Electric bike championships in Bristol this Sunday

Britain’s steepest shopping street will be the setting for electric bike championships this weekend.

More than 15 e-bike manufacturers are entering machines for the series of races up Park Street, which climbs from the city centre to Bristol University.

Compering the championships on Sunday June 23rd will be e-vehicle enthusiast Robert Llewellyn, star of TV space comedy Red Dwarf and presenter of Scrapheap Challenge.

E-bike riders will race up Park Street for the Atmosphere Cup donated by the Bristol’s Burges Salmon. The event also includes a large have-a-go area for people to try e-bike out.

The Atmosphere Electric Bikes World Championships are being organised by Alistair McHardy who runs Atmosphere Electric Bikes, in Hotwells, Bristol. More festival details are on his website www.electricbikes.org.uk.

According to McHardy, many of his customers are car drivers who spot his shop while stuck in traffic jams. They try one of the bikes, which start at £725, and are soon converted to the joys and cost savings of e-bikes.

McHardy said: “Electric bikes used to be seen as only suited to those unable to ride a conventional bike, but more and more people are seeing the benefits of using them to get about, especially in a city like Bristol with lots of hills to climb. By staging the world championships we hope to show that e-bikes are not only great for getting up hills but also a lot of fun to ride. They are simply the best way to get around.

“This is a perfect way to add to Bristol Green Capital 2015 status – we can leave the car at home for those shorter journeys and getting to work. Think of the difference that will make."