Loraine Patterson with twin daughters Grace and Lily at CS Lewis Square
Belcycle is back. Belfast’s family-friendly festival dedicated to all things cycling will take place on Saturday 15 June at CS Lewis Square in east Belfast. Be inspired to get on your bike – whatever your age or ability and join in the FREE festival.
There will be bikes of all shapes and sizes to test ride on the day including tandems, a side-by-side bike and balance bikes. You can join in activities such as children’s cycle training, including the ever-popular ‘Ditch the Stabilisers’ sessions. There will also be bike maintenance workshops to help you deal with punctures, as well as led rides, giant outdoor games and a slow bike race.
Pick up advice and tips from local cycling retailers on bikes, clothing and accessories, as well as information on cycling adventures, holidays, clubs and events. There will be lots of competitions and spot prizes and no festival would be complete without some tasty food and refreshments including a BBQ.
Ashley Hunter, Sustrans Northern Ireland Director said: “This is a fun festival for all the family focusing on cycling. Leisure and commuting cycling has increased across Belfast with more people realising not only the health and environmental benefits of cycling but also how convenient, cheap and fun it is to travel by bike.
“We know that 71% of residents say Belfast would be a better place to live and work if more people cycled which is why our work to encourage more people to cycle is so important. Events like Belcycle bring people together, to celebrate all things cycling.”
CS Lewis Square is the ideal location for the festival as it is where the Comber and Connswater Community Greenways intersect. The square is also home to Sustrans Active Travel Hub, an EU-funded CHIPS project that encourages commuters in east Belfast to try alternatives to the car such as public transport, or cycling and walking. Sustrans will be at the Festival to offer travel advice, route planning, cycle training and fun pedal-powered activities such as a bike smoothie-maker and paint-spinner.
So bring your family, friends and a picnic for a free fun-filled day that will keep the whole family entertained.
Belcycle will run from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 15 June at CS Lewis Square, east Belfast. There will be a provision of on-site cycle parking and it is well connected to the city centre by bus or Glider from the nearby Newtownards Road.
Find out more about Belcycle and how to get involved