Bicycle riders defied gravity at Becket’s park on Saturday to entertain visitors to an open air cycling event.
The Ministry of Bicycles brought its Bomberdrome, otherwise known as a ‘wall of death’, to the town centre park, riding at dangerous angles and speeds for the pleasure of spectators.
Bill Pollard said: “I saw one on a website that had been constructed in America and I thought: ‘I’ve got to have a go on one of those.’ So I thought it would be cheaper to build one here than travel there.
“I may have been wrong about that.”
Visitors to the Celebration of Cycling event also rode rickshaws, giant and lie-down bikes as well as tandems.
Children also duelled via bicycles attached to a Scalextric track, whose cars accelerated more the faster the bikes were pedalled.
Madelyn Hester, from Southbridge, Northampton said: “It’s such a lovely idea and so well-timed after Team GB’s successes in the velodrome. My two boys loved the novelty bikes.”
The Connect 2 cycle route – a three mile track that connects Northampton town centre with Briar Hill, St James Mill Road, Sixfields and Upton - was also opened by the Mayor of Northampton Roger Conroy.
The track was developed by Northamptonshire County Council, the organisers of the event, and cycle charity Sustrans, after the latter got funding from the Big Lottery Fund and WNDC.