Hundreds of cyclists join dawn-to-dusk bike ride

More than 900 cyclists entered the dawn-to-dusk event this year

More than 900 cyclists have taken part in the annual Chase the Sun coast-to-coast bicycle ride on the Isle of Sheppey.

The group left The Leas at Minster at daybreak on Saturday – at about 04:30 BST – to head to Weston-super-Mare where they hoped to finish the 205-mile trek before sunset.

Last year, 755 entered the dawn-to-dusk event and 673 finished, 519 before sunset.

Starter Kelly Wickens, from Southampton, said: "I think this is one of the busiest years that we've had."

Three other Chase the Sun rides were taking place on Saturday, in Whitley Bay, Belfast and Italy.

It took an hour to get all the riders under way, freelance reporter John Nurden said.

They were dispatched in pods to avoid congestion on the roads.

'Having an adventure'

Ms Wickens said: "Since Covid and the cost-of-living crisis people have wanted to come out more, and they certainly want to challenge themselves and have the adventure."

The route took them through Rochester, south London, Crystal Palace, Chertsey, Bramley, across the Vale of Pewsey, over the Mendip hills, through Devizes and across Cheddar gorge before finally arriving on the seafront at Weston-super-Mare.

On Sheppey, work by Network Rail to replace cables on the Kingsferry bridge was put on hold to allow the cyclists to make their way off the island.