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Bicycle Brilliance In Seaton |
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Tuesday, 27 July 2010 07:29 |
Seaton was host to it’s second annual festival of cycling which this year supported the inaugural ride of The Great Tour, a 64 day circumnavigation of Britain.
The Festival got off to a wonderful start with a candlelit procession starting at the Town Hall at dusk. Huge crowds turned out to see the fabulous Fire and Ice majorettes do a display before leading the procession down to the seafront.
After another Fire and Ice display the crowds gathered on the seawall to watch members of the Great Tour team light sky lanterns that gently floated out to sea into the pinkening sky that promised fine weather for the following day. As the light faded a bike displayed on the beach with a catherine wheel attached was the finale.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny and the town was a hub of activity as various town groups set up stands and and got the area around the pedalabout ready for the Great Tour start. At 10am the Lympstone Brass Band led the Tour team plus townspeople and visitors down Fore Street to the pedalabout. Members of the Axe Valley Pedallers and other cyclists joined the Great Tour team as they set off at 10.30am to great fanfare of music and claps.
The AVP stand was extremely busy all day with visitors and townspeople finding out what we do and asking about cycling in general. We were running tombolas for adults and children that proved very popular and a cycle jumble that plenty of people enjoyed digging about in. We had a a fine view from our spot by the Hook and Parrot to watch the town buzzing with happy tourists and locals.
One of the big events for AVP occurred late in the afternoon as Nevis held kids races for about 25 entrants of all ages as well as the first ever Nevis Cup 4th cat race for adult riders. The crowds watched with excitement as the riders zoomed along the esplanade and held their breath as they took the corners. The race was won by Joe Wall with our very own McFly coming second despite having only owned a road bike for a few weeks. Bruster, Quiff, Cockle and Spinach also rode to defend AVP territory.
The beautiful, warm evening saw many families take to the beach to enjoy barbecues or fish and chips and the air was hazy with charcoal smoke. As the sun went down went the buzz started about the firework display and people started to gather together and take up their spots on the pedalabout and along the seawall. At around 10pm the display started with a bang and a flash and continued to wow the audiences for the duration. The rumour is that there were around 2000 people watching in the town. The town remained busy for the evening with the pubs putting on live music.
Sunday was a bit windy but still dry and saw the very popular Crazy Bikes Cycle Circus arrive to keep many children and some adults entertained with some quite bonkers bikes. There was also an AVP quiz around the town to take part in, the amazing skills of the trials riders to watch and the tricks and prowess of the local bmx riders who held a competition in the skate park.
The festival was a marvellous success and really showed the range of cycling fun to be had.
With thanks to Seb and Ian Barradale (www.SeatonBay.com) for the photos
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