Want to win a ton of great bike stuff and ride a whole heap of the UK’s best trails (and some classic roads)?

Want your accommodation paid for over all ten days?

If the answer is Yes then:

MEET THE NEW TWEEDLOVE CHALLENGE

You are invited to enter and win the amazing ‘tough but fair’ opportunity to complete a fairly ridiculous schedule of bike events during the ten day TweedLove Bike Festival in the Scottish Borders.

If you’re chosen as the TweedLove Machine®, all your entry fees and tickets will be paid for, you’ll get free accommodation for the whole festival (for two) and if you complete the task you’ll win £200 of Alpine Bikes Vouchers, a POC Trabec helmet, t-shirts, and other goodies. And, best of all, you’ll be hailed as the TweedLove Machine 2012 and probably become incredibly attractive to everyone.

Here’s the Challenge for you and your bike/s:

Saturday 26 May

POC King & Queen of the Hill: Practice

(evening: hang out as VIP at the TweedLove photo exhibition preview)

Sunday 27 

POC King & Queen of the Hill, Glentress: Race Day

A major new all mountain enduro, with riders competing on timed stages throughout Glentress Forest. Mammoth descents, pretty much every kind of trail you can imagine, thought-provoking climbs - the course has a bit of everything.

Monday 28 

Local Ride-Out: Innerleithen trails

Get a gourmet taste of the best riding round inners with a local knowledge guru.

Tuesday 29 

Peebles Sprint and Family Ride: if you’re a suitably competent roadie, you may have the chance to ride the crit in the centre of Peebles with some of the country’s fastest amateurs. Otherwise just join the fun and ride the course with all of the spectators before the main races start.

Wednesday 30

Race the Dual Slalom at Glentress

Do a back flip (or something) on the airbag.

Join the Alpine Bikes ride-out at Glentress.

Have a burger on us at the BBQ (optional!)

Thursday 31 

Join the Local Ride-Out: Peebles trails. Ride some classic sweet trails round the valley.

Evening: Film Night / photo comp. Enjoy Strength In Numbers and a bunch of great short films, for nada.

Friday 1 June

Race the Pump Track Champs: Innerleithen

Better brush up on your pumping technique to avoid humiliation, some of those kids are waaay good!

Evening: Relax - big day tomorrow!

Saturday 2 

Race: The Glentress Seven. Seven hour endurance race on trail heaven. And you don’t HAVE to do it solo.

Evening: Crank It Up gig: We Were Promised Jetpacks/Frightened Rabbit DJ Set/plus support

Sunday 3

Skinny Tweed: 45 mile road ride. To loosen the legs after yesterday’s pain. Then…

Evening: Back on the bike for the bivvy night. Start in Peebles and head out for an overnight trail ride. Yes, you’ll sleep fine.

Monday 4

Join one or two of the Local Ride-Outs: Peebles, Selkirk or Innerleithen.

Tuesday 5 

The Last Event: Natural Tweed: 45k of natural trails mtb ride round the valley. What a lovely way to finish.

Evening: feet up and start recovery process.

We’ll also ask you to write a short daily report during the festival.  We would also hope that you might be able to write a report on how you are preparing for the challenge.  The reports put out into the blogosphere to tell the world how you’re doing so you’ll likely get a fair amount of online exposure during and after the festival.

How it works:

It’s free to enter, so if you think you’re tough enough and would like to be considered for the challenge, just email us at lovemachine@tweedlove.com with your name, address, DOB, mobile number and write an old school, but tweet-sized ‘tie-breaker’ (max 130 characters) as to why you’re the best machine for the job. Humour and attitude may score as highly as a big riding CV! The winner will be notified by text & email.

Your details will not be used for any other purpose.

Accommodation provided by The Bikelodge, Innerleithen and other Tweed Valley accommodation providers. Thanks to Alpine Bikes, POC, 2 Pure and all other prize givers and contributors. The organisers reserve the right to change things about if needed, OK?

TweedLove Bike Festival 2012

Sat 26 May - Tues 5 June 2012

www.tweedlove.com

What:

‘The Flying Scotsman’ - Graeme Obree, together with local MSP, John Swinney, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, will open the Big Day, a free cycle fun day, with a Watt Bike challenge. Can you beat the big man’s time over a 500 metre distance?  John Swinney is keen to ‘Challenge Graeme’, as is 16 year-old rider Lewis Summers from Aberfeldy, who competes in the Scottish Under 18 Downhill Circuit and had a third place finish at a recent race.

