14000 celibrate cycling in Scotland

"More than 14,000 cyclists of all ages got on their bikes to take part in an
event dubbed Scotland's largest cycling festival. Cycling legend Graeme
Obree and broadcaster Lorraine Kelly were among those taking part in a
variety of cycling events across the central belt.

Organisers said 6,000 cyclists took to traffic-free streets in Glasgow for
the city's third annual outing of the Sky Ride - a 10km route which took in
landmarks such as the new Riverside Museum, Nelson's Monument and Glasgow
Green.

In addition, more than 8,400 cyclists took part in the freshnlo Pedal for
Scotland event. Organisers said 7,285 people took part in the 51-mile ride
from Glasgow to Edinburgh, while 900 people seeking a tougher challenge took
a 100-mile route through the Southern Uplands between the two cities.
Finally, 250 cyclists joined a new nine-mile family ride in Edinburgh, from
Kirkliston to Murrayfield on a traffic-free route. Sky Ride is a national
campaign from Sky and British Cycling aimed at getting a million people
cycling regularly by 2013. The freshnlo event is organised by Cycling
Scotland to encourage people to make more everyday journeys by bike"

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukp...1315752719684A

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Simon Mason
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/

On Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:07:47 +0100, "Simon Mason"
wrote:

"More than 14,000 cyclists of all ages got on their bikes to take part in an
event dubbed Scotland's largest cycling festival.

Scotland's largest declining cycling festival it seems.

2009 Glasgow Skyride
7,500 participants. City target is 15,000 for 2010.

2010 Glasgow Skyride
13,000 participate. Forecast for 2011 is "there will be thousands
more".

2011 Glasgow Skyride
6.000 participants


freshnlo Pedal for Scotland

2009 - 7,000 participants
2010 "over 9,000" participants, "will be over 11,000 next year"
2011 - 8,400 participants

Sky Ride is a national
campaign from Sky and British Cycling aimed at getting a million people
cycling regularly by 2013.

Unfortunately, according to Sky Rides own report, the vast majority
(three quarters) of participants are already regular cyclists and of
the remainder quarter three quarters of these are already occasional
cyclists.

It is basically a free day out and bike ride for keen bicycle riders
subsidised by other taxpayers. Dominated as it is by men of about 30
in Lycra it is also reinforcing the perception of cycling in most
peoples eyes as something only other people do.

Peter Parry wrote:

On Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:07:47 +0100, "Simon Mason"
wrote:

"More than 14,000 cyclists of all ages got on their bikes to take part in an
event dubbed Scotland's largest cycling festival.

Scotland's largest declining cycling festival it seems.

2009 Glasgow Skyride
7,500 participants. City target is 15,000 for 2010.

2010 Glasgow Skyride
13,000 participate. Forecast for 2011 is "there will be thousands
more".

2011 Glasgow Skyride
6.000 participants


freshnlo Pedal for Scotland

2009 - 7,000 participants
2010 "over 9,000" participants, "will be over 11,000 next year"
2011 - 8,400 participants

Sky Ride is a national
campaign from Sky and British Cycling aimed at getting a million people
cycling regularly by 2013.

Unfortunately, according to Sky Rides own report, the vast majority
(three quarters) of participants are already regular cyclists and of
the remainder quarter three quarters of these are already occasional
cyclists.

It is basically a free day out and bike ride for keen bicycle riders
subsidised by other taxpayers. Dominated as it is by men of about 30
in Lycra it is also reinforcing the perception of cycling in most
peoples eyes as something only other people do.

I was in Sunday's ride, and can confirm there was a pretty good mix
of various abilities, with women and children in significant numbers.
Perhaps the 100-mile sportive was more dominated by "men of about 30 in
lycra", but not so much the shorter 50-mile challenge ride. However,
what I say is subjective without numbers/surveys etc. The weather
forecast probably put quite a few people off anyway. It was rather
inclement this year. I had the bright idea of cycling back home to
Clydebank afterwards, just to make it a proper challenge. Horrendous
headwinds, but made it eventually, ouch.

--
Perpetual World Calendar - http://www.1r5.net