You might think that cycling and chocolate are two things that don’t have a lot in common, apart from post-ride chocolate cake, and the fact that the Total Women’s Cycling team are HUGE fans of both.

However, there’s one more thing they have in common, and that’s chocolate company Divine with Chocolate Week – yes, there is such a thing.

Chocolate week

Chocolate Week runs from the 14^th to the 20^th October 2013 and celebrates all the deliciousness that comes from the cacao bean with events, talks, tastings, tours and bake-offs. You can sign up to make chocolate lollipops, see a chocolate fashion show and even drink chocolate cocktails.

Divine, who have sponsored Chocolate Week since it started in 2004, are a chocolate company with a difference. A Fairtrade company, they are 45% owned by the cocoa growers of the Kuapa Kakoo farmers co-operative in Ghana. This ensures the farmers get a fair price for the crop they grow, and means money to invest in health, education and development for their community.

The link between chocolate and cycling?

Divine have long been fans of cycling and cyclists themselves. As they say;

They’re making a positive choice to travel under their own steam, which is good for them, for other people, and good for the environment. We are supporting cycling communities and we think cyclists deserve a Divine treat!

We couldn’t agree more! And there’s more; as part of their Stay Independent project, Divine and the Kuapa Kakoo cooperative are working together to set up a bike program, supplying bikes and bike-mending workshops to villagers who live in more remote areas.

Bikes can make a huge difference, allowing children to get to school faster, and farmers to get to town to shop, or trade goods.

What’s on?

If you are near London, Newcastle or Manchester next week, then you are in for a treat! The lovely people at Divine have teamed up with a selection of bike shops to bring you some delicious cycling and chocolate themed events.

London – Sunday 13^th October

Cake and cycling are intrinsically linked – well, for us anyway – and what could be more satisfying post ride than a tantalising chocolate brownie? Bikeworks, near Bethnal Green, has thankfully thought of this. They’ve challenged Divines ‘three chocolateers’ to produce the Ultimate Cyclists Brownie. Mmm yum!

Want to try them? You can! Meet at Bikeworks for a social ride to Look Mum No Hands, the cyclists’ café on Old Street, where you’ll then get to test and score all the brownies, crowning one the winner.

If that wasn’t chocolaty temptation enough, you can get in on the brownie baking action yourself with the Bikeworks Brownie Bake-off; collect some FREE chocolate from the shop between the 14^th and 17^th of October, turn it into brownies, then bring them along on the 17^th for the judging. The winner walks away with a chocolate hamper and Bikeworks Super Membership.

(Total Women’s Cycling are happy to offer their services if anyone wants to send us some samples to test in advance)

Manchester – Saturday 19^th October

This is a women’s specific event with a difference; ‘Cycle with a Smile’ takes place in the Popup Bikes shop, and it’s aim is to make female cyclists feel more confident about riding a bike around the city.

There’ll be friendly talks, demos, free bike maintenance advice. As this is part of Chocolate Week, there’ll also be Divine Chocolate Mochas, cake, and free chocolate samples to lubricate the learning process.

Newcastle – 14^th to the 20^th October.

Combine cake, cycling, coffee and socialising all week at The Cycle Hub, a cycle café know for its ‘hub-made’ cakes. In celebration of all that is chocolate and cycling related, they’ve created some special cycling themed chocolate cakes using Divine chocolate…we’re drooling slightly at the thought already.

Go forth, ride bikes and eat chocolate.

Headline image copyright Rachel Ford James on Flickr.