Cycling

I got a copy of Herefordshire & Wye Valley Life today, to have a look at the inevitable article on Hay Festival (Chris Evans is on the cover - he's going to be doing his Breakfast Show from the Festival, and announcing the winners of his short story competition for children as part of Hay Fever). There's a picture of our mayor, Mary Fellowes, lurking beside a vase of daffodils - that's what the photographer was doing when he went to visit her, then.

However, it was cycling, and the dangers of cycling, that was making front page news in the Independent - and when I looked beyond the article about Hay in the magazine, I found that cycling seems to be a theme running through.
In Ledbury, the 'Walkers are Welcome' website has been joined by 'Come Cycling', at www.comecyclingledbury.com, launched by the Ledbury Area Cycle Forum. It promotes cycle routes, bike hire, tourist attractions and places to stay - and more - in the Ledbury area which are accessible to cyclists.
It's a great idea - it's just a pity that it's in place of all the tourist information centres in Herefordshire that are being closed because of the cuts.

Meanwhile Presteigne, it appears, is the electric bike capital of Britain! OnBike, the local electric bike shop, runs the Tour de Presteigne, which will be taking place on 8th May this year. It's a bit shorter than the Tour de France, and with fancy dress. More details can be found at www.onbike.co.uk
It's almost made me want to pull my bike out of the shed - though these days I'd need a trailer for Islay (I don't think lashing her trolley to the back would really work!).