Mayo Bike Week Festival 2020 gets underway tomorrow

Normally taking place during June, National Bike Week 2020 has been rescheduled to take place from tomorrow (Saturday), September 19, to next Sunday, September 27.

This year cycling has seen huge growth with people of all ages getting up on their bikes and enjoying the highways and byways of our wonderful county.

For this years festival Mayo Sports Partnership and Mayo County Council in conjunction with the local Bike Week Steering Committee invites you to “Get on Your Bike”, participate in some of the 20 physical events and a flagship virtual cycle taking place throughout Mayo.

Events include community cycles in Achill, Balla, Ballintubber, Ballyhaunis, Ballinrobe, Crossmolina, Kilmovee, Kilkelly, Louisburgh, and Lecanvey, Introduction to Cycling beginner cycling in Castlebar and Learn to Cycle programmes involving children with a disability.

Launching this year's programme both Mayo GAA stars Lee Keegan and Sarah Rowe emphasised the importance of people of all ages engaging in physical activity for physical and mental wellbeing.

With a reduced events programme available this year Mayo Sports Partnership are also inviting the public to participate in our virtual cycle event “Mayo Bike Week Challenge” at any time during the week.

You can either do the cycle solo or with your family.

Participants are asked to register on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/bike-week-virtual-family-cycle-tickets-121340246945 and post their photos either on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/mayosportspartnership or email Mayo Sports Partnership at msp@mayococo.ie.

A number of €50 Elvery Sports Vouchers will be given out as category prizes, with all photos posted on Mayo Sports Partnership Facebook or Twitter platforms using @Mayosport1 #bikeweek2020 to be in with a chance to win a new Bike worth €300.

Draw will take place Monday, September 28, in Mayo Sports Partnership offices.

All of the events are organised locally by community groups/clubs and are co-ordinated by Mayo Sports Partnership/Bike Week Steering Committee members.

For a full list of events see www.bikeweek.ie or www.mayo.ie/sports-partnership.

The benefits to be gained from cycling are immense. They include improved health, reduced traffic congestion, better air quality, improved accessibility to transport, and reduced costs.

Cycling is a fantastic way to get from A to B, to enjoy the countryside or just to get some air and exercise, Bike Week is coordinated at a national level by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

For more information about BikeWeek in Mayo contact Mayo Sports Partnerships Community Sports Development Officer Deirdre Donnelly at 094 9064386 or email dedonnelly@mayococo.ie

Happy cycling!