Great Belfast Bike Ride sportive planned by Cycling Ireland | Sticky Bottle

*The Great Dublin Bike Ride saw numbers decline this year but it has gotten a lot of people out on their bikes in the capital over the past five years*

Cycling Ireland is working to launch a Great Belfast Bike Ride despite a fall in the number of cyclists that took part in the Dublin event this year.

The mooted sportive in Belfast would be modelled on the Great Dublin Bike Ride, which will continue in the Republic’s capital.

While the number of participants in the Dublin sportive was lower this year, it has proven a very popular event since it began five years ago.

In
material prepared for its AGM this weekend, Cycling Ireland said it hoped those
who took part in the Great Dublin Bike Ride would cycle more as a result.

“This year’s event attracted 5,587 participants, which is a decrease in numbers,” it said of the Great Dublin Bike Ride. “We are back to the drawing board to reinvigorate the event for next year.

“Plans are currently underway in partnership with Belfast City Council, Cycling Ireland and Cycling Ulster in the development of a Great Belfast Bike Ride for members and will complement the already established “Great Dublin Bike Ride.

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“Further information will be provided in early 2020 to all clubs on how their members can participate,” it said, adding a ‘Park Cycle’ programme was also being considered for the North.

*The Great Dublin Bike Ride is unique in taking riders from the city centre out to Fingal and past the scenic seafronts at Malahide and Portmarnock*

Numbers in the Dublin event this year were down 17 per cent on the record number of 6,746 cyclists that turned out in 2018. This year was the first time numbers reduced in the five-year history of the event.

Great Dublin Bike Ride has been promoted since 2015 when
3,082 riders took part. That went up to 5,064 in 2016 before reaching 6,001 in
2017.

Last year numbers increased again, to 6,746 before falling
back this year.

Most of the cyclists in the Great Dublin Bike Ride this year –
some 72 per cent - were not members of
Cycling Ireland.

Of the 4,372 non Cycling Ireland members in the event, 40
were sold Cycling Ireland membership.

The national federation said the relocation of the event headquarters to the Phoenix Park had been very well received. It added the addition of the ‘family cycle’ event was also popular.