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Skyride Leicester
Thanks for coming to Leicester
We hope you had as much fun as we did at Skyride Leicester. Below, we have a full report from the event. If you took part in the event, why not download images of yourself? - Images will be available from 9am on Monday.
Also available on Monday morning will be a video of the event on Youtube and at Flickr you can share your images of a great day out in Leicester.
- Want to get out on your bike again? Check out Skyride Local
- Can't find a Sky ride near you? Register for update
- Took part in the Skyride Active Cycle Sprint Challenge? Check out the winning times
Skyride Leicester Report
Sunday 30 August 2009 - Report: Eddie Allen
Skyride Leicester Photo-Report | Skyride Leicester Map
Thousands of cyclists packed Leicester's streets as the Skyride freight train made the fourth stop of its 2009 series. Leicester has always been a city with a strong cycling tradition, and today the East Midlands city certainly showed its cycling credentials.
Gethin Jones (black top), Shanaze Reade and Ed Clancy (both in Skyride blue) were on hand to add some celebrity buzz to the event
Skyride Leicester closed the roads, creating a traffic free loop that took in Belgrave House, The Abbey Pumping Station, The National Space Centre and Abbey Park, where the Skyride event village turned the otherwise languid park into a two wheeled carnival.
Out on the route, I joined cyclists who were savouring a tantalising taste of traffic free travel. Roads which were usually busy, congested no-go areas became broad avenues with cyclists ambling along, chatting and enjoying the day. The Belgrave Flyover, usually a real no-no for cyclists was also closed to traffic in one direction, giving Leicester residents a rare chance to cycle (or walk!) up to its summit and freewheel down the other side, with bemused and sometimes amused motorists looking on from the opposite lane.
Above: Leicester City Council's cycling supremo Sarah Russell enjoys the result of all her hard work.
There was plenty to do around the route too. At the historic Belgrave Hall, refreshments, bike doctor and entertainments were laid on, with many cycling families stopping for an impromptu picnic.
Further on at the stunning and futuristic National Space Centre, cyclists were given the opportunity to Go Loud, with whistles, klaxons and drummers, plus a guest appearance from a small company of Imperial Strormtroopers, who where kept busy all day checking for Rebel cyclists and generally posing for photos.
These riders feel the Skyride force as they run the gauntlet of a group of Stormtroopers
It was here that I met an ex-pat Dutch cyclist, enjoying the day with his typically cycling mad family. He said that in Holland, you're ‘born on a bike' and found it massively exciting that Sky was helping to show city dwellers what their hometown could be like if they left their cars at home.
However, Abbey Park was where it was all happening, with stunning freestyle BMX and trials displays, food from around the world (including a great goat curry!), celebrity interviews, autograph signings, bike doctor, bike tryouts, Go-Ride and much more.
Family fun was once more the order of the day as Skyride visited Leicester
Here I met a cycling mad family from Redditch Road and Path CC, a highly successful Midlands Go-Ride club. They'd brought their golden retriever along for the ride, who was keen to get in on the act, sporting his very own Skyride bib. They were a real cycling mad family, with Mum 3rd in her category in the regional Cyclo Cross league, whilst her son was National Hillclimb champion for his age group. All the family were active club members and enjoyed all kinds of cycling. And our Redditch family had come to the right place, because Skyride Leicester had attracted every kind of cyclist; casual weekenders, committed commuters, cycle speedway riders, BMXers, roadies, tourists and a few World and Olympic champions.
GB Cycling Stars Shanaze Reade and Ed Clancy were on hand all day to meet the crowds, sign autographs and spread the cycling message. Ed Clancy, more at home on the tarmac of the crit circuit or the Siberian pine of the velodrome, had a go at Freestyle BMX, along with Skyride's celebrity blogger, Gethin Jones. Both the guys showed amazing courage on the vert ramps, with Ed in particular showing off a few moves, hinting perhaps at a BMXing youth?
Ed Clancy and Gethin Jones re-visit their BMX roots
Gethin Jones is no slouch on the bike either. The ex Blue Peter presenter has been cycling between the Skyride cities, blogging his experiences along the way, and only arrived in Leicester the day before, having spent the week cycling from Glasgow. However, he still had time and energy to put in an impressive performance on the Skyride Active Cycle Sprint Challenge, only beaten by Ed Clancy. Gethin was also signing autographs and meeting the cycling masses all day, including those of the canine variety (posing here with Beano the Dog (below).
All too soon, the afternoon drew to a close, but not before the celebrities gathered for the Skyride Parade, leading the assembled cyclists for one last loop of Abbey Park. Skyride Leicester, like its predecessors in Manchester, Hounslow and Glasgow, has unequivocally shown the background level of support for cycling in the city. If you've been bitten by the Skyride bug and want to do more, check out the Skyride Local rides in and around the city.
However, the final word has to be a huge thanks to the people of Leicester for showing your support for Skyride and cycling in the city.
Membership offer for Skyride Leicester Participants
Congratulations if you took part in Skyride Leicester. We want you to carry on enjoying your cycling, so are offering you 15 months of membership for the price of 12 when you join British Cycling.
Our Everyday Cycling membership is the ideal package for commuters and leisure riders. It offers peace-of-mind liability insurance, free legal support and stacks of discounts on bike and accessory purchases, all for the equivalent of just £2 per month!
This special offer is available until 21st October, so don't delay. Call the membership team on 0161 274 2010 or download the membership form now.
