ADRIAN MOLE fans can join a commemorative bike ride this weekend to celebrate the work of renowned author and Leicester icon Sue Townsend.
On Saturday 10 August, an Adrian Mole themed ride will depart from Leicester’s Town Hall Bike Park at 10am. Suitable for any cyclists over 16, it will commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Sue Townsend, beloved creator of the Adrian Mole books.
On the ride – which takes about three hours – cyclists will discover how Sue Townsend’s life in Leicester shaped her work. They’ll see the houses where she wrote her books and the theatre where her plays were first performed. Dr Emma Parker from the University of Leicester will be on the ride, and will help to uncover Townsend’s influences, values and creative practice. The ride ends with a chance to delve into the Sue Townsend archive at the University of Leicester.
Thanks to the kind support of the Sue Townsend Estate, riders completing the ride will also receive a free Adrian Mole mug.
Rakhee Townsend from the Sue Townsend Estate said: “The route the Adrian Mole bike ride takes gives great insights into Sue’s life. Every stop reveals a different scene of inspiration in the Adrian Mole story. We are all really pleased to be involved in such a great event.”
The ride has been organised by Leicester City Council and Ride Leicester, which provides fun, safe, inclusive and free guided rides and events as part of the city council’s Cycle City Action Plan. It is part of the Ride Leicester festival, a month-long festival of all things cycling to highlight Leicester as a bike-friendly city for both new and regular cyclists.
Assistant city mayor Cllr Geoff Whittle, who leads on environment and transport, said: “The Ride Leicester Festival is a chance to celebrate everything that’s good about cycling – from the benefits to your health and the environment, to the positive effects it has on air quality and the local economy. But above all, the Ride Leicester Festival is about celebrating the fact that cycling is fun!”
Numbers for the ride are limited to 30. Please bring a bike lock if you have one. To book, see letsride.co.uk/rides/ride-leicester-sue-townsend-adrian-mole-ride-1
Find out more about the Ride Leicester festival at choosehowyoumove.co.uk/rideleicesterfest/
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