Sidcup cyclists lead hundreds through unique London to Paris charity ride

PUBLISHED: 09:51 07 September 2016 | UPDATED: 09:52 07 September 2016

Luke May

The Pedal to Paris team. Photo credit: Matt Alexander, The Royal British Legion

www.mattjalexander.com

Sidcup Cycles' Cherryl Sinclair during the Pedal to Paris challenge. Photo credit: Matt Alexander, The Royal British Legion

More than 300 cyclists pedalled hundreds of miles last week to help raise money for the Royal British Legion.

The RBL’s ‘Pedal to Paris’ event saw 350 cyclists cover nearly 300 miles as they rode through London, Kent, northern France before finally finishing in Paris.

Guiding the pedalling hordes was a team from Sidcup Cycles Club.

The team included Cherryl Sinclair and Jo Stephens-Smith.

Jo Stephens-Smith from Sidcup Cycles. Photo credit: Matt Alexander, The Royal British Legion

Ms Stephens Smith commented: ““I have been cycling since 2008. Pedal to Paris has been brilliant and everyone’s ben really lovely. I was helping people, trying to give advice where I think it might have be needed without telling people what to do and helping them with things like being in the right gear on a hill.

“Really, we were there to keep everyone getting to Paris, that’s the goal, so they didn’t have to stop or get in the van, pacing it for the right ability for the rider.”

Setting off from Greenwich Park last Thursday (September 1), riders finally arrived at the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

It is the only other cycling event other than the Tour de France which sees the Champs-Élysées closed to traffic.

Nigel Hill has been head mechanic on the event since the ride started in 1996. Photo credit: Matt Alexander, The Royal British Legion

Ms Sinclair added: “It’s an honour to be a ride captain. Obviously cycling is popular with men but it’s nice to see more women involved and you see that reflected with the ride captains now. I feel great about it.”