The Mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Robert Dryden started the ride from Cambridge’s Netherhall School, encouraging a staggering 421 cyclists over the start line at the beginning of their 50 or 100 mile Big Bike Ride.The 100 mile route crossed four counties including Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk and took in some wonderful scenery. The response to both routes devised by Cambridgeshire County Council was tremendous, with a number of regular cycling enthusiasts commenting that it was one of the best rides they had ever taken part in!
Cyclists received some much appreciated support from villages on route and the organisers would like to thank all those who cheered them on and made the marshals so welcome. Thanks must also go to the volunteers who went above and beyond the call of duty to help manage such an all-encompassing route across a vast geographical area.
Donna Talbot, Director of Fundraising & Communications for the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity said: “We were delighted with yesterday’s ride. The weather was a little cruel but our 421 cyclists remained upbeat and weren’t disheartened by the conditions. I am sure many of our riders' legs will be aching today, but we hope they take great pride in knowing the event has now raised over £7400. This will be equally split with Press Relief, the community fund of the Cambridge News, and is guaranteed to have a significant impact here at the hospice.
"We would like to thank Cambridge News and Cambridgeshire County Council for all their support, headline sponsors Station Cycles, and Metro Bank who sponsored ride numbers, route maps and who had volunteers on route. We also had generous help from Netherhall School, who kindly opened their premises for us between 6am and 5.30pm, Aristo Caters, who donated sandwiches for marshals and Outspoken, who drove around the route providing critical mechanical support.
"Last but not least, we would like to say how much we appreciate our checkpoint venues, The Blind Fiddler at Anstey, The Star at Thaxted, and The Thurlow Cock at Thurlow, for accommodating and welcoming cyclists, providing water and bananas and encouraging all those taking part as they carried on to complete the ride."
For more information about the Big Bike Ride or to view the ride’s results, please follow the link here or call 01223 723115.
Photos from the day can be viewed on Arthur Rank Hospice Charity's Facebook page, which you can locate using the following website link: https://goo.gl/ZAG7vg
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