Forget flower power, Ealing is celebrating pedal power in 2018 with the borough’s first Summer of Cycling. Find out what is planned and how you can get involved.
Cycling festivals
Events will get under way at the beginning of July with two all-day cycling festivals held in local parks.
On Sunday, 1 July Churchfields Recreation Ground in Hanwell will play host to a day-long cycling festival at Churchfield Recreation Ground, next to Hanwell Zoo. If you miss out on that event, there will be a second chance to take part on Sunday, 8 July, at Northala Fields in Northolt.
There will be live entertainment and cycling themed performances, BMX and balance bike taster sessions, a giant inflatable obstacle course, kids’ activities, yoga for cyclists, and a cycling cinema and smoothie bike, both using electricity generated from pedal power.
The festival is open to everyone, including non-cyclists, and people are being encouraged to bring a picnic and make a day of it.
There will be different types of demonstration bikes on display, including folding Brompton bikes and the latest. Mobikes, which now have gears. Those who already have their own bike will be able to get security marking or free basic bike maintenance thanks to Dr Bike.
Get a ticket to ride
The annual Ticket to Ride events will also take place, with fun, free, family-friendly led bike rides leaving every hour on the hour. The rides are suitable for all abilities and will explore some of the borough’s best off-road cycle routes, landscapes and towpaths. There is no need to register before the event, but do come along at least 20 minutes before your preferred ride time for a quick bike safety check.
Council leader Julian Bell, whose portfolio includes transport, said: “Cycling is such a fantastic way to get around. It’s fun, it’s free, it can help you to keep fit and is a great way of exploring the borough. This isn’t just a celebration for cyclists, we hope the festival will encourage people who don’t cycle very often to get out on their bike or inspire non-cyclists to want to take up our offer of free lessons to learn for the first time.”
School holiday family fun
If you want to get in some practice riding as a family, come along to our free, drop-in family cycle training sessions. It is a great, fun, free activity and there is no need to book, just turn up in good time for the start of the session.
There are sessions running during the half term break and more training will be available during the school summer holidays too. Dates and meeting points will be confirmed in July:
- Gunnersbury Park, Thursday, 31 May 10am to 12noon for children aged 6 and over; 1-3.30pm for children aged 11 and over
- Southall Park, Friday, 1 June 10am to 12noon for children aged 6 and over; 1-3.30pm for children aged 11 and over
Free one-to-one lessons also continue, year-round and can be booked by anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough.
Those with younger children, not ready for cycling lessons might want to borrow a bike seat from the family cycle library.
Make it social
Explore the area on two wheels, meet new people and discover more cycling routes with a qualified ride leader. Social rides will take place on 14 July, 11 August and 8 September. There is no need to book, just turn up in good time before the start of ride – times and locations for our summer rides programme will be confirmed at the beginning of July.
Ealing Cycling Campaign also offers free rides all year round and offers a range of led rides for all abilities, while the West London Breeze group hosts regular bike rides for women as part of the national HSBC Breeze Ride programme.
Cycling cinema
For an outdoor cinema experience with a difference, make sure you put the date in your diary now for the cycling cinema. On Sunday, 26 August from 8.30pm, Lammas Park, Ealing will come to life with a fantastic evening of film run entirely on pedal power.
Stay up to date with the Summer of Cycling
To make sure you do not miss out on any of the Summer of Cycling events, sign up for alerts on sports, leisure and fitness.