Organisers of the Festival are also looking forward to seeing The Clan mountain bike stunt team showing off their awesome skills as they jump over Graeme Obree on a mountain bike high jump that they will be using as part of their displays.

Emma Burtles, Co-ordinator at Highland Perthshire Cycling, organisers of the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival. will also be available for interviews about the Festival and the work of Highland Perthshire Cycling.

The Big Day is the flagship event of the week long Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival and is being staged between 11:00 and 16:00 at Victoria Park, Aberfeldy, on Saturday 12 May 2012, the day before the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive. The free cycle fun day aimed at locals and visitors; cyclists and non cyclists, has a packed programme of family focused activities that include awesome bike displays from The Clan stunt display team, a giant air bag to safely test jumping skills, open races, bikes to try, borrow and hire, funny bikes, cycling demonstrations, a cycle obstacle course, stalls, bouncy castles, cyclo cross, dress up your bike, music and food served all day.

Where

Victoria Park, Aberfeldy, Highland Perthshire (next to Taybridge Terrace)

When:

11:00 on Saturday 12 May 2012

(RSVP:  if you are attending - Paddy Cuthbert - Podge Publicity - T: 07968 699636 / E: paddy@podge.co.uk)

The Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival has a diverse range of (mainly) free road and mountain bike events, aimed at cyclists of all ages and abilities, that will be staged across the region from Friday 4th to Sunday 13th of May.  It has a busy roster of races, guided rides (with local enthusiasts both on and off road), skills sessions, workshops, women’s events, a schools programme, family fun days and cultural evens; all culminating in the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive weekend.

For more information on Highland Perthshire Cycling and The Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival - visit: http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/

You can find out more information on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Highland-Perthshire-Cycling/333320520038338 and twitter: @HPCycling

The Big Day is the flagship event of the week long Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival and is being staged between 11:00 and 16:00 at Victoria Park, Aberfeldy, on Saturday 12 May 2012, the day before the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive. The free cycle fun day aimed at locals and visitors; cyclists and non cyclists, has a packed programme of family focused activities that include awesome bike displays from The Clan stunt display team, a giant air bag to safely test jumping skills, open races, bikes to try, borrow and hire, funny bikes, cycling demonstrations, a cycle obstacle course, stalls, bouncy castles, cyclo cross, dress up your bike, music and food served all day.

Cycling enthusiasts attending this year’s Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival also have the opportunity to end the week-long event in style by attending an inspirational talk by Graeme Obree. On the evening of the Big Day, Graeme Obree will be speaking about his career on and off the bike at the Breadalbane Community Campus. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £2 for Children and this special event will give festival goers the opportunity to find out what it is that drives and motivates such a legendary cyclist, speed record holder, World Champion and bike design innovator.

Obree twice broke the world hour record and was the individual pursuit world champion in 1993 and 1995. He was known for his unusual riding positions and for the “Old Faithful” bicycle he built which included parts from a washing machine.  In 2009 Obree was inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame.

Graeme is a truly unique motivational speaker and inspires audiences with his life story, his journey to becoming the World Hour Record holder on two occasions and World 4000m Pursuit champion twice. This is an opportunity cycling enthusiasts cannot afford to miss.

Graeme Obree said: “I hope we get loads of people out at the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival on 12 May. I came up to the festival a couple of years ago and was really impressed with the energy, enthusiasm and fun that was so apparent for all participating. I am looking forward to seeing lots of new faces when I head back to the festival this year.”

Highland Perthshire Cycling (HPC), a community group who promote and develop cycling in Highland Perthshire, has organised this year’s Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival, a diverse programme of (mainly) free road and mountain bike events, aimed at cyclists of all ages and abilities.  It is being staged across the region this week.  The busy roster of races, guided rides (with local enthusiasts both on and off road), skills sessions, workshops, women’s events, a schools programme, family fun days and cultural events all culminate in the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive weekend; when 5250 cyclists will ride the 81 mile road  route on Sunday 13 May.

