CRAVEN is gearing up for its first major cycling festival.

Prologue 2007 begins today (Friday) and will take place in and around Settle over three days.

And the highlight is a 110-mile Etape du Dales' marathon ride on Sunday.

All 700 places for the event were snapped up within hours of it being advertised. Many of the places have been taken by professional riders, including David Lloyd from the Wirral, who has ridden in the Tour de France.

The event begins and ends at Wharfedale Rugby Club, in Threshfield, and spectators will be able to watch the riders cycle over eight major climbs and tackle 3,540 metres of ascent.

For those wanting an easier option with café stops, there will be 50 and 100km CTC rides starting from North Ribblesdale Rugby Club, in Settle, at 9.30am.

The cycle festival was the concept of Craven District Council's sports development officer, Bruce Dinsmore.

The idea was then embraced by Settle Chamber of Trade and received backing from a number of local organisations.

"This is the first of what we hope will become a firm fixture as an annual event offering cycling fun and adventures for everyone," said keen cyclist Mr Dinsmore.

Key organisations such as British Cycling and Cycling England, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and local cycle hire providers have joined forces to help make the event a success. It is hoped subsequent festivals will be extended into week-long events.

Other festival activities include gentle rides along the 16km Settle loop starting at the tourist information office at Settle Town Hall or the Off the Rails cycle hire centre in the town's Station Yard.

Colin Clifford, who runs Off the Rails and who has helped get the event off the ground, said: "It doesn't matter whether you've never ridden a bike before or whether you're an experienced road cyclist or mountain biker, you'll find plenty to enjoy and take part in over the weekend."

Most of the cycling will take place on minor roads, quiet country lanes and off-road bridleways and tracks.

The national park authority has been making improvements over the past few years to develop a range of opportunities for cycling in the park.

The 130-mile Yorkshire Dales Cycleway has been re-signed and improvements have been made to bridleways as part of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail project.

The cycling festival kicks off today with rides in Gisburn Forest or a family fun ticket offered by Country Lanes at Dalesbridge, Austwick. Today also sees the start of a three-day mountain biking weekend organised by Dales Mountain Biking, or you could hire a bike from Off the Rails and explore the Dales by yourself.

British Cycling will also be running a "Go Ride" skills challenge at Settle Middle School.

Tomorrow (Saturday) there will be free guided mountain bike rides from Country Lanes, starting at Dalesbridge at 1pm. These range from a 10 to 15-mile moderate ride or longer routes for the more experienced rider.

Off the Rails is also offering one of its award-winning days out using the famous Settle to Carlisle railway and then cycling home.

These activities are also available on Sunday.

Also on Saturday there will be an evening of relaxing food, fun and free films at the Victoria Hall in Settle. The films are expected to include Belleville Rendez-vous (a cycling story with a difference), Le Tour de France (the official history narrated by Sean Kelly), Roam (top mountain bike action from some of the world's top destinations) and L'Etape 2006 (covering last year's Etape du Dales).

On Sunday, Richard Johnson will defy gravity on a mountain bike in Settle Market Place and there will also be bike stalls, a nutrition specialist, the Bike Doctor and lots more.

To find out more visit www.cravencyclingfestival.org.uk or ring Settle Tourist Information Centre on 01729 825192.