Coventry Cycling Festival 23rd - 25th May 2009
Coventry Transport Museum is gearing up for its second Cycling Festival this May Bank Holiday (23rd - 25th). Last year hundreds of people celebrated Coventry's unique cycling heritage by taking part in a host of cycling activities. This year's event offers a fun-packed programme for everyone to enjoy from youngsters just starting out, to the most avid enthusiast. On Saturday 23rd visitors can immerse themselves in Coventry's cycling heritage: Join a special cycle ride around the city exploring Coventry's unique cycling heritage; find out about the city's cycling pioneers with an expert talk from the Museum's Head of Collections; and meet Eileen Sheridan, one of Britain's most outstanding woman cyclists who broke many amazing cycling records including Lands End to John O'Groats in 2 days 11 hours. Eileen's autobiography 'Wonder Wheel's has just been republished and Eileen will be signing copies from 11.30am on Saturday. In parallel to the public entertainment the Museum will be hosting a special cycling conference for invited representatives of local cycle groups to meet and share ideas. Sunday 24th will provide a packed programme of entertainment including rickshaw rides, face painting, story sessions and the chance to have a go on bikes of all shapes and sizes. As well as marvelling at a selection of stunning historic cycles or posing for a photograph on a genuine Victorian bike, visitors will be able to meet a range of cycling organisations and enjoy cycling performance pieces. Bank Holiday Monday will see a similar fun packed programme of family entertainment including a fabulous BMX display and roller riding demonstrations. Younger visitors will have the chance to win a bike in the wickedly difficult slow races or the more adventurous of all ages can clamber onto a penny farthing or try swapping two wheels for one and have a go at uni-cycling. Throughout the weekend there will be a whole host of opportunities to win vouchers and cycling accessories donated by Coventry Cycle Centre, Ride, Mike Vaughan Cycles and John Atkins Cycles, Leamington Spa. The Museum will also be staging two evenings of cycle films on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th. These will be free admission. Turn up on the day for 7.30pm. The Festival of Cycling will kick start a week of holiday fun and activities at the Museum. Celebrate Coventry's unique cycling heritage with a host of cycling activities for everyone to enjoy. Saturday 23rd May - Immerse yourself in Coventry's cycling heritage 7:30pm: Evening film festival showing the Italian realist film "Bicycle Thieves" plus a short. FREE ADMISSION Sunday 24th May - Enjoy a fun packed programme of activities and entertainment 7:30pm: Evening film festival showing "Breaking Away" plus a short. FREE ADMISSION
Coventry Cycling Festival 23rd - 25th May 2009
9:30am: Coventry Cycle Conference (by invitation only)
From 10am: historic cycle displays, cycle tour around Coventry visiting its unique cycling heritage sites (bring your own bike!), expert talk on the City's cycling pioneers from the Museum's Head of Collections
11:30am - 12noon, 12:30pm - 1pm and 3:30pm - 4pm: Meet record breaking cyclist Eileen Sheridan, who will be signing copies of her re-published autobiography
From 10am: Have a go on bikes of all shapes and sizes, enjoy Rickshaw rides, face painting, story sessions, see historic cycle displays and meet a host of cycling organisations.
Monday 25th May - Enjoy a fun packed programme of activities and entertainment
From 10am: Have a go on bikes of all shapes and sizes, face painting, story sessions, historic cycle displays, slow cycle races, BMX displays and meet a host of cycling organisations. There will also be a roller-ride competition - to enter, download a form.