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Huge turnout for mass participation cycling events

Bristol Biggest Bike Ride and BHF London to Brighton rides

Tens of thousands of cyclists were out on two of Britain’s biggest and longest-running mass rides yesterday, including the Biggest Bike Ride in Bristol and the British Heart Foundation’s annual London to Brighton ride.

In Bristol it was the 19th year of the Biggest Bike Ride, which offered routes from eight to 38 miles long, attracting 5,500 cyclists to speed along the Portway dual carriageway that was closed for the event.

On the 54-mile London to Brighton route, 27,000 cyclists set out from Clapham Common for the 37th annual ride. The event has raised more than £50 million for the BHF and is thought to be Europe's largest charity cycling event.

Among the participants was Toby Field from Eastbourne, who has lost 8st 14lb since getting into cycling. He told the BBC he'd been in denial about hs own health problems after his father died at just 55 years old from a a weight-related heart attack.

"I wanted a cheap bike so I could ride around the park with my kids. I was walking and they were leaving me behind. That's where it all started."

This year's ride is thought to have raised over £3 million.

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5 comments

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deadcreative | 11 years ago
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London 2 Brighton was really good fun yesterday, busy but a great day out.

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creepymonkey replied to deadcreative | 11 years ago
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Me too - wonderful weather for it, and managed to prove that a 76 year old tandem can make it up Ditchling Beacon, whilst I sweat through my tweed.

Shame my stoker ran out of puff and had to walk!!

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WolfieSmith | 11 years ago
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It was the White Rose challenge yesterday as well if anything counts north of Watford?  3

Run by Ilkley CC and sponsored by Rapha the long route of 114 miles across every bleeding hill in the Dales was a real epic of scenery and leg shredding inclines. I'd certainly recommend it the those who like stunning surroundings and a sufferfest.

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dave atkinson replied to WolfieSmith | 11 years ago
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MercuryOne wrote:

It was the White Rose challenge yesterday as well if anything counts north of Watford?  3

Run by Ilkley CC and sponsored by Rapha the long route of 114 miles across every bleeding hill in the Dales was a real epic of scenery and leg shredding inclines. I'd certainly recommend it the those who like stunning surroundings and a sufferfest.

Where is this 'dales'?  3

seriously though, the story's about big mass participation rides; not sportives, of which i'm sure there were plenty both north and south of watford last weekend. as for the WRC, bung a ride report on the forum, sounds like a cracking day out...

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neilsump | 11 years ago
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Good quotes from Neil Fox there - although judging from the link, it looks like that was for last year's event??

[Oops, sorry that's now fixed - Embarrassed Admin]

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