For more information on Highland Perthshire Cycling and The Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival - visit: http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/

You can find out more information on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Highland-Perthshire-Cycling/333320520038338 and Twitter: @HPCycling

The Big Day:

Where: Victoria Park, Aberfeldy

When: Saturday 12th May 11am - 4pm.

Cost: Free.

More information: http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/events/festival

Graeme Obree talk:

Where: Breadalbane Community Campus, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy  PH15 2DU

When: Saturday 12th May 5pm.

Cost: Adults £5 / Children £2

Book your tickets online now - http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/

Tickets will be available on the door if not sold out in advance.

At a time when two thirds of UK prisoners re-offend within two years and when prison sentencing, probation and rehabilitation are facing hugely controversial reforms, Release fuses high-energy physical theatre, an original score and mixed media to create an explosive yet moving insight into just how hard it is to go straight.

Release was developed and created by the company through a two-year process of research and interviews with ex-offenders, prisoners, probation officers, criminologists and hostel managers, as well as site visits to hostels, prisons and probation offices.

It was premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011 to great critical and audience acclaim.  It won a coveted Scotsman Fringe First Award and was shortlisted for the Amnesty Freedom of Expression Award.  It was then shortlisted for a Brighton Festival Fringe Emerging Talent Award.

Six weeks after release, three ex-prisoners struggle on the outside as they attempt to reconnect with the people and the remnants of life they left behind.  Kyle searches for work but finds offers from old friends more and more tempting; Hitesh cuts himself off from friends and family and dreams of the open road; while Becky has lied about her past and lives in constant fear of being found out.

This artfully choreographed and perfectly executed piece of theatrical storytelling will leave you ‘praying not only for these three characters, but for ourselves, and the whole future of the society in which we live’. (The Scotsman)

“A sharp, impeccably performed and blazingly impassioned piece of theatre…simply terrific.” The Times

“Icon Theatre has created one of the most compelling and theatrically effective pieces of storytelling on The Fringe” The Scotsman

The talented cast of three multi-role playing actors includes Shane Shambhu (Ramanujan in Complicite’s A Disappearing Number); Verity Hewlett (Queen Victoria in Queen Victoria’s Men, Channel 4 & New Perspectives); and Jason Harvey, who appeared in Peter Mullan’s film, Neds.

The project has development support from the South Hill Park Arts Centre, the Brook Theatre, Chatham, the Toynbee Studios, an R&D award from Arts Council England South East and a work-in-progress showing at the Young Vic.  The Tour is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Suitable for ages 16+

For more information on Release presented by Icon Theatre go to - http://www.releaseinfo.org  or  http://www.icontheatre.org.uk

For all listings information go to: http://podge.co.uk/client/current-clients/icon-theatre-release-uk-tour-2012

Both events are aimed at encouraging locals and visitors of all ages and abilities to have a go at cycling whilst, at the same time, promoting the huge range of opportunities there are for on and off road cycling in Highland Perthshire.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “Opening the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival with cycle fun days is a fantastic idea, which will give families the chance get on their bikes and get involved in a number of ways. Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and the 2012 festival will most certainly appeal to both novices and experienced riders alike with a strong programme of events, workshops and coaching sessions attracting visitors from the local community and further afield.”

On Saturday 5 May Progression Bikes will run the Dunkeld Cycle Fun Day, being staged opposite the Atholl Arms, Dunkeld from 11:00 to 16:00.  A range of cycle coaching and bike maintenance workshops will be mixed with have a go sessions on a new cycle course and pump track and a cycle obstacle course.  There will also be some great discounts on bike kit in the Progression Bikes shop on the day. There will also be a barbecue to refuel all of the hungry cyclists.

Emma Burtles from Highland Perthshire Cycling, organisers of the Highland Perthshire Cycling said:  “There has never been a better time to discover or perhaps re-discover cycling, whether for leisure or to get to the places you need to get to.   With so many benefits for the economy, health and environment we should all be doing it, a lot more.”

“The Cycle Fun Days that have been organised this weekend to get the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival underway are the perfect opportunity for all of the family to get on a bike in a warm and friendly environment and, most importantly, discover how much fun you can have on a bike.”

