Pedal Power! Bikeathon picture special
YOUNG bike riders rubbed handlebars with seasoned veterans on Sunday for the third annual Wokingham Bikeathon.
The event, which started and finished from Cantley Park, saw more than 800 riders take part in two fun routes around some of the best Berkshire countryside to celebrate National Bike Week and raise thousands for charities.
Wokingham Town Mayor, Cllr Peter Lucey, was on hand to start riders off on their 15or 25-mile routes.
Participants included the ever-exuberant Limbcare team in their Surrey bike, pedalled by three amputees and a rider with a broken arm. Flanked by a cohort of riders including one dressed as Scooby Doo, the team used the aaptly named ‘Limbcare 1’ bike.
Ellie McDaniel and friends rode in aid of Sport in Mind to support local people with mental health problems.
“I really enjoyed taking part in my first Wokingham Bikeathon,” she said. “I wanted to support Sport in Mind and thought this would be the perfect way for me to challenge myself and raise valuable funds for the work they do throughout Berkshire to support people with mental health problems.
“I am still collecting sponsorship via uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ EllieMcDaniel and I am really grateful for everyone who has supported me so far.”
A great many other charities were represented at the event including the Thames Hospice who will be receiving £300 raised by Danny and Simeon, while one six-year-old raised over £200 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Bikeathon is run annually by a team of local volunteers, supported by a number of charitable organisations who provide people to help with the check-in, run the drinks stops, marshal the routes and capture photographs of the event. The Wokingham Paper is the event’s media partner.
Organisations involved this year included The Unicorns, ARC Counselling, the 1st Emsworth Scout Group and the Wokingham and East Berkshire Camera Club.
Riders were also able to enjoy bacon sandwiches at the end of their ride courtesy of the Wokingham Rangers Girl Guide Group and get expert bike maintenance support from Mountain
Trax and Dr Bike from Cycle Services.
Younger riders with any energy left were treated to a turn on the Smoothie Bike by My Journey Wokingham – a chance to enjoy a smoothie made with pedal power – while adults were challenged to a Golden Minute of riding by the Urban Limits crew.
The Wokingham Bikeathon Team said it would like to thank all the riders and everyone who helped make this year’s event such a success, especially the main sponsor, Rodger Duckworth Physiotherapy Practice.