July 23, 2013 10.07 am This story is over 128 months old

Local cyclists complete Lincolnshire Tour de Y

On your bike: 50 Lincoln residents successfully completed the city’s first Tour de Y challenge.

Forget the Tour de France: a number of Lincoln cyclists completed the local Tour de Y challenge by Lincolnshire YMCA.

The first ever ride at the weekend aimed to get city residents on their bikes and enjoying exercise.

Over 50 people took part cycling the different routes around Lincoln, including clients from the YMCA, with 15 people taking on the 27 mile bike ride from Lincoln Brayford, along the Witham to Fledborough Viaduct and back to The Showroom.

The event was marshalled by Jodi Bett and PCSO David Freeman from Moorland Neighbourhood Policing Team, with bikes loaned from Sustrans.

Anyone who biked up their appetite could enjoy a smoothie bike from Lincolnshire County Council’s Access LN6 team, with fruit donated by Lincolnshire Co-operative’s Moorland Avenue Foodstore.

Half way along the route, before heading back to The Showroom. Photo: Lincolnshire YMCA

Half way along the route, before heading back to The Showroom. Photo: Lincolnshire YMCA

Photo: Lincolnshire YMCA

Photo: Lincolnshire YMCA

The event is part of the Community Games programme, and is part of many Tour de Y challenges at YMCAs across the country this summer.

Sam Newton, Sports Development Officer and organiser of Tour de Y said: “From a beginners perspective and speaking on behalf of most of the cyclists, the bike ride was a challenge.

“Participants benefited greatly by achieving something they wouldn’t usually do in their own time due to not having their own bike or other commitments.

“The bike ride was a great team effort and this pushed participants to get to the end and with participants cycling in pairs or threes to keep each other going.”

Lincolnshire YMCA thanked Lincolnshire Coop, Sustrans, Lincolnshire County Council, VELO cycling club and the Moorland Neighbourhood Policing Team for their support.