Championing cycling for all

They will also be promoting inclusive cycling at the family fun zone in Pittville Park and Imperial Square on Saturday 9 September when Cheltenham hosts the finish of the penultimate stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain.

Tandemonium are holding an event on Saturday 17 June from 11am at Leisure at Cheltenham as part of National Bike Week (10 to 18 June).
This will involve a sponsored indoor cycle ride on spin bikes by visually impaired members of Tandemonium who will cycle the equivalent distance from Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham that the Tour of Britain (ToB) riders will be undertaking on the 9 September.

In the run up to Cheltenham’s cycling festival, Gloucestershire Wheels For All will host taster sessions at The Prince of Wales Stadium on Monday 10 July and Friday 25 August, at the invitation of the Cheltenham Trust. People with learning or physical disabilities and those with any physical or mental health needs are invited to go along and find out about the wide range of inclusive bikes on offer and experience cycling with their family, friends or carers.

These taster sessions and events are all gearing up towards the town’s big cycling festival day on Saturday 9 September where spectators will see 21 teams of world class athletes zip through Cheltenham to their penultimate finish line in Imperial Square.

At the cycling festival, Tandemonium will be on hand to highlight tandem bicycle rides and their project to the residents of Cheltenham, and Gloucestershire Wheels For All will also be at the Imperial Gardens and Pittville Park for people to try out the bikes and raise awareness of the opportunities that already exist in the county.

Tandemonium and Gloucestershire Wheels For All say: “We are really excited to be not only part of the National Bike Week celebration in Cheltenham but also to have a role in the Cheltenham Festival of Cycling. We cannot wait to show spectators what we have to offer.”

Cllr Rowena Hay, cabinet member for finance at Cheltenham Borough Council, says: “We’re delighted that Tandemonium and Gloucestershire Wheels for All are providing these sessions in the run up to our cycling festival as well as on our main event day. They are providing exciting opportunities for the visually impaired and those with learning or physical disabilities to experience the thrill of cycling first hand.”

Tracey Crews, director responsible for the cycling festival at Cheltenham Borough Council, says: “Inclusivity is high on our agenda and we’re working to make this event as easy as possible for people with disabilities to get involved on the day. We’d like to urge everyone to come along and show their support, and join in the fun.”

More information about Gloucestershire Wheels for All is available on their facebook page.