A family-friendly large scale cycling event with a Garda escort is set to take place in Laois this weekend.
‘Tour De Port’ will take place in Portarlington on Saturday July 16 at 1.45pm.
Portarlington BA Sustainability Group have teamed up with Solas Eco Garden Centre to host it as part of a schedule of events planned for the French Festival on the weekend.
Events Manager at Solas, Georgina Carey, said “This is a family-friendly cycle and will be very much in keeping with the French theme of the weekend.
“We will be embarking on a ‘Tour De Port’ with bikes and cyclists decked out in French flags and bunting, to highlight the importance of our French Huguenot heritage in Portarlington and we’ll be doing that on bikes which fits in perfectly with the sustainability ethos of Solas.”
This cycle is open to cyclists of all ages and a Garda escort will be provided for the cycle.
The distance will be 7km with a gentle pace to accommodate all abilities and the route will be within the town centre.
Organisers will provide French flags and bunting to attach to all bikes on the day with participants asked to arrive by 1.45pm so they have time to dress up some bikes in advance of 2pm start.
Portable speakers will play a beautiful French playlist while they cycle around town and organisers will request that cyclists please wear (or indeed dress up your bike in) any French style paraphernalia you can find – it could be just red, white and/or blue clothing or a beret, cravat etc.
Prizes will be given out after the cycle for the “Best Dressed Kids’ Bike” so please decorate those bikes as that will all add to the occasion.
For kids there will also be events available at Solas after the cycle – such as face painting (€2 fee), French arts & crafts and a DJ
John Holland, Secretary of the Portarlington BA Sustainability Group and one of the organisers of the monthly Critical Mass Cycle said: “We are delighted to team up with Solas to host this event as a fun way of celebrating the French heritage within the town.
“It is also a way to highlight the need for cyclists to be put on an equal footing with motorists in towns like Portarlington – the words ‘liberté and ‘egalité’ hold a special meaning for the French and at is what we are campaigning for with the monthly Critical Mass cycles around the town.”
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