On your bike! Athlone Bike Fest returns next week
The second annual Athlone Bike Fest will take place on Friday and Saturday next, May 15 and 16, coinciding with National Bike Week.
Organisers are encouraging everyone - young and old alike - to get on their bicycle and take it for a spin as part of this year's event.
On Friday, May 15, Athlone Bike Fest is promoting a 'cycle to school day' initiative, as well as a cycle to work day, while on Saturday, May 16, a charity spinathon in aid of Esker House Domestic Abuse Support Service will take place from 9.30am.
Similar to last year, the spinathon will take place at Athlone Regional Sports Centre, where there will be 10 exercise bikes on which participants will be challenged to see how far they can pedal in the space of an hour.
Teams of four can compete for the bragging rights and the perpetual trophy - which was claimed by Garrycastle GAA Club last year.
Other events planned include bike maintenance talks and a greenway cycle from Athlone to Moate and back to the town centre, which will encompass a bike parade from the greenway into town.
The greenway cycle is pencilled in for 2pm on Saturday, May 16, and will meet up with other groups at 3.30pm for the bike parade into the canopy at Church Street, where a performance by local band COPA is planned.
The committee at Athlone Bike Fest is encouraging locals to consider the health and environmental benefits of cycling.
The committee pointed out that anyone who can cycle 10 metres can easily cycle 100 metres or even a kilometre, but firstly it's important to check that your bike is fit to cover that first 10 metres.
"If it's not, you may need to pump, oil, or replace something, but at least you will then know that your bike is ready for use and ready for the summer," said the Athlone Bike Fest organisers.
"The health benefits are enormous - it's physical activity that is as strenuous as you like, it's a healthy alternative to taking the car, it's better for the environment, and it's better for your mental health too."
To register for the Charity Spinathon in aid of Esker House, email: eskerproject@eskerhouse.ie