Bicycle Boom: Cycling Gymkhana

The Cycling Gymkhana is a fun-filled bicycle-inspired mash-up between a village fete, a sporting event, a theatre show and music gig for all the family.

In 1901 a Cycling Gymkhana was held in Kelvingrove Park as part of the Great International Exhibition. 111 years later, 'Live Art Supergroup' Fish & Game present their own 21st-century re-imagining of that afternoon’s entertainment.

Your mistress of ceremonies for the day is Eilidh MacAskill, tweedily dressed in full Victorian cycling costume, complete with big bloomers and enormous leg-o-mutton sleeves. Her authentic outfit, designed by Glasgow-based fashion designer, Jennie Lööf, shows what women began to wear in the 1890s when they started to ride the bicycle during the so-called Bicycle Boom.

Audience members of all ages are encouraged to bring their own bikes and decorate them in any way they choose to be in with a chance to win the prize of Best-Dressed Bike.

The afternoon’s entertainment will include
- Stalls from a range of cycling organisations and bike-inspired artists
- A short history-lesson on the importance of the bicycle in society
- Novelty races such as the Bicycle Egg and Spoon run by our team of female cyclists
- A BMX Flatland display by Liz Law
- A Musical Drill of Synchronised Cycling choreographed by Laura Bradshaw
- The prize-giving ceremony for the Best-Dressed Bike

The house band is led by Kim Moore of Zoey Van Goey and they will be providing musical accompaniment to the cycling action, playing original music and sounds inspired by the Victorian period.

Text supplied by third party.