Angus Cycling Festival Returns with Exciting New Coast Challenge

Cyclists of all ages and abilities are invited to take part in The Angus Cycling Festival – Coast Challenge, a brand-new, free event celebrating cycling, active travel and the spectacular Angus coastline.

CycleHub.Org, the organisation running the event is a not-for-profit social enterprise operating Dundee Cycle Hub, Forks Café & Bike Hire, and Angus Cycle Hub. This year, the Angus Cycling Festival – Coast has been kindly funded and supported by TACTRAN, Angus Council and Dundee City Council.

Taking place on Saturday 5 September, the Coast Challenge transforms National Cycle Network Route 1 into a day-long cycling festival, with eight activity stations stretching between Arbroath and Dundee. Participants can start at any location, travel in either direction and ride at their own pace, making the event accessible whether you want to complete the full challenge or simply enjoy part of the route.

Each activity station will feature free cycling activities and fun challenges. Designed to be inclusive and welcoming, the festival is suitable for individuals, families, groups, experienced cyclists and those new to cycling, including riders using adapted or non-standard cycles.

Participants can collect a Festival Stamp Card from any activity station and receive a stamp at each location they visit.

The first 100 participants at each activity station will receive a prize that forms part of a mini bike care kit, encouraging riders to visit every stop and collect the complete set.

Those who collect all eight stamps and complete the Coast Challenge will receive a commemorative finisher’s medal (while stocks last). In addition, the first 100 participants to complete the full challenge will be entered into a prize draw for a selection of larger cycling prizes.

For those seeking to take part but don’t have a bike available, free bike hire, including electric bikes, will be available from three locations along the route, making it easy for everyone to get involved.

Participants can also return their hire bike to any of the designated bike hire locations, meaning there’s no need to cycle back to where they started if they don’t want to.

For anyone concerned about getting stranded along the route, an emergency support vehicle will patrol the event throughout the day and assist participants in getting safely back to their destination if required.

The Coast Challenge is packed with activities for all ages, including:

• Smoothie bikes, where participants can pedal their way to a freshly blended healthy smoothie.
• Art bikes that transform your pedalling into unique spin paintings.
• Behind-the-scenes tours.
• Free indoor bike park sessions.
• Dr Bike safety inspections and minor repairs.
• Bike maintenance workshops.
• Water refill stations and toilet facilities located throughout the route.

Activities will operate on a first come, first served basis. As places and supplies are limited for some activities, participants are encouraged to visit their favourite activity stations early to avoid disappointment.

The festival follows National Cycle Network Route 1, with the majority of the route being traffic-free, making it ideal for solo riders, families, couples, groups and those using adapted or non-standard cycles. Participants are free to ride as much or as little of the route as they choose.

The event has been designed to encourage people to discover the fantastic cycling infrastructure developed along the Angus coast while enjoying the many physical, mental and environmental benefits of travelling by bike.

James Beattie, Director of Operations at CycleHub.Org, said:

“We’re excited to welcome back the Angus Cycling Festival in the form of the Coast Challenge model. The event has a legacy of encouraging people to cycle from its humble roots in 2014 at Reid Park in Forfar where it had a significant economic impact to the local economy. This is merely one inspiring by-product of enabling cyclists to get active and enjoy the thrill of riding bikes!

Our ambition for Angus Cycling Festival Coast is to ensure that we can capitalise on the incredible infrastructure that has been developed along the route in the last few years such as that of the A92 development in Arbroath and the improvements at Castlegreen in Broughty Ferry. By working with supportive local partners, we have established activities at every town on the route. Through this model, we feel that the Angus Cycling Festival Coast Challenge can be an event accessible to everyone at any ability whether resident or visitor!”

All profits generated by CycleHub.Org through its enterprises are reinvested into community cycling initiatives, including recycling more than 4,000 unwanted bicycles each year, delivering Bike Bus programmes that help pupils cycle safely to school, and providing cycle training to help people of all ages and abilities ride with confidence.