Middlesbrough News

Sky Ride

26th May 2010

Categories: Middlesbrough Arts

Sky and British Cycling in partnership with Middlesbrough Council, today announce the launch of Sky Ride Middlesbrough – a free family-oriented mass participation cycling event taking place across the town.

The Sky Ride event on Sunday, August 15 will take in the town’s most iconic landmarks and sites with traffic-free streets, enabling cyclists to enjoy a day of bike-based entertainment and to explore their town on two wheels with family and friends. The free event aims to encourage thousands of people, of all ages and abilities, to get on their bikes.

Twelve Sky Ride events will take place in 10 major cities and towns across the UK this summer with smaller local rides also taking place across the country. This year’s events will build on the success of 2009, which saw over 110,000 people take part. Since last July, Sky’s national cycling activities have encouraged almost 300,000 people to start cycling more frequently (cycling more than before) and 92,000 of these people have become new regular cyclists (cycling at least once a month or twelve times a year)

What people are saying.

Sky Ride ambassador Sir Chris Hoy said; “Sky and British Cycling have a genuine opportunity to make a positive difference to people's lives by encouraging as many people as possible to get on their bikes. I had a fantastic time at last year’s events in Glasgow and London and it was great to see so many families enjoying all the activities and having fun. I am thoroughly looking forward to attending Sky Ride events this year.”

Councillor Brenda Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Public Health and Sport, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Middlesbrough has been chosen to host a Sky Ride event. It is a great coup for the town and we are calling on all our residents and people from across the Teesside area to get on their bikes and help make Sky Ride Middlesbrough a huge success. As a Healthy Town, Middlesbrough is extremely keen to promote healthy living so the Sky Ride is a perfect event to highlight our passion for being active and healthy.”

Cllr Thompson continued, “To make the event as family-friendly and as safe as possible the roads on the 9k route will be traffic-free for the duration of the event. Participants can dip in and out of the route which includes the landmarks of the Transporter Bridge, Centre Square and Albert Park.”

Where else can you find a Sky Ride

The Sky Ride events take place up and down the country starting in Ealing, in west London on 18 July and then moving to major towns and cities across the UK: Bath and Southampton (25 July), Manchester (1 Aug), Middlesbrough and the London Borough of Redbridge both (15 Aug), Glasgow (22 Aug), Leicester (29 Aug), Bradford (29 Aug), Blackpool (31 Aug), Mayor of London’s Sky Ride in central London (5 Sept) and Birmingham (12 Sept).

More advanced cycling enthusiasts will also be catered for this year with the Sky Ride EtapeHibernia a competitive cycling event taking entrants over an 80-mile course in scenic countryside in County Clare, Ireland on 22 August.

How to take part

To take part in the free Sky Ride Middlesbrough event register online at www.goskyride.com

The site will also feature news, information, tips and expert advice on how to ride safely and look stylish plus views from Sky Ride’s cycling ambassadors.