The Bid Zone

Give your bike a great new home as Tour of Britain comes to town

Tuesday June 13, 2017

Cheltenham BID is leading the way in ensuring the town makes the most of the Tour of Britain.

Britain’s leading cycle race is coming to Cheltenham for the finish of the penultimate stage on Saturday September 9.

The BID is supporting a cycle trail, which will see lime green bikes appear as landmarks all over the town.

Anyone who has an old bike to spare is being asked to donate it so it can be spruced up and used to help to promote the event.

Kevan Blackadder, BID director, said: “The BID is delighted to have supported bringing the Tour of Britain to Cheltenham and we wanted to add an element of fun with the bike trail.

“When the Tour de France went to Yorkshire in 2014, they “Turned Yorkshire Yellow” with yellow bikes all over the county. Let’s turn Cheltenham lime green and promote the Tour and cycling at the same time. Visitors and residents alike will be able to tour the town by following the bikes.”

The Tour will form part of a new Cheltenham Festival of Cycling.

Tracey Crews, director responsible for the cycling festival at Cheltenham Borough Council said: “I hope residents will be inspired to continue to support the Cheltenham Festival of Cycling on Saturday 9 September, and dig out their unused or rusty bike or spare wheel and donate it to a great cause where it can be upcycled and transformed into something for all to enjoy.”

Cllr Rowena Hay, cabinet member for finance at the council, said: “We are hoping for a chain reaction from Cheltenham’s residents to donate bikes of all shapes and sizes. These donations will then be decorated or designed by artists, students and a team of volunteers at The Butterfly Garden and placed around the borough.”

Online maps will be published at cheltenhamcyclingfestival.org.uk so visitors can complete the trail.

Anyone who has a bike of any size or spare wheels to offer is asked to drop the bikes or wheels to the Bike Hub at 278 Gloucester Road next to the Cheltenham Railway Station between 10am – 5pm Tuesday to Sunday.