Activities and Events

This page sets out details of events and activities to encourage you to get back on your bike. Why not try an organised ride or one of the activities?

Councillors’ bike ride

Birmingham’s streets were graced with pedal-powered councillors on September 28 as elected members participated in a city centre ride in order to promote cycling and healthy lifestyles.

Organised Rides

Your bike is not just for helping you get around, it's for having fun too! And what better way to have fun on your bike than to take part in an organised bike ride.

Push Bikes' Urban Explorer Routes
To encourage more people and families to get on their bikes, Push Bikes the Birmingham Cycling Campaign, has produced 9 free leaflets: Urban Explorer Routes.

Each leaflet describes a circular route between 5 and 10 miles based on different city districts, using mainly traffic free roads and paths. They start at car parks or stations and visit places of local interest including refreshment stops. All are easy to follow with a map and detailed directions. Families should be able to complete any ride in a morning or afternoon at a leisurely pace, including plenty of rests.

Introducing the leaflets, John Bennett, Chairman of Push Bikes explained “We recognise that many ‘would be’ cyclists are fearful of traffic, particularly with children. When choosing routes we have tried to avoid busy roads by finding ways through parks, along towpaths, and on quiet roads. All you need is a safe and comfortable bike. Push Bikes hopes that lots of Brummies will use these rides to see their city from a different angle and get more enjoyment from cycling.”

The leaflets are freely available to download and print from the Push Bikes website www.pushbikes.org.uk

Birmingham Sky Ride Locals

Sky Ride Local rides are free, small group bike rides for you and your friends and family. Rides start in early April 2012 and run until October 2012 taking in many different routes in and around Birmingham.

Rides are led by a British Cycling trained ride leader who is on hand to provide support and give you a few tips, whatever your age or cycling ability. Distances vary from 3-4 mile traffic-free routes up to 30 mile rides on quieter roads . And with a new Ride for Rewards scheme, kids can get some exciting gifts for joining in 1, 2 and 3 rides. 2012 promises to be a great year for cycling in Birmingham and Britain and everyone's invited.

Be Active by Bike

Be Active by Bike is the latest development in the Be Active free exercise programme. Jointly run by The City Council, the NHS and British Cycling, 6 cycle hubs (each with 15 bikes) have been set up offering free guided rides, one-to-one cycle training and bike hire for community groups. The activities are specifically designed for beginner cyclists. See www.goskyride.com/Birmingham or contact the hubs directly.

• Handsworth Leisure Centre – 0121 464 6336

• Court Road Health and Fitness Centre (Sparkhill) – 0121 303 1700

• Nechells Community Sport Centre – 0121 464 4373

• The HUB, Bromford Drive – 0121 448 3739

• The Ackers Adventure Centre (Small Heath) - 07799 454 181

• Ward End Park – 07834 517 347