The Highland Safaris two-wheeled Cycle Fun Day is being staged in Dull, newly twinned with Boring in the USA, on Sunday 6 May from 10:00 until 17:00.  The highlights of this multi activity cycle day include an opportunity to try out a new range of Scott mountain bikes, a guided single track ride starting at 2500 feet, a time trials competition on a one kilometre skills loop, a selection of funny bikes to have a laugh on and bike maintenance from Dr Bike, just in case.  Cyclists can refuel with a barbecue whilst watching some awesome mountain bike footage on a giant screen.

Adam Flint, from Progression Bikes, said:  “Our cycle fun day and The Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival, as a whole, are fantastic examples of local businesses and communities in the area supporting the promotion of cycling in the area. With more and more cyclists coming to Highland Perthshire for events such as Etape Caledonia it’s great to see everyone getting on board!”

This year’s Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival has a diverse programme of (mainly) free road and mountain bike events, aimed at cyclists of all ages and abilities, that will be staged across the region from Friday 4th to Sunday 13th of May.  The busy roster of races, guided rides (with local enthusiasts both on and off road), skills sessions, workshops, women’s events, a schools programme, family fun days and cultural events all culminate in the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive weekend.

For more information on Highland Perthshire Cycling and The Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival - visit: http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/

You can find out more information on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Highland-Perthshire-Cycling/333320520038338 and Twitter: @HPCycling

For more information on Progression Bikes and Highland Safaris go to:

Progression Bikes - http://www.progressionbikesscotland.com/

Highland Safaris - http://www.highlandsafaris.net/

Aberfeldy based professional Storyteller Claire Hewitt is to cycle the 81-mile route of the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive (very slowly!) whilst creating a Cycle Story, a series of stand-alone stories that merge into one (and a Story Rap), with local children she meets en route.

Her week-long trip will take place during the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival, a community and family friendly cycling festival with a diverse range of (mainly) free bike events staged across the region, from 4 to 11 May 2012.

Starting and finishing her journey in Pitlochry Claire will travel through the communities of Loch Tummel, Kinloch Rannoch, Loch Tay and Kenmore; following the River Tay by Aberfeldy, Grandtully and Logierait.  She will host schools workshops and chat to community groups and individuals along the route gathering and telling old and new journey related stories in order to create her own unique Story Cycle.

Claire, who is an accredited Storyteller with the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, will share all sections of her story with each new community she visits, before developing new ones with them.  She will stitch together the fabric of the final tale as she goes, linking all of the region’s communities and weaving in the local fauna, flora and rich folklore connected to the stunning landscape and wider environment of Highland Perthshire.

Claire Hewitt said: “As I cycle gently along on my bike through some of the most beautiful wild landscape in Scotland, rich with stories and folklore I will have time to stop and chat to anyone who has time for a blether and share a story over a cup of tea.  So if you see me on my travels, maybe you could join in on your bike, or walk a step of the way with me. I’d be delighted to have your company.”

During the week Claire Hewitt is also keen for individuals in each community she visits to host an evening Kitchen Ceilidh, a small gathering of neighbours in the home where Claire and the assembled company can share stories and songs.

At the end of her journey the whole Story Cycle and Rap will be complete and Claire will share it at Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival’s Big Day, a community and family focused fun cycle day with Scottish cycling legend Graeme Obree, on Saturday 12 May in Aberfeldy.

She will then leave the Etape Caledonia to the capacity field of 5,250 cyclists on Sunday 13 May when some of the fastest riders will cycle the route in under three and a half hours, a mere 160 hours faster than Claire.

In order to create a sense of wonder as each part is created and added during the week Claire will encourage the children in each school she visits to send/email their piece of the story onto the next school on the route once it is has been written thereby building A Relay Story Cycle.

The Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival has a diverse range of (mainly) free road and mountain bike events, aimed at cyclists of all ages and abilities, that will be staged across the region from Friday 4th to Sunday 13th of May.  It has a busy roster of races, guided rides (with local enthusiasts both on and off road), skills sessions, workshops, women’s events, a schools programme, family fun days and cultural evens; all culminating in the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive weekend.

For more information on Highland Perthshire Cycling and The Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival - visit: http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/

You can find out more information on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Highland-Perthshire-Cycling/333320520038338 and twitter: @HPCycling

For more information on Claire Hewitt and the Scottish Storytelling Centre go to:

www.clairehewitt.co.uk

www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

The film, shot by Calum Darling, is titled ‘It’s the new golf’ and features Crawford Carrick-Anderson taking a swing at some steep trails above Innerleithen. Crawfy is one of the UK’s top enduro racers and rides for Team Ibis UK. He’s one of the favourites to win the POC King & Queen of the Hill enduro event at this year’s TweedLove, to be held at Glentress on 27 May.

http://tweedlove.com/tweed-tv

http://vimeo.com/41035004

The next three films in the series will be launched between now and the start of TweedLove, on Saturday 26 May 2012.

