CYCLE CRAZY: VIDEO/PICTURE GALLERY Dennis Adcock on his Fast 1-2 winning the Sink Or Swim event which helped kick off the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival. Picture by Laura Holme.
VIDEO/PICTURE GALLERY
WORD is spreading that the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival is a popular, varied and challenging event for people of all ages, with record numbers of cyclists crossing The Solent to take part this year, say organisers.
Hundreds of cyclists saddled up for a chain of events that kicked off at a busy Seaclose Park in Newport on Saturday.
Isle of Wight Council events officer Claire Critchison, who co-organised the fourth annual festival, said: “The launch was great fun. There is plenty of things going on for people of all ages over its nine days.
“We’ve had a lot more mainland people taking part — as many as ten per cent — which shows just how popular the event is.”
Pedal power was the order of the day for the wacky Sink Or Swim race. Egged on by scores of spectators, Dennis Adcock on his vessel The Fast 1-2, crossed the River Medina to win at a canter.
Isle of Wight Cycling Festival - Sink or Swim
(Problems seeing this video? You may need to install Adobe's free Flash player)
Cllr David Pugh, leader of the Isle of Wight Council, received a plaque marking the council’s efforts to develop the Island’s cycle route network from national sustainable transport charity Sustrans. Cllr Pugh then led a guided ride along the Newport to Cowes track.
The Mad Mountain Bike Stunt Team entertained spectators, particularly younger people, with bike tricks and took youngsters on sessions, teaching them how to do simple stunts safely.
The Wight Offroad Cycling Club ran a fun and challenging cycle obstacle course.
Before the official festival launch, families rode from Medham, Northwood, to Seaclose.
Christian cyclists took to the Island roads, visiting as many participating churches as possible, in aid of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Historic Churches Trust.
On Sunday, record numbers of riders took part in this year’s Hills Killer orienteering and endurance event. Starting from Afton Park, Freshwater, cyclists were given the choice of three gruelling routes, of 13, 26 and 52 miles.
A ride geared towards getting single people on their bikes and socialising took the scenic Sunshine Trail to Godshill from Shanklin Railway Station on Tuesday.
The event concludes with Cycle The Wight on Sunday.
• Full coverage in the Friday, September 19, County Press.
• Pictures from our online gallery www.iwcpgallery.co.uk below. Click on the image for a larger version.