LADIES showed their pedal power as they cycled in the sunshine at Woburn Abbey on Sunday.
The first of this year’s all-women bike rides was a big success, with many of the participants from last year’s ride at Whipsnade Zoo getting into the saddle again.
There were 40km and 60km courses, and television personality Zoe Hardman took part in the race too.
Leighton resident Karen Cundell, who won her place in the LBO competition said: “I had a brilliant time. I thought the course was excellent – we rode through beautiful countryside and some lovely villages that I didn’t even know were there. I much prefered it to last year’s Cycletta, mainly because we didn’t have to finish at the top of a truly evil hill.
“Originally I wasn’t going to enter Cycletta this year as I wasn’t sure how I’d cope following fairly major surgery less than six weeks ago, but when I saw the competition in the LBO I couldn’t resist.
“I completed the course in 2hrs 43mins, which was pretty slow I know, but given that I’ve done no training at all since the operation and that I needed the loo and jelly babies at the refreshment stops, I was pretty pleased!”
Olympic gold medallist and Cycletta ambassador Victoria Pendleton gave the girls words of encouragement and advice on the Cycletta website in the build up to the race and entrants were treated to goodie bags and massages afterwards, along with their medals.
Luton cyclist Lorraine Watts said: “I absolutely loved it, I didn’t sleep very well the night before as I was worried I might not be able to do it. I was aiming for 3 hours and did it in 2:25 so was really pleased. Everyone was so lovely round the course, all the women supported each other, especially getting up some of the steep hills. The pampering at the end was a bonus too with the massage certainly helping my aching neck!
“It’s inspired me to do a few more events like this and I hope to do it again next year and perhaps push myself to do the 60km one.”
Mother-of-two Ruchita Sarvaiya who only started cycling last year said: “Cycletta at Woburn Abbey was an awesome experience. The best bit was having my kids and hubby there to cheer me afterwards, and I got my medal!”
Cycletta rides are taking place all over the country the next one is in Lydiard Park, Wiltshire on June 24. To find out more and sign up visit www.cycletta.com.