Major roads closed for 50,000 to cycle in city centre
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Beijing Olympics cycling heroes Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton will join the Mayor to lead London's biggest free cycling event this weekend.
The gold medal winners will be among an estimated 50,000 cyclists at the Sky Sports London Freewheel on Sunday when some of the City's most famous roads are closed to motorists.
Participants will cycle past landmarks such as the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.
"It's a brilliant event for Londoners of all ages and cycling abilities," said Hoy, who won three gold medals in Beijing. "Personally I can't wait to cycle down the Mall."
The circuit runs from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square before cutting down to Victoria Embankment and following the river to Tower Hill.
Landmarks visible along the way include the Houses of Parliament, St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye, Nelson's Column, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre-Somerset House, Cleopatra's Needle and the Monument.
Cyclists will be entertained by jugglers, mobile sound systems, and demonstrations of old and unusual bikes.
Hoy and Pendleton will be accompanied by fellow medal winners Ed Clancy, Jamie Staff and Shanaze Reade.
Reade said: "There's no better way to see the capital than on a bike and with no traffic in the way, it is a chance for those with less confidence to enjoy themselves."
Hubs at Emirates Stadium, Clapham Common, Victoria Park and Ravenscourt Park will be open from 8.30am, providing cyclists with a place to meet up with friends before setting off for the central route, which will be open from 9.30am until 5.30pm.
In addition to traffic-free streets, there will be a series of bike-related activities. British cycling coaches will help people build cycling confidence and skills, as well as testing cyclists against the GB Cycling team in the Sky Sports Sprint Challenge.
Those who take part will also have the chance to win a signed Great Britain Cycling Team jersey.
Boris Johnson said: "Many Londoners own bikes but aren't using them regularly. I'm sure that the involvement of such fantastic cyclists from British Cycling will inspire more Londoners."
Tom Bogdanowicz, of the London Cycling Campaign, described last year's inaugural event, attended by 40,000, as a success.
He said: "It was just spectacular. There's a lovely silence with people just pedalling away. You can actually hear people talking."
Sky Sports London Freewheel is free but participants must register in advance.