Chippenham and District Wheelers is inviting everyone to dust of their bikes andtake to the race track to enjoy the annual Midsummer Bike Night.

The event takes place on 16 June at the historic Castle Combe Race Track and is a challenge for all ages to complete as many miles as possible in the three hours available. The target is for everyone to help reach a collective total of 5,000 completed miles and provides a unique opportunity to cycle around the famous race track.

Our chosen charity for the evening is Bath based Jole Rider. Jole (pronounced ‘jolly’) Rider operate the ‘Bikes4Africa’ programme.

We are asking local people to bring along any unwanted teenage/adult mountain or hybrid bikes to donate to this excellent cause. The bikes will be made roadworthy and then shipped to African secondary schools, as school assets, and allocated by teachers to students with the longest walks to school.

When a student finishes his or her education, their bike remains at the school, to be used by another student.

For African students, who often face a walk in searing heat of 10 miles or even further to get to school, a bike makes an enormous difference, not only to them, but to their communities and countries.

Alongside the main attraction of cycling around the race track there will also be a number of other activities available on site. These include a British Cycling ‘Go Ride’ skills circuit, DC Leisure ‘Spinning bikes’, Wiltshire County Road Safety Unit plus various cycling oriented trade stands.

Unit will have a competition to win a GPS system and everyone that registers and takes part in the riding will be put into a prize draw at the end of the night to win a free gym membership sponsored by D C Leisure.

There will also be opportunities for the blind or partially sited to share a tandem ride around the track.

An ‘African themed’ fancy helmet competition will also be held on the night.

The charity SUSTRANS, who oversea the National Cycle Network will have information on local cycling routes and cycling as a health enhancing activity.

Refreshments will be supplied in the Tavern so it’s a great opportunity for all the family to come down on the night and take part.

Andy Cook, Chairman of Chippenham & District Wheelers is excited to be running the event again this year and is hoping for a big attendance.

He said, “Last year over 400 participants of all ages rode over 4,000 miles. This year we hope to go even further! I would encourage everyone to come along and enjoy the evening supporting Bikes4Africa whilst getting active on their bikes.”

The event takes place on 16 June at the Castle Combe Race Track and starts at 6pm.

For further information visit www.chippenhamwheelers.org.uk and www.jole1000.org.uk