On Your Bike - 14th June

BE A PART OF HISTORY!

14th June 2026 will be "ON YOUR BIKE", christening the new Cheltenham to Bishops Cleeve Cycle Path.  We are aiming to get 1000+ people of all ages and abilities onto the new cycle path from Cheltenham to Bishops Cleeve, finishing at the Bishops Cleeve Street Fair.  Could you bring the youngest person?  Could you be the oldest?  How about the fanciest dressed?The Street Fair in Bishops Cleeve will have stalls and events on the day including a fun fair, a teddy bear parachute, a dance show, a live band, a vintage car exhibition, food carts, stalls, a raffle.  The event will raise funds for 2 local cycling good causes - The Charity Bike Shop (Cyclists Fighting Cancer) and Wheel Good Vibes.. You can join the cycle route wherever you want, we really want the day to be a fun one and to make using the new cycle path a "thing".

You could chose to start from Pittville Park next to the Prince of Wales Stadium.  This is home to Cheltenham Town Wheelers, where members from age 6 to 18 are coached each week.  You'll be able to see their riders practicing on their offroad course, and learn where the trail features are - rock garden, berms, roots, rollers, table top, drops, steps etc.  There'll also be a maintenance stand, run by volunteers from the Charity Bike Shop in Leckhampton, offering free adjustments to bikes if you need anything before the adventure!  We're hoping to see cyclists leaving here in waves, from 11.30 through to 13:30.

The route goes into Pittville Park, past the Basketball Court, onto the new Cycling Spine across the back of the Playing Fields, across to Central Cross and the new "Toucan" cycle and pedestrian crossing.  Time and the opportunity to stop at the Central Cross Cafe for ice cream if you fancy it!

The route then goes straight up the new cycle path past Pittville Park, the Lake, the Playground, the Aviary, the Racecourse, over the bridge where you can see the Steam Railway station, the Car Boot Sale, past the Garden Centre, Tigers Rugby Club, and all the way to the roundabout opposite GE at Bishops Cleeve.  Here you'll find the BMX pump track with all its challenges.

Crossing the next new crossing across Evesham Road, the route uses the shared cycle and footpath around the Bishops Cleeve bypass, past the Capita offices, across Voxwell Lane where we'll have marshals, and then turning right through the cycle/pedestrian access to Stoke Road.  Straight along to the Tithe Barn car park.  We expect people to arrive here any time from 12 noon through 'til 3pm.

On the route, you may be lucky enough to come across local cyclists such as Gerry McGarr or Mel Glass riding on old bikes, Gerry on a Penny Farthing!  There'll also be ride leaders from Wheel Good Vibes in fancy dress, as well as Cheltenham Town Wheelers young leaders on the route.

Also on the route, you'll be able to get stamps to prove that you rode the route, courtesy of Cheltenham Town Wheelers!

At the Tithe Barn Car Park, there'll be a maintenance stand offering free minor repairs and adjustments by Williams Cycles, a stall run by Wheel Good Vibes with games and sustainability themes, and THE CHANCE TO WIN AN E-BIKE!  There'll also be a presence from Active Travel groups to learn more about wheeling along the cycle paths as well as what's happening further afield.  Nip around the corner past Tesco and along to Church Road and the road will be closed, filled with the Street Fair activities!

We expect local media coverage, so wear a smile and show your school or club colours in case you get caught on camera!

We're also hoping to get a cycling celebrity along to be part of the celebrations, more will be revealed nearer the time.  

For schools, we want to see as many of your students out as possible!  Cheltenham and County Cycling Club have now checked and maintained 962 bikes at Bikeability Maintenance days at your school, and we'd love to see the riders and their bikes out on the day - please pass on the details to parents!

For cycling clubs, it'd be great to see your club members in their kit riding along the cycle path some time between 12 and 2pm.  Drop in at Tithe Barn or the Street Fair, pick up a programme and possibly enter to win an ebike!

For cafes, bike shops etc etc it's still not too late to advertise or book a stall, contact information.bcsf@gmail.com

@all please copy/forward this message far and wide, we want to reach 1000+ riders on the day!

It's going to be an incredible day celebrating the convenience and safety of the cycle spine, allowing discovery of amenities on the route, and drawing wider media coverage to promote our new bike path asset.  

Did we mention that it's on Sunday 14th June?  SAVE THE DATE!

Best wishes, 

Steve 

Steve Smith 

Chair, Cheltenham and County Cycling Club