Thousands take part in London to Brighton charity bike ride

Thousands of cyclists arrived in Brighton today (Sunday 17 June) after completing Britain’s most popular charity bike ride.

The 27,000 riders set off from Clapham Common in south London from 6am and the first made it to Brighton seafront by 9am.

The London to Brighton Bike Ride is organised by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and is expected to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity.

The lycra-clad hordes – some in fancy dress – followed a 54-mile route. They had to make it over Ditchling Beacon before breezing downhill almost all the way to the finish line in Madeira Drive.

The train companies Southern and First Capital Connect banned bikes, adding to the challenges faced by those taking part as they made their way to Clapham this morning and returned home later. BHF laid on transport for bikes and cyclists.

A BHF spokesman said this afternoon: “A big well done and thank you to everyone who took part.”