Northern Ireland

Get on your bike for the NI Festival of Cycling

The NI Festival of Cycling will run from Friday June 3 to Sunday June 19
The NI Festival of Cycling will run from Friday June 3 to Sunday June 19 The NI Festival of Cycling will run from Friday June 3 to Sunday June 19

CYCLING enthusiasts are gearing up for a festival of bike-related events across the north.

The NI Festival of Cycling will run from Friday June 3 to Sunday June 19 and is to feature races, bike tours and family events.

The highlight of the festival is undoubtedly the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia on Sunday June 5, which will see the famous long distance race, following by a post-ride party featuring wood fired oven pizzas, gourmet pasta dishes, Italian beer and wine and selfie opportunities with the Giro d’Italia Trophy. 

Be sure to check out the events happening near you during the festival:

Saturday June 4

Piccolo Fondo

Belfast

Take part in this year’s Piccolo Fondo and cycle along one of four traffic free routes from Comber, Holywood, Newtownabbey and Lisburn finishing at Titanic Belfast where the Gran Fondo ends the next day.

Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast

The Street Velodrome Tour will kick off at the Gran Fondo where Northern Ireland’s very own velodrome team, the Belfast Titans, will show you how the professionals do it as part of a televised broadcast on the Saturday. 

The track will then be opened to the public on Sunday for some ‘have a go' sessions.

Touring Velodrome

Street Velodrome is an exciting high speed pop up course which offers cycling enthusiasts the chance to experience the thrill of competitive racing.

Schools and clubs will take to the track and the public will be able to pop along and get to grips with the gears.

Saturday June 11

Foodie Cycle Tour

Co Derry

Departing from Eglinton (Hummingbird Café) at 10am, cyclists will ride to Park at the food of the Dart Mountain via the Sperrins.

Participants will have lunch cooked for them by a local chef using fresh home-sourced produce from the immediate area. 

Cinecycle

This family orientated cycle will start at the Big Fish in Belfast and follow the Comber Greenway to the Tudor cinema in Comber.

Families will have the chance to enjoy a fun cycle day out and then take in a film screening afterwards, in a private cinema.

Solitude Park 

Banbridge

The track will arrive at Solitude Park in Banbridge on June 10 for school groups and cycling clubs and will be open to the public on June 11 from 10am – 5pm.

Sunday June 12

Guildhall Square, Derry

The final stop of the Street Velodrome will see it set up in Guildhall Square for one final day of free try outs and fast paces, head to head action.

In the Red

Kilbroney Park Mountain Bike Trails, Rostrevor

This mountain bike sportive is perfect for anybody that likes to get the heart rate up and the adrenaline flying.  It’s all about getting around the 26km Rostrevor loop in as much style as possible. 

Monday June 13

Bike To Work Day 

Derry

This healthy initiative is encouraging you to cycle to work on the 13th and claim a free breakfast (bacon butty or healthy fruit bowl) at participating outlets from 8.30 – 9.30am.

Wednesday June 15

Ards Town Centre Race, Newtownards

This event will allow cyclists to take over the roads around Newtownards town centre and enjoy a race against the clock.

The event will kick off with children completing a lap of the circuit before more experienced riders join in. A BMX stunt team will be on hand to perform and wow spectators.

Night Ride & BBQ

Belfast

Enjoy an evening cycle starting from the Big Fish and travelling around Belfast’s city centre cycle network followed by a BBQ in the Courtyard. Starts at 9:30pm.

Saturday June 18

Psycle 

Castlewellan Mountain Bike Trails

This is an eight-hour mountain bike endurance event which is open to individuals, teams of two or four and for both novice and experienced riders. 

Giro Junior Events

Albert Basin, Newry

This is a cycling proficiency skills event for children age 4-12.

The programme focuses on four main skills: cornering, pedalling, braking and balance - great for ensuring your kids know how to bike safely.

Sixmile Leisure Centre, Ballyclare

Urban sports demos, cycling training, skills course, bling your bike workshops, obstacle courses and much more will be happening around the street velodrome in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council from 10am-6pm.

Sunday June 19

Crooked Lake Duathlon, Camlough Lake

Navigating the hills and winding roads of beautiful south Armagh this is the perfect event for those who would like to try out the world of cycling for the first time yet it is tough enough to challenge experienced riders too.

ABC Sportif

This event is designed to challenge you against the distance and the clock. 

Open to all level of cyclists the route will take cyclists through the old council areas of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon including a part of the Gran Fondo. 

Pedal to Pickie

Bangor

This fun event allows families and children to participate in a mini challenge and cycle from the Sportsplex centre in Bangor to Pickie Fun Park on closed roads. This is the ideal event for young children who are inexperienced cyclists.