Sky Ride Edinburgh & Sky Ride Ipswich are a roaring success!

10,000 cyclists enjoyed a fantastic day at Sky Ride Edinburgh, as the city was transformed into a bike rider’s paradise. It was the first time Edinburgh had hosted a Sky Ride and participants cycled around the 10km traffic-free route passing by some of the city’s most iconic landmarks - Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace and Arthur’s Seat.

There were plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy; at Holyrood Park crowds were stunned by some amazing BMX and mountain bike demonstrations. Others enjoyed a well-earned break with a coffee from the British Cycling Bike Café and lots of children got creative, decorating their Sky Ride bibs in the Art Attack area. The Bike Station and The Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative were busy all day providing Dr Bike advice and repairs to participants. Chris Hoy and Edith Bowman attended and we carried out a live Q&A with Chris Hoy with questions submitted through facebook and twitter.

Over in Ipswich, 12,000 riders took to their bikes and cycled the 5km route in the sunshine. The riders were also lucky enough to wave off Team Sky as they embarked on Britain’s biggest bike race – the Tour of Britain. To celebrate and support Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and the other Team Sky riders, we brought some very special activities to Sky Ride Ipswich. Inspired residents had the chance to take on a Team Sky challenge and try to beat Wiggins’ Time Trial time – on a static bike. Riders signed autographs and chatted to fans, and a few lucky supporters even got a tour of the Team Sky bus.There was a whole host of entertainment all around the route, and activity areas at the Customs House, Alderman Park and the Cornhill Forecourt which delighted riders as they rode around the route.