Festival celebrates the fun of cycling

PUPILS from a Truro school took to two wheels in a special get-together ahead of the fifth annual Cornwall Festival of Cycling.

The children, from Bosvigo School, accompanied by their 'cyclewise' proficiency instructor, Police Community Support Officer Thomas Care, brought their own bikes to Cornwall County Council's offices.

Once gathered there, and in cahoots with councillors David Whalley, Matt McTaggart and Terry Lello, the assembly donned their cycle helmets to help promote the benefits of cycling.

The councillors themselves had as much fun as the pupils, riding around the inner quadrangle at New County Hall and remarking that they had forgotten how enjoyable cycling was.

The children and adults also tried out a range of more unusual bikes provided by Clive Mitchell Cycles of Truro.

These included a reverse-action bike – one that requires the cyclist to turn the handlebars in the opposite way to which they want the wheel to turn, a unicycle and a folding bicycle.

The 'reverse-action backwards' bicycle caused some confusion, but the unicycle proved the most challenging. Mark Sandamas, event co-ordinator for this year's festival, assisted in grappling with the unusual bicycles.

He said: “We are delighted to organise this festival, and are looking forward to bringing a range of exciting activities to the area.

“As passionate cyclists ourselves we want to help more people safely take up this wonderful and versatile activity”.

The festival, organised by Cornwall County Council in partnership with Mobilise! and Sustrans, takes place between June 23 and July 12.

For more information, visit cornwallfestivalofcyccing.co.uk