THOUSANDS of cyclists will freewheel into town this weekend to celebrate all things bike.

Organisers of the York Cycle Show are expecting 15,000 folk, many with thighs like industrial cable, to join the Knavesmire festivities.

Disappointingly the schedule does not find time for a stunt like that held in Spain last weekend. Hundreds of cyclists in Madrid and Barcelona wore only shoes and backpacks for a naked commute to protest at the domination of the motor car.

Paul Hepworth, spokes-man for the show, put the brakes on any idea of an organised strip-show happening here. "I think we would have to leave it up to individual members to participate in that sort of thing."

IF nude cycling does not ring your bell, how about these fascinating facts gleaned from York Cycle Show...

It is Britain's biggest cycling showcase - not bad for something which started in 1947 with a handful of khaki-shorted enthusiasts on Little Knavesmire.

Last year's show hosted the first emergency services cycling seminar. Among those attending was a cycling coastguard.

Pedal medals are always handed out for various feats. The oldest cyclist to attend so far was 96; winners of the prize for cycling the longest distance to York have previously travelled from Penzance and Londonderry.

YOU might think that this was one major show at Knavesmire which would not bring added traffic congestion. You might be wrong.

"It's actually suggested that more people go to the cycle show by car than go to the National Motor Exhibition in Birmingham by car," Paul said.

"It's partly because the Birmingham NEC is so well served by rail."

Cyclists travelling here from far flung places tend to pack their bikes in cars or caravans because they haven't the time to bike there and back, he explained. And "unfortunately the ability of the train operating companies to carry large numbers of pedal cycles has diminished".

More on the event at www.yorkcycleshow.co.uk

"IS the Diary still on the lookout for York's most ugly eyesore?" asks Dale Minks. Most definitely, Minnie.

"If so, for a river-mud tidemark - for graffiti-covered brick walls and doors - for a green slimy faade - broken glass windows - for rotting woodwork - for a weed-strewn walkway - it must be the foreboding 'Bo Ding Warehouse'."

Dale enclosed his own picture of the stagnating pub to prove the point.

"For goodness sake, where's some of this York Pride? Certainly not viewed from Skeldergate Bridge."

A WARM York welcome to John Gelson who, the Diary notes from last night's Business Press, has been appointed media relations manager at GNER.

John was formerly news editor at Radio Cleveland, and the BBC website still retains a biography of him.

This reveals why John is perfect for a job with a train company. "John lives in a new house on the outskirts of Darlington," it states, "and as regular listeners will know, his interests revolve around one thing - buses."

SHOPPERS have been fascinated by the window display at fashion boutique Abichelin on Little Stonegate, where the mannequins are clad in unique outfits.

"At first I was going to cover them in clippings from fashion magazines, but then I decided to cover them in beautiful people instead. Their faces are like clothing in themselves," says Kelly Armour, who designed them.

The dense covering of small photographs looks like a mix of pop art and magic eye pictures, and confirms York's status as the place where the beautiful people are.

Updated: 09:49 Wednesday, June 23, 2004