Keighley is set to go 'Bike Crazy' when the Tour of Britain comes to town next week.

The town is set to come alive to pedal-power with an action-packed programme of events leading up to the time when the professional cyclists speed through the area on Thursday.

"Cycling is one of the best ways to build up fitness and keep healthy," said sportKeighley organiser John Dennis.

Members of Keighley Cycling Club have teamed up with youth groups and Aire Valley Cycles to help put together a bumper programme of events.

The action starts at Victoria Park at 10am with a series of cycle 'prologue' challenges and demonstrations.

"We want as many people as possible to dust off their bikes and come down to the park and join in. There really will be something for everyone whatever their age or ability," said Sports Development Officer Anthony Gill.

There will be the opportunity to take part in two cycle challenges around a circuit of the park. Riders will have the chance to see how many laps they can complete during a 20-minute period. There will also be a chance to try riding the 'Crak-it-Up' bikes that include a Penny Farthing, a unicycle, tandem and a bike that steers in the opposite direction to the way you turn the handlebars.

Throughout the morning local riders will be giving demonstrations of championship Cycle Trials riding.

Members of the Aire Valley Cycles demonstration team, including top rider Wayne Mahommet, will be showing off their astonishing skills and other riders will have the chance to test their ability on the Aire Valley Cycles test rig.

The event is sponsored by Royal Spring Mineral Water which is based just across the road from the park, and is supported by Bradford Council and Airedale Primary Care Trust.

"All the events are free to everyone, all they have to do is bring along a bike and a helmet," Anthony Gill said.

The Tour of Britain race itself is expected to race past the park at about 11.50am and competitors in the local events will take a break to give the pro riders a warm Keighley welcome as they race past.

"The action packed morning will end with a huge prize presentation ceremony. Everyone who takes part in the Cycle Challenge will get a certificate and there will be other prizes," Anthony said.

The event will also rekindle some of Keighley's sporting heritage. Before Bradford Road was built Victoria Park was slightly bigger and in the 1960's and 70's riders came from all over the world to compete in professional races.

"Keighley is still a cycling town with several local clubs and Aire Valley Cycles sponsors teams in all sorts of disciplines. Mountain bikes have opened up the opportunity to use the network of tracks and bridleways and Oakbank Sports College is on the verge of a British Cycling Community 'Go-Ride' club.

The town is also connected to the Sustrans National Cycle Network via the canal towpath and the Great Northern Trail, near Cullingworth," John Dennis side.

The Tour of Britain is the top cycling event in the UK with many of the Tour de France riders taking part. Sixteen teams compete over four days for top honours.