Spring into the saddle to win cycling prizes

CYCLISTS of all ages and backgrounds can celebrate the start of sunnier weather with a little friendly competition in this year's Love to Ride Bike Month Challenge.

The event, supported by Wokingham Borough Council, runs throughout May and sets out to encourage both individuals and workplaces to saddle up, have some fun and maybe even win prizes.

This follows the success of last year's Love to Ride Cycle September, also supported by the council's My Journey Wokingham active travel team, in which a borough resident won the top prize of a £2,500 Raleigh electric bike.
 

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Easy for everyone to have a go

Next month's challenge includes seven leaderboards for organisations of different sizes, from up to six staff to 2,000 or more, and everybody who logs a ride will contribute to their team's position.

Individuals can also take part just by heading out and riding. They more they do, the more entries they'll get into the draw - with prizesincluding £2,000 and smaller cash awards, gift cards and cycling gear.

Registration is free and all rides, which can easily be logged online or recorded automatically through a new smartphone app, only need to be 10 minutes or longer to count.

A healthy way to earn rewards

As well as being fun and a good office talking point, the scheme will help people build exercise into their daily routines and will reduce congestion as well as improving air quality.

Everyone who registers before 1 May will enter a prize draw for an “early bird” reward of £1,000, and can also work towards a pre-challenge riding goal to be in with a chance of winning £2,000.

The Love to Ride scheme runs throughout the year and Wokingham Borough's 2,533 riders have so far logged a staggering 2,110,816 miles across 17,506 individual trips - including more than 500,000 miles in the past 12 months.

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See in the sunshine with colleagues

Simon Dale, Wokingham Borough Council's interim director of place and growth, said: “We're pleased that Love to Ride is becoming so popular locally and we'd love to push that to the next level this spring.

“If you haven't been riding over the winter, there's never been a better time to get back in the saddle or maybe even give it a go for the first time. Bike Month Challenge is open to everyone and all efforts, no matter how small, are recognised and rewarded.

“Although there's a competitive element for those who want to push themselves a bit, it's first and foremost about getting together, having fun and getting around in a healthier and greener way.”

Making changes for the long-term

My Journey Wokingham organise and attend events all year round to encourage more people to walk, cycle and take public transport as it is healthy, affordable and reduces congestion and emissions.

The council has also published a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which outlines how routes could be improved over the coming years - subject to funding and further public consultation.