NewcastleGateshead Sky Ride is a huge success

NewcastleGateshead was the latest location to join our summer celebration of cycling, hosting their first Sky Ride City event on Saturday 27 July. 7800 people took to the traffic-free streets to ride the 10km route, taking in the city’s most popular attractions by bike. 

The city's first Sky Ride event lived up to all expectations, and has been a great highlight of the summer so far, as people of all ages and abilities enjoyed the day's action-packed events. In particular the Q&A session and bib signing with the one and only six time Olympic champion (sporting legend) that is Sir Chris Hoy, and the lovely Edith Bowman, radio and TV presenter.  

There was plenty of action and entertainment throughout the day, including Saddle Skeddadle Skills Course and Newcastle Cycle Centre’s electric bikes, as well as Team 3sixty Bicycle Stunt team and the Override BMX team thrilling the crowds, showing off their incredible talents and skills.

The event even saw Sir Chris Hoy ‘briefly’ step out of retirement as he took to the Go Ride skills circuit. Chris tweeted, ‘Briefly came out of retirement today @goskyride to race @edibow in Newcastle, shouldn't have bothered! #lost’

‘It’s been a fantastic atmosphere here at Sky Ride NewcastleGateshead today,’ said Peter Riddell, British Cycling’s Recreation Manager for the North East. ‘Having such a vast array of activities on offer and the presence of sporting legend Sir Chris Hoy and Edith Bowman have made it such a prolific and memorable occasion. I hope this inspires everyone who took part to continue to ride their bikes and join our Sky Ride Local rides in Newcastle this summer.’

Check out Sky Tyne and Wear's video report of the day, too.

Sky Ride NewcastleGateshead is just one of many ways to get involved in cycling in Newcastle. British Cycling and Sky are also bringing lots of Sky Ride Local rides to the area, as well as Social Cycling Groups and Breeze bike rides for women. Find out more and join a ride.

Coming to a city near you...

The next Sky Ride events are:

Southampton – Sunday 28 July
Manchester – Sunday 4 August
Bradford – Sunday 11 August