Around 70,000 cyclists enjoyed a sun-drenched ride around London on Saturday (August 1) as the two-day RideLondon festival kicked off.
Day one of the event saw families take on an eight-mile route around traffic-free roads in central London, taking in landmarks such as Trafalgar Square and St Paul's Cathedral.
Speaking to getwestlondon, cyclist Tyler said: "It's such a nice day. There's a great atmosphere here."
There was also cycling-themed entertainment and live music at a number of festival zones along the route.
It was, as event director Hugh Brasher put it, “both a cycling celebration and a fantastic family fun day out”.
“This is not just about promoting cycling as a sport, but cycling as a form of health and exercise, cycling as a mode of transport, and cycling as an ordinary part of people’s lives.
“We have seen all kinds of people out today, from the oldest to the youngest, from teenagers to babies being towed along in their buggies.”
'The aim is to make cycling an every day part of travel in London'
As the evening closed in, spectators were treated to an amusing spectacle as the Brompton World Champs took place with Mark Emsley claiming first place, before a series of competitive events took over.
Ella Barnwell claimed victory in the youth girls Grand Prix while Jake Stewart won the boy's race.
And then, in the main exciting event of the day, 103 elite women riders battled it out in the Grand Prix with Velocio Sports team member Barbara Guarischi taking first place.
British cycling favourite and double Olympic medallist Laura Trott could only manage a seventh place finish with rival, and last year's winner, Giorgia Bronzini in fourth place.
Transport for London's director of planning and strategy, Ben Plowden, said after day one: “The Mayor has said he wants to ‘de-Lycra-fy’ cycling and that’s what this is all about.
“We want ordinary people to feel that cycling is just what they do in their city, not something special. The aim is to make cycling an every day part of travel in London.”
That’s the aim of the all-party parliamentary group on cycling too, co-chaired by Labour MP Ruth Cadbury, who arrived on The Mall on her Brompton bike, manufactured in her own Brentford & Isleworth consistency.
“Today London is safe for cyclists because it’s traffic-free and look, we’ve got tens of thousands of people on the streets,” she said.
“It’s a wonderful celebration of cycling and great to see. Cycling is good for health, good for overcoming obesity, good for the environment, it’s cheap and it’s easy. What could be better?”
