Residents in Coventry and Warwickshire are being encouraged to saddle up for a day of bicycle-themed entertainment.

The Alan Higgs Centre in Coventry is to mark National Bike Week 2010 with the opening of a brand new BMX track at the Allard Way venue.

The opening will be the centre piece of a day of free fun-filled events at the sports centre on Sunday, June 20, which has been organised with the support of sustainable transport charity Sustrans, Coventry City Council, and the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games.

National Bike Week will run from Saturday, June 19 until Sunday, June 27 and is supported by EDF Energy, the sustainability partner for London 2012.
It aims to encourage people to adopt cycling and incorporate it into their everyday life by promoting the health, economic and environmental benefits of the activity.
Andy Adkin, Sustrans Bike It officer for Coventry, said: “It’s great that we are getting the whole community involved in what is proving to be an action packed day.

“Sustrans works with many schools in the area to encourage children to cycle to the school gates.  Having new facilities like the BMX track right on these children’s doorsteps will really help to improve their passion for cycling.”

The main attraction during the free event at the Alan Higgs Centre will be a BMX tryout showcase on the track where bikes will be provided for visitors to try out the new circuit and benefit from the expert advice of a BMX coach.
A cycle skills area will be held on the lower car-park opposite the track where participants can learn some basic cycle skills and novices will get the chance to try BMX biking.

There will also be BMX trick displays in the skate area where established local riders will perform for the public, plus other activity displays on site, including historical bikes from the Coventry Transport Museum.
Will Bastin, assistant for the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games, said: “One of the main themes of the 2012 Games is sustainability and National Bike Week is a perfect way of encouraging people to try a new sport and increase their activity levels while also adopting a more sustainable lifestyle.
“BMX cycling is a fantastic sport, and Britain has a proud cycling reputation, so the fact that we now have such a great local facility to support it in our region is very exciting and will hopefully encourage more people to get involved in this dynamic, up and coming sport.”
The event at the Alan Higgs Centre, one of Coventry Sports Foundation’s three fitness and leisure centres in the city, will begin at 10am and run until approximately 3.30pm.
Councillor Tony Skipper, cabinet member for housing, sustainability and local infrastructure, said: “This event is a fine opportunity for people to get involved in cycling.
“BMX biking is a really exciting sport and I'm sure this new track will be popular and that it will be well used by the residents of Coventry.”