People across the district are being given the message "on your bike" as the district's first cycle map is launched tomorrow.

And the Marie Curie cancer charity racing cycle team will be trying it first hand with a slow cavalcade from Keighley to Waterstone's bookstore in the city centre.

They will ride past East Riddlesden Hall on the A650, on to Keighley Road, Manningham Lane, Manor Row and Cheapside before turning right, by special permission, into Market Street.

A family fun day geared to cycling will also be held at Peel Park on Sunday and it will include a five-mile bike challenge.

The events comes just days before a national cycle network is published in a bid to get people across Britain to turn to pedal power.

That launch on Wednesday will be supported by Bradford cyclists who will take a ride on the new 5,000-mile network.

They will come from Leeds through Centenary Square at 12.30pm before continuing on to Spen Valley, through Huddersfield to Marsden.

The local map launched tomorrow is priced at £2.95 and has been funded by the Council and produced jointly with Bradford Cycling Action Group and Bradford University Bike Users' Group.

The Council is also urging commuters to get on their cycles on national "bike to work" day next Tuesday. Free breakfast will be served to bikers from 8.30am in Centenary Square at the Festival Cafe - as long as they are booked in advance with the cafe.

On Thursday, a women-only ride has been organised by Spokeswomen, Bradford Women's Cycling Group, starting at 7pm from Jimmy Gee's at Saltaire roundabout.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth the Council's executive member for the environment said: "The expression 'on your bike' can appear a flippant comment, but from a health perceptive it can be jolly good advice."

Councillor Simon Cooke, Executive member for the Economy, said the cycle map would be on sale at book and bike shops.

"It shows a network of routes recommended by cyclists, including a number of signed cycle routes, many quiet roads, traffic calmed areas and off highway links. Cycle shops are marked and the map contains a lot of useful information for cyclists."

The national cycle network is a Millennium commission project supported by £43.5 million of Lottery Funding.

It included 5,000 miles of safe, attractive, high-quality routes for cyclists, as well as walkers and wheelchair users. The network - which will double by 2005 - is a partnership project involving more than 400 local authorities as well as businesses, landowners and environmental organisations.

Planning officer Tony McGee, 36, who cycles the 16-mile round trip from his home at Lawnswood, Leeds, to his job with Bradford Council each day, said: "It keeps you young and it helps the environment. There are health benefits and you can go past the traffic jams. I can eat what I like and I never need go to the gym."

People wanting to book breakfasts at the Festival Cafe for Tuesday should ring Bradford 309199.