Thousands of Queenslanders will be pedalling their way towards an active and healthy lifestyle when they saddle up for the 2016 Bike Week on May 15-22.
Entries opened on April 15 for the eight-day celebration of all things bike-related, which is hosted by Bicycle Queensland and has become the state’s largest annual cycling festival since its inception in the early 1990s.
The Great Brisbane Bike Ride will kick off Bike Week in the state’s capital on Sunday May 15. Riders will also be able to enjoy a range of other activities including 10-Speed Dating, Ride2Work Day Breakfast, Cyclocross, Family Fun Ride, Pier to Point Women’s Ride, and the brand new Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Experience.
Bicycle Queensland CEO Ben Wilson encouraged Queenslanders to get involved in Bike Week, saying that there was something for everyone to enjoy during the celebration of cycling.
“Bike Week is a fantastic opportunity for anyone to hop on the bike, either for the first time or for the five hundredth time,” said Mr Wilson.
“You have events like the Great Brisbane Bike Ride and the Pier to Point Women’s Ride, which give entrants the chance to be part of a mass participation ride and to really challenge themselves.”
“Then there’s events like 10-Speed Dating, Cyclocross and the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Experience which are a bit more intimate and provide a slightly different experience for riders.”
“The week is designed to encourage people to live a healthier lifestyle by cycling more often, and we hope riders sign up for one of the many events and go on to incorporate riding into their everyday lives.”
Close to 2,500 participants are expected to ride 40km, 75km or 110km in the Great Brisbane Bike Ride, which will raise money for Diabetes Queensland. Some riders in the 75km and 110km categories will also take on the timed climb up Mt Coot-tha in the Coot-tha Challenge.
The Ride2Work Day Breakfast is also one of Bike Week’s most popular events, and is expected to attract thousands of riders to the Law Courts Plaza on George St in Brisbane on Thursday May 19.
“The purpose of Ride2Work Day is to get the everyday person to hop on the bike and commute to their workplace – there’s even a free breakfast for them at the end!” said Mr Wilson.
“Riding to work is one of the easiest ways for people to get their daily dose of exercise, de-stress and save money on petrol and parking.”
The full Brisbane Bike Week program is available to view here. Regional councils will also host their own Bike Week activities – details are available here.
Participants can register for all Bike Week events here.
Image: Bicycle Queensland.