2,000-mile cycle challenge reaches Norwich 

Pedal power took centre stage outside Norwich Anglican Cathedral this week as the nationwide Cathedrals Cycle Route reached the city.

The new 2,000-mile relay ride connects the country’s 42 Church of England cathedrals and the specially-commissioned CCR baton changed hands in Norwich on Thursday June 10 and Friday 11.
 
Cyclists from Ely delivered the baton to Norwich on Thursday afternoon, after completing a 54-mile route, and they were cheered on by a welcoming committee as they crossed the Norwich finish line.

On Friday morning, the Norwich contingent pedalled out of the Cathedral’s Erpingham Gate to start the 42-mile journey to St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds. The Dean of Norwich, the Very Rev Jane Hedges, blessed the cyclists before they set off at 9.30am.

The inaugural Cathedrals Cycle Route – which started from Newcastle Cathedral on Sunday May 30 to coincide with Bike Week – aims to celebrate the nation’s cathedrals and promote greener travel and mental and physical wellbeing. It is the result of a unique partnership between Sustrans, Cycling UK, the British Pilgrimage Trust and the Association of English Cathedrals.

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Rev Jane Hedges, said: “It is wonderful to join all our fellow Anglican cathedrals across the country in hosting the new Cathedrals Cycle Route. Relays are all about teamwork and it is really inspiring to see cyclists from all over the country taking up this new challenge."

The relay route, which starts and finishes at Newcastle Cathedral, is the invention of academic, entrepreneur and keen cyclist Shaun Cutler, from Northumbria University.

The Norwich leg of the relay ride is raising money for local mental health charity Norfolk and Waveney Mind as well as Cycling UK’s Break the Cycle appeal, which aims to help improve people's wellbeing through the charity’s community cycling clubs, activities and projects nationwide.

It is hoped that the relay ride will become an annual event and will encourage more and more people to get on their bikes this year and beyond.

For more information about the whole Cathedrals Cycle Route click visit: www.cyclinguk.org/route/whole-cathedrals-cycle-route

Pictured above are cyclists outside Norwich Anglican Cathedral. Picture © Bill Smith/Norwich Cathedral.