CRAZY cycles of all descriptions were there for the riding at a bike day held at Poole Park.

From a seven seater to recumbent, mini penny-farthing, eccentric bike with no brakes, electric bike, easy rider – all were put through their paces as the organisers sought to get people cycling.

Brenda Aquilina, who was ferried from the park gates on the bright red seven-seater said: “It’s extremely different. It was a new experience and quite comfortable.

“You have to have confidence in the one who was steering.”

Want a smoothie? Then pedal power drives the blender. Want to play with Scalextric cars? Then keep pedalling.

“We are trying to entice people to try cycling,” said Tom Gaze, Borough of Poole cycling and walking officer.

“At the moment five per cent of trips are taken on bikes and we want to get that up a significant level. There’s no reason why most people can’t bike down to the shops at the weekend or go for a ride with the family.”

Part way through the three week long Momentum Challenge, 108 competitive businesses, schools and organisations across Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch have signed up to take part.

It runs until June 16 and they compete to get the most people on bikes for a 10 minute ride, with top prizes on offer.

Challenge co-ordinator Mike Hicks said: “It’s fun. We are trying to get workmates to encourage people to jump on a bike. As a country we have done really well at the peak of cycling with fantastic performances. But it’s really for everybody.”

It is all being calculated live on themomentumcyclechallenge.org.uk.