Do you know that 6th-12th June is National Bike Week in the UK?
The theme of Bike Week 2022 is health and wellbeing so make cycling your daily exercise!!! Go cycling in and around Ashford and share a photo, video or story about your experience on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, using #BikeWeekUK. Don’t forget to tag us!
The landscapes surrounding Ashford and Tenterden are hard to resist. Here cycle routes range from long-distance paths to atmospheric town trails. In Ashford the town also boasts safe traffic-free cycle routes. The National Cycle Route 18 goes through the borough - it is a glorious heritage ride through the Weald heading west out of Ashford, along quiet country roads to charismatic Tenterden. It also sweeps east along tranquil lanes to Wye.
So whether you're riding on or off-road, looking for an new adventure or family-friendly afternoon, we have amazing cycle routes all over Ashford for you to try during Bike Week 2022.
UK Electric Bike Centre offers a unique experience viewing the beautiful Weald of Kent countryside on an electric bike. They have carefully designed a number of routes of different lengths along peaceful backroads – passing vineyards, gardens, villages, woodlands, breweries and castles. An electric bike is designed to enable people of mixed abilities to effortlessly enjoy the pleasures of cycling. Riders have the option of power-assisted pedalling to take the strain when they need it. For family days out, you’ll find children’s mountain bikes, tag-alongs and buggies.
To celebrate Bike Week The Wider Experience are offering a few exciting opportunities. Ride and Glide - Explore the Kent coastline (self-led or guided) by bike and then enjoy a water sport lesson of your choice, all hire included. Bespoke Cycle Tours - Let someone guide and support you with their cycling expertise, local knowledge and connections, ideal for groups of friends, families, couples or maybe even a corporate event. Learn to Ride - The fun way for you to learn to cycle in a safe outdoor environment. Courses include complete beginners, refresher, skills and confidence booster. All courses can be booked on their website.
Cycle Circle delivers an array of cycling events and activities on selected days in Ashford. As part of the Cycle Circle programme they offer supported cycle rides as well as hosting ‘ReCycle’, an award-winning Bicycle Recycling Programme based at Goldwyn School. Visitors can donate a bike and receive a 20% discount card. Cycle Circle also host ‘CycleFix’, where a team of mechanics in Ashford fix punctures, tune gears, fit new break blocks and replace cables. As well as giving out lots of helpful and impartial advice about bike care and maintenance.
Cycling UK have launched a new 145-mile long-distance cycle route across Kent called the Cantii Way. Taking its name from the Celtic tribe which inhabited the area during the Iron Age, the Cantii Way combines coastal towns and dramatic chalk cliffs with the rolling hills of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The circular route uses traffic-free cycle paths, bridleways and quiet roads and is ideal for touring and hybrid bikes. It’s perfect for a leisurely trip with lots to discover along the way.
