TWO-wheeled fun was the order of the weekend with the York’s first Festival Of Cycling.

Held in Rowntree Park by Cycling City York and York-based community interest company Get Cycling, the festival was the perfect opportunity for young and old, rich or poor and short or tall to get on their bikes and have a go at cycling.

The festival had three themed areas which gave people the chance to have a go on bikes they may not have known even existed. Among them was the seven-seater CircleCycle, while there was also the chance to have a go on the pedal-powered, four-rider Scalextric racing game.

Various cycle routes were mapped out with organisers leading various rides which set off from the park throughout the weekend.

Graham Titchener, programme manager for Cycling City York, said a wide range of activities for all the family had been organised for the weekend and that events like this were about trying to encourage people to use their bikes regulary – either for pleasure or as a means of commuting to and from work, school or college.

He said: “Cycling is fun, safe and a cheap, healthy and environmentally-friendly way to get from A to B.”

Other highlights of the weekend included a BMX competition in the skate-park area where local riders showed off their moves in an attempt to win a variety of prizes donated by local businesses.

There was also an information zone where people could ask the experts about any cycling-related query.

Cycling City York is now considering whether to make the event an annual celebration.