Wheels within wheels Olympic champion Pendleton promotes cycling show

British Olympian Victoria Pendleton peddled into town this week to promote the Irish Cycling Show which takes place this weekend at Dublin's Citywest.

Organisers expect up to 12,000 visitors to the two-day event on the back of what they said is a forecasted consumer spend of €35 million in the sector this year. Tax incentives and the Dublin Bikes scheme mean cycling has become a more regular feature of the urban environment in recent years. It has also becomes an increasingly popular recreational pursuit, even if most of the weekend trialists will never aspire to match Pendleton's feats.

With an indoor cycle test track, seminars on nutrition and cycle holiday tours, alongside stunt cycle demonstrations, the show hopes to attract novice and serious cyclists. Known for her tenacity and fighting spirit, the Olympic, World and Commonwealth Champion also proved she was no slouch when it came to telling business leaders where to get off during her visit to Dublin. Speaking to a select audience, she urged them to get on their bikes and support two causes with long-term impacts. These included the show's charity partner, Cycle4haiti.com, which raises funds for the Soul of Haiti Foundation.

Gift Voucher Shop chief executive Michael Dawson and other Cycle4Haiti volunteers are organising its fourth annual charity cycle for the foundation and hope to get at least 300 people to join the event from departure points in Dublin, Sligo, Carlow and Cork, before heading for Galway on May 4th and 5th.