All four films will be fused together into a mini feature to be shown at Celluloid Tweed, the TweedLove film night, on Thursday 31 May at Eastgate Theatre Peebles.  Celluloid Tweed will feature Strength In Numbers, the hugely anticipated new bike film from Anthill Films.  From Canada and Nepal to the Swiss Alps, Scotland and beyond, Strength in Numbers is the must see mountain bike film of 2012. The rider list reads like a who’s who of mountain biking legends and includes our very own Danny Macaskill.

Retailers taking part in this popular competition, now in its third year, will unveil their displays on Friday 4 May, the opening day of the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival.  Judging will take place on Thursday 10 May and the winners will be announced at the BIG Day, the flag ship family event of the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival, being staged in Aberfeldy on Saturday 12 May.

The week long Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival culminates in the legendary Etape Caledonia Sportive, an 81 mile closed road cycling event on Sunday 13 May.  Now into its sixth year, Etape has attracted a capacity field of 5,250 entries for this year’s event and starts and finishes in Pitlochry.

Peter Barr from Killiecrankie, on of the organisers of the window display competition, said: “The Window Display Competition is taken very seriously by local businesses and it’s great to see them showing so much support for the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival. 

“Cycling fever is once again in the air, as witnessed by the increasing number of cyclists out and about on the Etape course preparing for the 81-mile challenge. I’ve taken part in the Etape Caledonia four times and it really in an incredible event that raises money for a fantastic cause in Marie Curie Cancer Support.”

The Window Display Competition has attracted prizes that include both £100 and £50 cash prizes; two entries for Etape Caledonia 2013; a pair of tickets for a show at the Birnam Institute; a pair of tickets for the Comedy Club at McKays; a hamper from Fields of Perthshire, Aberfeldy; lunch for two at Treats in Kinloch Rannoch; entry for two to the Crannog Centre, Kenmore; One months membership of Highland Fitness Therapy in Killiecrankie and a meal for two at The Prince of India in Pitlochry.

Highland Perthshire Cycling (HPC), a community group who promote and develop cycling in Highland Perthshire, have put together a diverse range of (mainly) free road and mountain bike events for this years Festival.  They are aimed at cyclists of all ages and abilities and will be staged across the region from Friday 4th to Sunday 13th of May.  This year’s Festival has a busy roster of races, guided rides (with local enthusiasts both on and off road), skills sessions, workshops, women’s events, a schools programme, family fun days and cultural events.

HPC, who were recently awarded Cycle Friendly Community of the Year 2011/12 by Cycling Scotland, works collaboratively with many local groups, schools and businesses in the region to promote and enable more locals and visitors to cycle more often in Highland Perthshire.  They run workshops, clubs, school activities, and events to achieve this.  The highlight of the year is the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival.

Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival has been awarded funding from EventScotland to contribute towards the marketing and promotion of the event. The importance of the festival has also been recognised by Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust, Perth and Kinross Council, Cycling Scotland, Sustrans, Griffin Windfarm Community Fund and the Climate Challenge Fund.  There has also been some healthy private sector support for this year’s Festival with Alpine Bikes and Dewars World of Whisky all supporting festival events.

For more information on Highland Perthshire Cycling and The Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival - visit: http://www.highlandperthshirecycling.co.uk/

You can find out more information on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Highland-Perthshire-Cycling/333320520038338 and Twitter: @HPCycling

Returning from South By South West and a tour of America WWPJ will headline Crank it Up, the flagship concert of the TweedLove Bike Festival programme; and one of the highlights of the Scottish Borders’ live music calendar. Tickets can be bought (in advance only) from the TweedLove website - http://tweedlove.com/.

TweedLove Bike Festival Director, Neil Dalgleish said: “It’s fantastic for us to have We Were Promised Jetpacks at TweedLove. It might seem odd to have a gig as part of a cycling festival, but mountain biking is one of the world’s coolest sports and We Were Promised Jetpacks are one of Scotland’s coolest bands so it all makes total sense to us.”

