Cycle club prepares for Grand Depart

Otley Cycle Club (OCC) will welcome the Tour de France Grand Depart to Otley town centre on 5 July, and will celebrate with a two-week cycling festival, commencing...

Otley Cycle Club (OCC) will welcome the Tour de France Grand Depart to Otley town centre on 5 July, and will celebrate with a two-week cycling festival, commencing 22 June.

OCC is over 50 years old and has 320 members and this, its third annual festival, will showcase what the club offers. As well as nurturing competitive cyclists such as Olympic silver medal winner Lizzie Armitstead, it provides accredited training and events for children and a growing social cycling scene, “where people matter more than anyone’s bike, skill or fitness level”.

Jill Birch of OCC said the co-operative aimed to get more people out on their bikes: “We’re run by members, for members,” she said. “Whatever your cycling ability there’s a ride for you.

“We’re going to be basing ourselves in the centre of Otley on 5 July. It’s just so exciting to be able to see it up close and personal.”

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