PEDAL power raised cash for charity as thousands of fundraisers got on their bikes for the Manchester to Blackpool Bike Ride.
More than 8,000 riders - many in fancy dress - gathered under sunny skies at Manchester United's Old Trafford Ground ahead of the 60-mile challenge.
Organisers said it was the largest turn out ever for the annual ride, which has been running since 2004.
The trip is in aid of The Christie, the world-famous Manchester cancer hospital, although many riders saddled up for other charities.
The route took in country lanes and main roads through Leigh and Preston before arriving at Blackpool's South Promenade.
Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, who plays mechanic Kevin Webster, and a host of other celebrities took part.
Tandem bikes
MEN editor Paul Horrocks was also among the cyclists taking up the challenge.
Families joined in on tandem bikes and schools, businesses and sports clubs fielded teams to complete the challenge.
Competitors set off in waves from 7am on Sunday and most were expected to complete the route in around five hours.
Father and daughter Gary and Jenna Todd were part of an eight-strong team of riders from the Heywood plant of Keystone Distribution UK. They were raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities, an independent charity which aims to provide free accommodation for families at specialist children's hospitals.
Jenna, 23, from Rochdale, said: "We were all quite nervous but determined to complete the ride for such a good cause."
The West family from Hazel Grove were raising money for The Christie and cycling on two tandems. John West, 55, and his son Sam, 11, were on one while John's wife Heather and their daughter Emma, 13, were on another.
John said: "I have ridden to London and done lots of racing before but this is always a really great day. The turn-out this year has been wonderful and everyone seemed really up for it."
Great day
Chris Cullen, a 40-year-old engineer from Hyde, and his girlfriend Sarah Hamilton, 28, from Cheadle, got into the party atmosphere by dressing in Roman costumes. They were part of 130 riders from Hazel Grove company NXP Semi-Conductors hoping to raise £10,000.
Chris said: "We have done coast-to-coast rides before and the Manchester to Blackpool three times. It is an absolutely great day out. The last 10 miles is always the hardest because the wind comes in off the sea into your face but we will battle through."
Stephen McDonnell, 38, from Fallowfield, dressed as a clown to ride for The Christie, where a member of his family, Bobby Hogg, is being treated. He said: "We hope he gets well soon. This is the third year I have done this. I gave up smoking three years ago and decided to get a bike and I enjoyed it ever since."
Peter Mould, 46, from Salford, took to the road on a specialist three-wheeled tricycle. Peter, who suffers from arthritis, said: "I did an event in Kent on it last month and this is my fifth Manchester to Blackpool run.
"It is hard work uphill but fast and terrifying downhill. I am hoping for a happy medium on the flat."
The Christie is the largest single-site cancer research and treatment centre in Europe. Last year's ride raised more than £242,000 for patient services and research.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
my legs are bloody killing me!! well done to all who did the ride and also a big "thank you"to the organisers!! CTID.
absolutely fantastic day out,great people and great weather, .............I'm Spartacus!!
A great ride - the best route yet, just a pity the organisers couldn't do anything about the vicious headwind through Lytham! I thought a section through Trafford Park and the Haigh Hall section were a little dangerous though. Hope everyone got through there without any injuries.
great day out great weather great people on the ride,and well done to all who took part.look forward to next year,haha.ken from mossley.
I completed this ride too! it was the hardest thing i've ever done, but was proud to finish. I raised around £350 for the christie.
8,000 - and it looked like every one of them was in front of me as I tried to get to work. Not a steward or organiser's car in sight, and cyclists, some of them very unprofessional looking, six or eight abreast. I hung back and was late as a result but less patient drivers overtook me and the cyclists- it was very scary at times.
done this the last 5 years, its always a laugh.
a fair few of the cyclists seem to amble along the middle of the road and cause a problem not just for drivers but also the faster cyclists. You always get the drivers overtaking when it not safe but at the end of the day its once a year, its for a good cause and the muppets in cars should just live and let live for once. they get held up a little...tough, maybe they should try and do something for the greater good for once.
me an my mate simo done the bike ride yesterday feel it now. seen a few people fall off there bikes. Hope there all ok and cant wait for next year. SIMO HOPE YOUR KNEES ARE ALRIGHT YOU OLD CODGER HAHA
Hellllloooooo! This is the clown in the pictures! Just wanted to say thank you to all who gave their support to me and encouragment from people watching and fellow riders after having the nasty accident in hindley with a busted knee etc etc , I wasnt going to give up for christies and finally got to blackpool a very long time later even missed the barbie LOL!. WELL DONE TO EVERYONE !!!
Team KP360 are aiming to raise £2,000.00 in aid of The Christie and are proud to announce that all 13 staff members completed the challenge. Although suffering from achy bums and extreme tiredness the team still managed to make it into work on Monday morning to tell the tale
For me this was an exceptional challenge made even more spectacular by the supporting public’s encouraging chants at the finish line when legs were achy, backs were throbbing and the wind and sand blurred our vision, “UNBELIVABLE DAY”
Great day out! This was my first time on the ride and I really enjoyed it, although the last few miles were hard going in the wind. Hope I can do it again. I managed to raise over £2000 for the Wood Street Mission