Cyclists saddle up as race hits road again
ALMOST 200 intrepid cyclists got back in the saddle for the 2019 Macclesfield Bikeathon.
The event took place - for the first time since 2011 - on Sunday, May 11, beginning and finishing at Macclesfield Leisure Centre, on Priory Lane.
A total of 188 people took part, able to chose from three options - depending how energetic they were feeling.
There was a six-mile family ride, a 30-mile route and a more demanding 60-mile ride around the Cheshire Plain.
Some even took part with their pets - carrying them in a basket on their bike.
The Bikeathon was a regular on the Macclesfield calendar for many years, attracting up to 1,500 people and it is hoped this is the beginning of similar success.
Darren Allgood, from Allgood Cycling, organised the event with help from Macclesfield Town Council, who have been thanked.
He said: “It was a great day and we have received some tremendous feedback about it. A lot of people wanted to know if we would be doing it again next year. Hopefully it will be, bigger and better.
“The whole town used to come out and support the event, it was huge, so it was great to see it back - for the community, for fundraising and for people’s health.
“It has been a phenomenal of amount of work but all worth it.”
The chosen charity for the event was young people’s charity Just Drop-In and £3,600 was raised.
Darren added that the Bikeathon could not have taken place without the volunteers who were marshals and manned feed stops and has thanked them for their work.
Ann Wright, from Just Drop, said: “We are delighted to be a beneficiary of the 2019 Bikeathon.
“As a Macclesfield charity we are passionate about our community and it’s great to see the Bikeathon back with proceeds going towards helping local young people to find their feet.”