A brand new celebration of cycling, The Original Bicycle Festival, is to be held in Dumfries and Galloway on 9-24 May 2009, and will feature a packed programme of cycling themed activities and events, celebrating the mountain bike and road cycling trails and rich cycling heritage of the south west of Scotland.

The sixteen day Festival will promote access and participation in cycling in the region through a varied programme of open mountain bike and road cycling events, guided rides and coaching sessions, youth and women’s activities, a cycle expo, a film festival and music.

During the festival, venues throughout Dumfries and Galloway including the world renowned 7stanes mountain bike trail centres, Drumlanrig Castle, DG One in Dumfries – the Council’s showcase Regional Leisure Complex, the Easterbrook Hall and Dumfries town centre will showcase the region to cyclists of all abilities.

The festival will cater for both residents and visitors alike; people of all ages from families with children to youth groups and ‘weekend warriors’ to cycling commuters, the over 50’s and those new to the sport but keen to have a go.

The Original Bicycle festival will be delivered by a solid partnership of government agencies, local government and community groups, sporting agencies and volunteers. Partners and stakeholders include Dumfries and Galloway Council – Economic Regeneration and Leisure and Sport, Forestry Commission Scotland, VisitScotland, Scottish Cycling, Steppingstanes (youth coaching voluntary agency) and Dumfries and Galloway Mountain Bike Business Network.

The full programme for The Original Bicycle Festival will be announced in February 2009.

Find out more at www.originalbicyclefestival.co.uk – when the website goes live in February 2009. So stick it in your bookmarks and a reminder in your diary to come back nearer the time.