National Bike Week Mayo Events 9th - 17th June

National Bike Week returns to Mayo this summer from Saturday, 9th June to Sunday, 17th June. Enjoy eight days on two wheels celebrating and promoting all that is great about cycling. Mayo Sports Partnership in conjunction with the local Bike Week Steering Committee invites you to "Get on Your Bike" and participate in some of the 25 events taking place throughout Mayo which include:

Family Cycles in Achill, Ballinrobe, Ballycastle, Castlebar, Kilmovee, Cornboy, Islandeady, Partry and Swinford, school / public lunchtime cycles in 5 locations across the county, Sofa2Saddle beginner cycling programmes in Ballina, Ballinrobe, Castlebar and Westport and Mayo County Council staff "Tea to Turlough Cycle"at 4pm on Wednesday 13th June .

Some other novel events taking place include "Bike Rodeo Games & Parade in Lecanvey on Saturday 16th June at 2.30pm, Ballintubber Cycling Club 5k Moorehall Mountain bike trail cycle through Moorehall woods at 3pm also on Saturday 16th June and Covey Wheelers Westport Night Time Leisure Cycle on the Great Western Greenway at 9pm on Wednesday 13th June.

All of the events are organised locally by community groups / clubs and are co-ordinated by Mayo Sports Partnership / Bike Week Steering Committee members including Mayo County Council Road Safety and Smarter Travel Offices, An Taisce Green Schools, community councils and cycling groups from throughout Mayo. For a full list of events see programme on this page and to join in a cycling adventure this June, log onto www.bikeweek.ie or www.mayosports.ie/news

Coincidentally "Men's Health Week" also takes place from the 9th - 16th June with a focus on involvement in physical activity and sport on the 16th. Mayo Sports Partnership have been to the forefront in promoting men's involvement in physical activity through the very successful "Men on the Move" initiative. However, with most Men on the Move groups in Mayo on a summer break Mayo Sports Partnership Co-ordinator Charlie Lambert emphasised that there is plenty of opportunities for men to take part.

"We would like to make a special appeal for men to get involved through the 25 events taking place during Bike Week along with 15 Community Walking Groups active now in the county. Cycling and walking are two great activities to take part in."

The benefits to be gained from cycling are immense. They include improved health, reduced traffic congestion, better air quality, improved accessibility to transport, and reduced costs. Cycling is a fantastic way to get from A to B, to enjoy the countryside or just to get some air and exercise. It will benefit all of us if we can increase the number of cyclists on our roads while keeping them safe. Demonstrating the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling, Bike Week is coordinated at a national level by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. For more information, please visit www.bikeweek.ie, follow Bike Week on Twitter @BikeWeekie or on Instagram @BikeWeekie or like Bike Week on Facebook www.facebook.com/bikeweekie.