It’s All About the Bike at Edinburgh Festival of Cycling

Edinburgh and its surroundings are a playground for pedal pushers. From testing punchy climbs to gentle rolls along the prom at Portobello, the city forms a stunning and dramatic backdrop for a host of challenges and opportunities for cyclists of all flavours.

 

Born out of a shared passion for the pedal and cycling activism, Edinburgh’s Festival of Cycling is now in its fourth year and celebrates cycling and cycling culture in all its forms. This year’s festival runs from June 9-19 with events across the city and beyond.

A volunteer-run social enterprise, the festival has grown year-on-year with events attended by thousands of cyclists – hipsters, hill climbers, bikepackers, cycle speedway racers, night riders, Belles on Bikes, all-ability cyclists, tourers, recumbent bikers…and last year one guy in a panda suit on a bamboo bike…

As well as celebrating bike culture, the festival is about getting people involved; it’s about getting people active; supporting their transport, health and green activism; holding events that inspire and celebrate all the wonderful things cycling and the city have to offer.

This year’s festival hears from inspirational women and men who have taken on incredible challenges, tests of endurance or the might of male-dominated cyclesport; sees the second running of the Capital Trail bikepacking challenge with a UK-wide field riding through the Lothians and Borders; recumbent cyclists take to the road and cycle speedway kids take to the track in come and try sessions. With events across the cultural spectrum there are workshops, talks, films, rides and family events.

Highlights this year include a talk from “Yes” champion and adventurer Dave Cornthwaite; an evening with Scotland’s very own voice of the professional cycling scene, The Velocast and screenings of great cycling films including “Pantani”. We’ll be looking for love at Cycle Speed Dating and turning the street red with Cycle Flaneur. The second edition of The Capital Trail (extending the festival this year into September) brings riders from across the UK and beyond to the city in a self-supported mountain bike time-trial starting and finishing on Portobello Beach. The 237km trail is quintessentially Scottish: rough, rugged and scenic at the same time.

The festival is all about the bike, cycling culture and our love of them – come and join us celebrate our passion in our wonderful city!

Follow the festival on Twitter and Facebook and keep up to date with events here.