Family friendly cycling festival gets Newport back in the saddle for second year running

21/09/2017

Newport Family Cycling Festival will take place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September at Tredegar House, getting even more families on their bikes this year.

The festival is sponsored by Newport City Homes and is a joint venture organised by Sustrans Cymru, National Trust, RSPB Cymru, Welsh Cycling, HSBC Breeze and Newport Social Cycling.

A grand opening event is planned with John Griffiths AM, the Blue Phoenix Marching Band and the Caldicot Male Voice Cycling Club Choir at 10.30am on Saturday 23 at Tredegar House.

The weekend will be split into two days, with Saturday’s Adventure Day offering fun events for children and adults, including Savage Skills Anti-Gravity Show, a BMX Track to try out, cycle skills training along with National Standard Cycle Training 1. A professional cycle maintenance team from Changing Gearz will also be on site to assist with any bike mechanics that need to be done on the day or for advice and guidance on all things cycling.

A range of market stalls will be set up at Tredegar House on the Saturday from 11am – 4.30pm http://www.newportfamilycyclingfestival.org/market-stalls.html

Sunday’s Explore Day is offering a range of led rides out of Tredegar House [and back] organised by Sustrans Cymru, Newport Social Cycling and Breeze for all skill levels – we want to see families of all generations out on their bikes and enjoying the local communities and beyond.

The festival will be a great opportunity to build confidence in riding in groups or just to socialise with others and, perhaps, trying new routes – the majority of which are traffic free. Check out the destinations and no hills…well perhaps just small ones.

Steve Brooks, National Director at Sustrans Cymru said:

‘‘I am delighted that Sustrans Cymru are involved in the second ever Newport Family Cycling Festival. The last festival proved to be a huge success with locals, and a total of 53 young people became proficient in National Standard Cycling Training level 1 – helping them to learn about road safety and build confidence in cycling – a skill that they will take into adulthood.

This festival has been founded and organised by local volunteers which demonstrates that there is a real passion to encourage cycling for all ages in Newport and its surrounding areas. I would like to thank our volunteers for the inspiring work that they are doing here.’’

John Griffiths Assembly Member for Newport East said:

“I am looking forward to participating in the Festival, and will be joining the Saturday ‘ride-in’ arriving at Tredegar House, having cycled from Community House in Eton Road.”

“It is great to be part of such a fantastic event which truly raises awareness that cycling really has a positive impact on health and well-being. This is whilst providing enjoyment of the local environment, making use of the traffic free routes which have been established across Newport.”

The event is free for all to attend, full information on the Newport Family Cycling Festival can be found at www.newportfamilycyclingfestival.org