Cycling events blow but numbers in saddle on rise
Two of east Perthshire’s flagship cycling events have been cancelled due to ongoing restrictions imposed as part of efforts to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic.
The popular Ballo Enduro mountain bike event and the Coupar Angus Cycling Festival, which attract hundreds of people to the town each year, were due to take place later this month but will not now go ahead.
Grant Murdoch from the Coupar Angus Cycling Hub is one of the organisers of the events.
He said: “Sadly, the Ballo Enduro and the Coupar Angus Cycling Festival are unable to go ahead this year.
“We had been hoping and have been having discussions for a while on back-up plans that would allow the Ballo Enduro to go ahead, but the reality is that it cannot happen.
“We had looked at holding an event later in the year, but with so much uncertainty it doesn’t make it easy to plan for us or for anyone to commit to enter in advance. The extra burden on our volunteers and staff is also a big risk which has been taken into consideration.
“Government and cycling-governing bodies’ advice prohibits events to take place on Forestry Commission land until July at the earliest and so we have decided to cancel the 2020 event and focus all our efforts on the 2021 event.
“We look forward to Ballo Enduro and the cycling festival events every year, not just for the racing and riding but because it brings so many people together to find out more about cycling and the benefits of active travel.
“It is a huge blow for us and everyone involved and we are really sorry that this has had to happen but hope that everyone understands why, and we would like to reassure everyone that we will be back better and stronger in 2021.
“We will get through this, we will continue to improve the trails and we will keep cycling and looking forward to the 2021 event.”
Meanwhile, cycling counters on parts of the Strathmore Cycle Network have seen over a 200 per cent increase in use in April over the same month last year.
Ashgrove Road in Rattray saw a 229 per cent increase in usage while Blacklaw saw a 142 per cent increase.
The Bendochy counter saw a 213 per cent increase in usage.
A spokesperson for the Strathmore Cycle Network said: “These figures are very encouraging but also highlight the need for safe, off-road active travel routes.
“Lockdown has definitely had a big impact on getting more people cycling and we hope that the Strathmore Cycle Network has helped as well.
“Perth and Kinross Council has been helping us to record active travel journeys using counters around the network.
“We think the results show the desperate need to expand the Strathmore
Cycle Network to link Coupar Angus safely to Blairgowrie and beyond with an offroad cycle route that will allow safe cycling for commuting including to and from school and work.
“It is also so important for leisure use which is clearly helping to improve people’s mental and physical health whilst looking after our planet and reducing CO2 emissions.”
The 2021 Ballo Enduro will take place over the weekend of June 26 and 27.
Entries can be deferred or refunded and all entrants have been contacted.
For further information or updates, follow the Coupar Angus Cycling Hub or the events themselves on social media.
Alternatively, see www.cacyclinghub. com or www.strathmorecyclenetwork. co.uk