Love Your Bike Month – October 2012

Shropshire’s third annual Love Your Bike Month starts on Monday 1 October 2012.  A range of great activities are planned throughout October to help Shropshire residents have fun on their bikes and prepare themselves for winter cycling. 

Love Your Bike Month is organised by Cycle Shrewsbury, Shropshire Council’s campaign to get more people cycling on their regular local journeys. 

The highlight of Love Your Bike Month will be a free fancy dress cycling Halloween party at Shrewsbury Sports Village on Wednesday 31 October 2012.  The party will include a sunset ride around the Sports Village cycle track, free Dr Bike safety checks, face painting and lots of ghoulish games. 

Residents of Shropshire who sign up to receive Travel Shropshire enewsletters at www.travelshropshire.co.uk will receive a free winter cycling gift*.  To celebrate its new Travel Shropshire website, Shropshire Council is giving away high visibility vests and cycle lights.  Plus, the first 100 people to sign up will also receive a reflective bag filled with additional cycling goodies. 

Other great opportunities to prepare cyclists and their bikes for winter cycling include free bicycle maintenance courses in Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Oswestry and free adult cycle training* for less confident cyclists.  Both can be booked on the Travel Shropshire website at www.travelshropshire.co.uk/cycle. 

During the month new cycle route leaflets for Much Wenlock and Oswestry will be launched, with guided cycle rides in each town.  A guided ‘women on wheels’ social ride will take place in Shrewsbury on Sunday 7 October 2012. 

Sustrans Bike It officers will run ‘Be Bright’ activities in primary schools, and two Bike It open days will be held for students at Shrewsbury College.  Shropshire Council is also offering free Bikeability training to schools which run courses in November and December 2012. 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for cycling, said:

“We are thrilled to be able to offer ‘Love Your Bike Month’ for the third year running. 

“As the nights are drawing in,this is a great opportunity for residents to brush up on their cycling skills and get kitted out with reflective gear to ensure they can continue to cycle safely over the winter.” 

All the details of Love Your Bike Month events, including times, can be found by clicking here or by calling 01743 253008. 

*These offers are only open to people who live or work in Shropshire.