Love is in the air at Sydney Rides Festival

Chocoholics and singles can look forward to three weeks of finding “true love” when the sixth Sydney Rides Festival rolls into town in October. Australia’s largest bike festival line-up includes speed dating, a chocolate ride, city suit ride, pocket park treasure hunt, night and day adventures, talks, exhibitions, courses and more. City of Sydney CEO Monica Barone said the Sydney Rides Festival was embraced by the community every year, bringing people together on streets and parks throughout the city. “The Sydney Rides festival celebrates this city’s love of the outdoors and active living. Whether on foot, or by bike, there’s an event for everyone in this year’s program,” Ms Barone said. “The festival is a perfect way for locals and visitors to explore the city’s newest bike paths and routes that make riding a bike an easy, healthy and safe way to travel throughout the local area. It’s now possible to travel from Central Station to the Harbour Bridge without riding in traffic at all.” One of the major events this year is Sydney Rides the Park, a day of outdoor fun at Sydney Park on Saturday, 8 October. Visitors can make a stop to watch BMX displays and unicycle ballet, enjoy live music and roving entertainers, or try yoga. Kids can have a go at making a pedal-powered smoothie, mountain boarding on the grassy slopes, jumping, kite-making and visiting the pop-up farm. The Chocolate Ride on 15 October allows bike riders to “eat their way” around the backstreets of Marrickville visiting chocolatiers, gelato manufacturers, patisseries and confectionary wholesalers. The ride starts at Petersham Post Office, and goes from 9am–1pm. Bookings essential. Soul Roadies will present Speed Dating on 23 October with a unique dating event for singles who share a common passion for bikes. Price: $11.40. Meeting place is the corner of Grand Drive and Parkes Drive, Centennial Park. Light the City returns to the festival program on 22 October, when thousands of people will don their brightest best for a night-time ride or walk around Mrs Macquaries Road in The Domain, with lights, effects and a harbourside lounge. The festival runs from 4–22 October, and includes 20-plus events. Sydney Rides Festival highlights include: •    Sydney Rides the Park – 8 October Spend the day at one of Sydney’s most beautiful open spaces. Sydney Park, St Peters, 9am–4pm •    Pocket Sized Precincts – 9 October Collect clues from local shops that lead to beautiful parks with hidden artworks. No bike necessary. Choose your own start location. 10am–4pm. •    Suit Ride for Ride2Work Day – 14 October Don your business best and join city workers on a midday Suit Ride and lunch to celebrate National Ride2Work Day. Harmony Park, Surry Hills, 12pm–1.30pm. •    Roller Racing International – 15 October An event featuring bands, DJs, pinball machines, 10-pin bowling and roller racing on stationary bikes. The Standard, Surry Hills. 6pm–11.30pm. •    Saturday Slowies – 8, 15 and 22 October A relaxed ride through Newtown and Redfern to Centennial Park. Cruise the flats or take the hills for a more strenuous ride back to Marrickville for brunch. Meet at Post Office Square. 6.30am–8.30am. •    Spring Cycle – 16 October Choose either 12, 50 or 105 kilometre rides that start. The family City Ride rides finishes in festival style at Pirrama Park, Pyrmont or make the extra journey to the final finish line at Sydney Olympic Park. Meet at St Leonard’s Park. Rides depart between 6am–9am. Bookings essential at springcycle.com.au •    Light the City – 22 October Experience light installations and special effects on a 2.5-kilometre cycling and walking loop along Mrs Macquaries Road at twilight. Relax at the outdoor lounge at Mrs Macquaries Point and enjoy roller racing, silent disco and gourmet food trucks. Mrs Macquaries Chair, 6pm–11pm. Visit sydneyridesfestival.net  for program details and booking information.