New British Cycling Web Portal Gets 8.8 Million Hits On First Day
19 June 2009
British Cycling's new website (www.britishcycling.org.uk) received over 8.8 million hits within its first 24 hours. The website went live on 17 June to coincide with the announcement of the Skyride series of city events and led-rides, organised by Sky and British Cycling. The website has been funded by Sport England through the National Sports Foundation and by Sky.
British Cycling is the first governing body to use the latest digital technology to combine publishing editorial content with creative social networking tools and is now able to provide an innovative new online hub for all cycling needs. The new site is specifically designed to help British Cycling meet the broad range of needs across all of the UK cycling community.
Now, anyone with an interest in cycling, whether they are a competitor, a recreational cyclist or use their bike as a means of transport, will be able to quickly access information relevant to them via the new site. They will also be able to personalise the content to suit their individual needs, interests and preferences by customising the layout of the site and requesting specific areas of information.
Earlier this year British Cycling laid out its mission to encourage and facilitate participation in the sport at all levels and in all disciplines, and this innovative mixture of digital media and social networking is another key step towards achieving these goals.
British Cycling will continue to provide news, race reports and event information, but will also now feature cycling updates from other partners. For example, Sky is using the new website to launch Skyride, details of which are available on the new website via www.goskyride.com.
Ian Drake, CEO at British Cycling, says: "The launch of our new website marks an important landmark in our ongoing commitment to encourage participation in cycling as a sport, recreation and sustainable means of transport.
"Over the coming months and with the valued feedback from our members and the cycling community, we will continue to evolve our digital platform to ensure we engage with both current and new audiences whilst better serving the needs of our existing members. With the new tools and functions being developed, the website will help us connect like-minded people from event organisers, clubs and teams to cycling enthusiasts and keen riders.
"With the new social networking features on the site, we are also offering people the tools to organise their own cycling activities. Thousands of people have already begun to get involved by creating their own profiles, setting up groups and sharing their ideas and content through the forums and profile pages, which is fantastic, but this really is only the beginning."
Download: Press Release (Word doc 500kb)
Contact: abbyburton@britishcycling.org.uk
