community of bike riders. There’s just nothing like it – anywhere.”
TweedLove’s programme is not just about the visiting world champions, though, and new events have been added to make the programme even more diverse this year.
One of these is LoveCross, a dynamic urban cyclocross race which will take place on closed roads round Peebles High Street and the Tweed Green area.
Featuring obstacles, cobbles and steps, it will be a fabulous spectator sport, almost as much fun to watch as it will be to ride.
Preceding this will be the traditional family round round the High Street, where kids and grannies can enjoy a few laps in a traffic-free environment.
Another new event is the EWS Extra. This is an event for those who fancy trying the TweedLove 2015 Enduro World Series course, but without the stress of racing against the world’s top athletes.
Organisers stress that the event is all about taking part, and community is at the very heart of all the activity.
Dalgleish says: “TweedLove simply couldn’t happen without the help of the area’s huge and generous bike scene – we have volunteers of all ages and walks of life. We’re incredibly lucky to be part of such an amazing community.”
Paul Bush OBE, director of Events at VisitScotland, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Enduro World Series event taking place as part of the Tweedlove Bike Festival.
“Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and visitors to the region can expect incredible race action, set against the backdrop of the stunning Tweed Valley.”
Notes to Editors
EventScotland
EventScotland: EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. 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.
Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.
EventScotland is part of VisitScotland, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland.
For more information, please contact Fiona Dalgleish
m: 07710 486145
t: @tweedlovefest
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Hillside Agency contact details…
Contact: Fiona Dalgleish
Phone: 07710486145
Email: fiona@hillsideagency.com
Website: http://www.tweedlove.com
