A new cycling facility in Allithwaite (near Lothlorien) has been announced this week. A community Pumptrack for cyclists is being proposed to be situated in the Community Centre grounds. Pumptracks are man-made closed circuits with “roller” bumps in between and banked corners at each end. They are designed to be ridden without pedalling. As a full-body workout, riders use their body to “pump” – or push down into the dip after an elevation and pull up before the crest of a mound – throughout the continuous loop.

By absorbing and compressing the bike over the rollers, the rider converts gravitational force and downward thrust into speed.

A £3,000 donation towards the cost has been made by the Annual Fred Whitton Challenge Cycle Sportive.