Corkonians urged to get pedalling

The fifth Cork Cycling Festival is gearing up for another nine days of cycling when it runs from 21 to 29 July. This year's festival promises to be more visible than ever with themed city cycles and countryside tours, a shop front art trail, a bike Fair and three parades. All events in the festival are free to attend and people are being encouraged to bring their bikes. Also this year's Cork World Naked Bike Ride has been planned to coincide with the Festival on Saturday 28 July and it will include a brave world record attempt for the most body painted people ever.

As part of the festival there will be themed cycles around the city which will include a tour in Irish, guided by Padraig O'Duinnin of TG4's Muintir na Mara, a tour of Cork's street signage led by author Tom Spalding and a mystery tour of Hidden Cork by architect Adam D'Arcy. There will also be a Community Gardens cycle and a cycle to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind centre.

This year's festival is also focusing on family cycling solutions and Astrid Fitzpatrick of Dutch Cargo Bikes will travel to Cork to showcase the kind of practical solutions that are a way of life in Copenhagen and Amsterdam. The Cork City Library will be the venue for the Kids luv Bikes exhibition and there will also be a Bike Shorts competition for young film-makers.

Three bicycle parade will also enliven the city with the Cycle of Lights being the first event where bike enthusiasts get to decorate their bike for a night-time ride to Blackrock Castle Conservatory. The Grand Bicycle Parade is an 'anything goes' parade through the city and the Vintage Velo Run will see old high nellies taking to the streets with music provided by DJ Gary Baus.

Gallery on the Go is Cork's first ever shop front cycle art exhibition whereby a number of artists have installed bike-themed art in shop fronts around Cork City. Viewers will also get the chance to vote for their favourite artists and the winning artist will win a €300 voucher for Kilgrews Cycles.

The final event in this year's festival will be a Bike Fair that takes place on the Grand Parade on Sunday 29 July which will include plenty of attractions like market stalls with luscious bikes and cycling accessories, My Lovely Bike beauty pageant and Trike Trials for smallie and the Bicycle Olympics for young and old.

See www.corkcyclingfestival.com for more information.