This weekend London goes cycling mad for the RideLondon Festival of Cycling. There will of course be the RideLondon 100 cycle event which thousands of you have signed up for, but there’s plenty more to see, do and try, and most of it involves at two wheels.
RideLondon FreeCycle
On Saturday 9th August you can enjoy the sights of London from the comfort of two wheels – with NO TRAFFIC! A 10-mile traffic-free route will allow you to enjoy views of Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, St Pauls Cathedral and more, without having to negotiate cars. It’s quite an amazing sight, and perfect for families.
There are also a huge range of events and activities going on, from Balance Bike Races and a Bling Your Bike zone to Penny Farthing Polo matches and BMX rider showcase. Check out the five Festival Zones at Green Park, St Paul’s Churchyard, Guildhall Yard, Leadenhall Market and Tower Hill.
It’s all free, you don’t need tickets to join in, but you can register and get all the updates.
Date: Saturday 9th August, all day
Price: Free
More info: RideLondon FreeCycle
Guinness World Record Attempt – Biggest Bike Bell Ensemble
Got a bell on your bicycle? Join the Guinness World Record attempt! Spin by Guildhall Yard at 9.00 on Saturday and become part of the Prudential RideLondon Bike Bell Orchestra. 600 recruits are needed to perform a new composition – a world premier no less!
Date: Saturday 9th August, 9.00am
Price: Free
More info: Festival Zone activities at the RideLondon FreeCycle
Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix
The Grand Prix is a series of races including two youth categories, and the Elite Women. After watching the women of the pro peloton in thrilling races at The Friends Life Women’s Tour, La Course, and the Commonwealth Games, this is your chance to see them in action once more up close and personal.
With the pro-lineup looking incredible, this is one race not to miss! Fresh off her victory at the Commonwealth Games Road Race will be Lizzie Armitstead, and she’ll be lining up against the one and only Marianne Vos. With Tiffany Cromwell, Hannah Barnes and Katie Archibald in the lineup, you know it’s going to be an exciting race. The RideLondon Grand Prix has drawn riders from some of the best known women’s cycling teams including Specialized Lululemon, Wiggle Honda, Rabo Liv and Matrix Fitness – Vulpine.
It’s also going to be broadcast live on the BBC so if you can’t make it to the Capital, make sure you cheer from your living room.
Date: Saturday 9th August, 5.05pm Pro Women, 6.15pm Youth Girls, 7pm Youth Boys
Location: St James Park, London
Watch Live: BBC2 5pm to 6pm
RideLondon Cycling Show
Get inspired to get cycling, shop for new kit, pick up cycling essentials and meet some cycling stars at this years RideLondon Cycling Show. Running from Thursday to Saturday at the ExCel centre, London, there will be loads of talks giving you all the insider information you’ll need to make the most of your experience if you are participating in the RideLondon 100 event, plus you’ll be able to pick up your race pack and sign on.
Expect film screenings, talks from legendary riders like Martyn Ashton and Katie Archibald, demos, exhibitions, and lush kit galore. It’s also a great place to stock up on your RideLondon souvenirs.
Date: Thursday 7th August (10am to 8pm), Friday 8th August (10am to 8pm) and Saturday 9th August (9am to 5pm – quietest before 11am!)
Location: ExCel Centre, near Custom House Station on the DLR
More info: RideLondon Cycling Show
Prudential RideLondon Handcycle Classic
This event will see 30 of the world’s top handcyclists race from Kingston to central London, finish up on the iconic final straight on The Mall.
Starting at 8.30am, the mixed riders will race the 15-mile route passing Wimbledon Common, Putney Bridge and the Kings Road. With names like Brian Alldis (the current Para-cycling World Cup Champion), Hans Frei (Triple Paralympic Gold medalist and World Champion) and Sandra Graf (Paralympic Gold medalist and World Champion) racing, it’s going to be a exciting event to watch.
Date: Sunday 10th August, starting 8.30am
More info: Prudential RideLondon Handcycle Classic
RideLondon-Surrey Classic
Watch 150 top riders from the professional male peloton in action along the roads and lanes of Surrey, as they follow some of the iconic 2012 Olympic Road Race route on their way out of and back into London. Starting at 1pm from the Olympic Park, they’ll speed along the Mall to a dramatic finish around 5.30pm, so if you’re doing the RideLondon 100 or cheering someone on, stick around to watch the dramatic finale.
Date: Sunday 10th August, 1pm to 5.30pm (approx.)
More info: RideLondon-Surrey Classic
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