Mayor of London Boris Johnson has invited Londoners to join him for the London Freewheel when the event returns for a second year next month. Last year’s inaugural event saw more than 40,000 riders enjoy the capital’s sights.
This year’s event, organised by the Mayor of London and sponsored by Sky Sports, will take place on 21st September.
Riders will be able to cycle past the capital’s most iconic landmarks at their leisure on roads closed to non-cycle traffic. The 12km route will take in world famous landmarks including Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace.
Riders will be able to congregate at a network of ‘hubs’ across the capital and get ready for the cycle to the central London route, these will be located at the Emirates stadium, Clapham Common, Victoria Park, and Ravenscourt Park.
Organisers are keen to encourage cyclists of all less experience levels and have organised a series of rides, led by members of the London Cycling Campaign, to give less confident riders the opportunity to be accompanied to the hubs from each of London’s boroughs.
The organised rides will lead participants to the central London car-free route, with marshals – experienced cyclist volunteers – present at key junctions to point people in the right direction. Once in central London, on-bike entertainment from a variety of weird and wonderful bikes from days gone by, mobile sound systems, and other surprises will keep riders entertained along the route.
Mayor Johnson, himself a keen cyclist, said “Cycling is a fantastic way to get around the city and, to show people just how enjoyable it can be, on 21st September cyclists of all ages and abilities can enjoy some of London’s most famous sights by bike on a special car-free route.”
Registered riders are invited to complete the central London route at any time between 9:30am and 4:30pm. There are several entry points and riders can circulate as many times as they like.
To complete the Sky Sports London Freewheel, cyclists will be directed home from the central London route on the same route used to come in. Event hubs will remain open until 5:30pm to allow participants to stop off on their way home.
More information: www.londonfreewheel.com
Comment: I’m Jealous of London’s Cyclists
