Riders urged to get ready for Coventry charity cycling event The Starley Sportive - The Coventry Observer

Riders urged to get ready for Coventry charity cycling event The Starley Sportive

Coventry Editorial 9th Sep, 2021   0

A CHARITY bike event will be held in Coventry next Sunday, September 19, to boost the region’s Starley Network cycling route.

The Starley Sportive has been backed by Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street – the man behind the network.

Both the sportive and route are named in honour of the Starley family.

James Starley is known as the father of the bicycle industry, while John Kemp Starley widely considered the inventor of the modern bike. Both worked and lived in Coventry.




Organisers of the sportive hope it will inspire more people to get on their bikes and take advantage of the Starley Network, which has seen cycle routes and cycle lanes pop up across the West Midlands.

They are also hoping to have a rider take on the route on a West Midlands Cycle Hire bicycle on September 19.


Mr Street said: “We launched the Starley Network in August 2020 and cycling has a vital role in the future of our transport plans not only in Coventry but across the West Midlands.”

He added the creation of the 500-mile route, and ambitious cycling plans, complemented by charity events such as the sportive, were all part of a ‘cycling revolution’ to encourage more people to explore the region on two wheels.

The Starley Sportive will set off from Deeley Group head office on Herald Avenue and riders will be raising money for The Myton Hospices, Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity.

John Eburne, president of Coventry Road Club, said: “While our event is focused on raising funds for our chosen charities, we do also place great importance on encouraging more people into the sport as part of our Coventry Road Club activities.”

Eleanor Deeley, deputy managing director of the Deeley Group, added: “As a company we are committed to promoting healthier lifestyles for our staff and within the communities in which we work.

“We would like to thank Andy Street for coming down to learn more about the event and we look forward to continuing to work with him and Coventry Road Club to shout about the benefits of cycling across the region.”

To find out more about the Starley Sportive visit www.starleysportive.co.uk/

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