Burners join the Big Bike Revival!
Ayr Burners Cycling are celebrating after being confirmed by Cycling UK as one of 50 centres across Scotland to host the Big Bike Revival.
A six week long campaign, the Bike Bike Revival aims to get more people across the country cycling by getting their unused bikes out of the shed and back in working order. With a proven record of supporting new and returning cyclists, Ayr Burners Cycling are looking forward to the challenge! To support the campaign, the Burners will be promoting four events largely aimed at encouraging the parents and families of young ‘Sparks’ (balance bikers) to join-in and fall in love with cycling.
The Burners are hoping to get more parents cycling along with their children
Over the past two years the cycling development group has built up a popular following with games sessions for under 5s, and family rides through the Sea Ayr Cycles project. As a host of the Bike Bike Revival, the Burners are beneficiaries of grant funding to enable them to bring ‘Dr Bike’ maintenance check ups to these events to ensure mums, dads, brothers and sisters can enjoy using their own bikes. All events are free and open to the public. Across the six week period, the Burners are preparing to fix up to 100 punctures, while referring more complex repairs to supportive local businesses including ACS Prestwick Ltd.
Ayr Burners’ Secretary John-Paul Baxter said
“Everyone at the Burners is really proud to be hosting the Bike Bike Revival. Not having access to a working bike can be a real barrier to cycling so this is a wonderful initiative. We hope this will enable and encourage more people to get back on their bikes and experience what Ayrshire cycling has to offer.”
Ayr Burners Cycling’s key aims are to provide cycling opportunities in Ayrshire and to encourage cyclists to visit Ayrshire. Through the sold-out Ayrshire Alps Sportive last month the Burners successfully attracted more than 100 visiting cyclists to the area last weekend. Meanwhile the group has promoted more than 50 opportunities for local cyclists this year including bike jumbles, family rides, skills sessions, off-road adventures as well as a programme of activity in partnership with the Active Travel Hub Ayr.
Ayr Burners host a popular cycle jumble in February
The Burners are affiliated with Cycling UK, and have supported more than 10 members to train as ride leaders and instructors through Cycling Scotland. The group receives sponsorship from QTS.
The four scheduled events include:
- 18th September: ‘Sparks’ games, cycle track and advice for parents at Culzean Cycle Festival
- 25th September: ‘Sparks’ games, cycle track and pop-up Dr Bike – venue TBC
- 15th October: ‘Sea Ayr Cycles’ Family ride from Ayr Citadel, with Dr Bike at the start
- 30th October: ‘Parents Join-In’ Picnic with the Sparks in Ayr with Dr Bike on site
Full event details will be published at www.ayrburners.org and at www.bikebikerevival.org.uk