Introduced to the TweedLove programme in 2011, Crank It Up rocked Peebles with Frightened Rabbit as headliners, and sold out weeks before the gig. With thunderous live performances Edinburgh band WWPJ, who landed the ‘Best Live Act’ award at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards in March, are set to blow the roof off the Burgh Hall on 2 June.

Matching the power of fellow Scots Mogwai and a pop sensibility comparable to that of Foals or Bloc Party the four-piece band’s acclaimed new album ‘In The Pit Of The Stomach’ proves just what a fully-fledged a rock band WWPJ have become.   Crititcally acclaimed by the media, the new record was described by Uncut as “Fiercer and denser than their debut with echoes of The Cure & New Order… waterfall riffing and soaring vocals” and by Guardian as having ‘huge heart’.

Crank It Up will also feature a special one-off DJ set from the Tweed Valley’s very own Frightened Rabbit whose gig last year is thought by many o be the best gig ever seen in Peebles.

Organisers of Crank it Up and the TweedLove Bike Festival  are also looking for some local talent to support the big names on stage.

Festival Director Neil Dalgleish said :“This is a fantastic opportunity for a local act to play alongside two of Scotland’s best bands. We know there’s a lot of talented musicians in the area and we’d love to find the right act to play here. It’s going to be a totally rocking night.”

Local acts are invited to send info/demo material and/or links to recordings to info@tweedlove.com before 1 May 2012.

Crank It Up Ticket Information:

We Were Promised Jetpacks return from South By South West and a tour of America for a special appearance headlining the TweedLove bike festival concert, Crank It Up. Also featuring a special DJ set from the Tweed Valley’s very own Frightened Rabbit

Date: Saturday 2 June 2012

Time: 19:30

Venue - Peebles Burgh Hall, Peebles

Ticket Price: £15.00

Box Office – buy tickets online at http://tweedlove.com/events/crank-it-up.  Please note - advance tickets only.

Over 18s only

The TweedLove Bike Festival, in association with Alpine Bikes, is believed to have the biggest and most comprehensive programme of events ever seen at a UK cycling festival; all being staged across the cycle friendly Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders from Saturday 26 May to Tuesday 5 June 2012.

The extensive programme of free and paid events aims to reinforce the Tweed Valley’s reputation as the UK’s premier cycling destination.  Some major new events have been added to last year’s busy schedule of races, guided rides (both on and off road), and cultural events. Many events are free, and the choice is wide and varied, with events for children, families and beginners, right through to cutting-edge races for expert riders on fat or skinny tyres. Above all TweedLove is about getting out there and having fun on a bike.

Website: http://tweedlove.com/

Twiiter - @tweedlovefest

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/TweedLove/138953616122719

WHAT:

For a taste of the 2012 Scottish Bike Show BSD BMX stunt team riders, including UK legends Kriss Kyle and Chaz Mailey, will be performing gravity defying aerial manoeuvres high above Graeme Obree  - ‘The Flying Scotsman’, the world record breaking speed cyclist, as he opens the show.

The BSD BMX stunt display team, who will be sponsored by Rock Star Energy Drink during the show, will perform jaw dropping BMX displays and jam sessions including Kriss Kyle’s speciality move, the flair, a 180 degree backflip, all weekend.

It is hoped that Graeme Obree will also pose for photos with the Ridley Noah FAST FB, ‘the fastest bike in the world’, that has a starting price of £7500, on the Walkers Cycling stand.

There will be loads of other opportunities for photos at the show - see information below.

Rowan Mackie from Magdala Media Ltd, organisers of the Scottish Bike Show, will be available for interview and photos, together with the BMX stunt riders and the show’s exhibitors and national cycling organisations.

WHERE:

The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC), Exhibition Way, Glasgow G3 8YW

WHEN:

11:00 for 11:15 on Friday 13 April 2012

RSVP (if you are attending) to Paddy Cuthbert - Podge Publicity - T: 07968 699636 / E: paddy@podge.co.uk

Media Accreditation - For media accreditation / press passes to the show and for the new Scottish Bike Show Sportive please contact Paddy Cuthbert.

For more information on the Scottish Bike Show 2012 go to http://podge.co.uk/the-scottish-bike-show-returns-in-april