Cycling festival just down the road

If you don’t want to miss the world’s greatest cycling festival when it reaches Chelmsford, make sure you’re all set for RideLondon at the end of May.

It will be a first for the city, as this major cycling event comes to Essex for the first time in its history.

With the RideLondon and RideLondon Classique women’s races taking place from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 May, there will be another opportunity for families to come out and enjoy the thrills of cycling.

Wheel sensation!

Whether a rider or not, you can enjoy the excitement of this great cycling occasion.

As many as 25,000 amateur riders, many raising money for charities, will make their way through the Essex leg of the event. You can watch and cheer the riders on as they pedal across some of the most picturesque areas of the county.

RideLondon starts at Victoria Embankment in London, branches into Essex, winds round Epping, Chelmsford and Braintree before looping back to London. You can find out more about the event on the RideLondon website.

Access during road closure

Some minor road closures will be required in areas of Essex on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 May, with major road closures in the Chelmsford area on Sunday 29 May, so please plan ahead for travel on these days.

The organisers have published community access plans to help residents and businesses access property and make essential journeys during these road closures. They’ll also have details of the 16 vehicle crossing points available along the RideLondon-Essex route on Sunday 29 May.

The route map will show you where you can come to watch this unique event. As vehicle access will be curtailed, you are advised to look up spectator points in your neighbourhood. Find out how to reach them on foot – or by bike!

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“What a great way to celebrate our beautiful city and its green corridors! Chelmsford is an increasingly popular hub for cyclists, as many residents and visitors of all ages have already discovered. It’s wonderful to welcome this iconic festival to our region for the first time.

"We’re proud that Chelmsford has a network of routes to explore by bike. RideLondon is a landmark event for Chelmsford and will highlight the city council’s commitment to provide even more opportunities for safe and sustainable travel.”

Cllr Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for Greener and Safer Chelmsford

Family fun at start of Classique race

 A great family activity event will take place at the Anglia Ruskin University campus on Saturday 28 May.

Chelmsford City Council and the university are hosting the family cycle festival to celebrate the Classique taking place in Chelmsford. Come and spot top names in the world of women’s elite cycling as they depart from the ARU campus at 11am.

You can watch the riders and enjoy a morning of activities for all the family.

The Family Cycle event takes place from 9.30am to 2pm.

All are welcome, no need to book. Why not consider cycling to the event? Riders are meeting up at Bell Meadow, Chelmsford, at 9.30am. Register to join for free.

Cycling legacy for the city

As part of the legacy of RideLondon, schools in Essex will be given a cycling resource pack to encourage children to cycle. Schools on the route will also get free bikeability sessions to help children learn to ride safely. There’ll also be a chance for organisations along the route to apply for grants once the event has taken place.

Family cycle routes to download

If you’d like to explore Chelmsford by bike, don’t forget our family-friendly cycle routes too. There are trails all over the city from Chelmer Village to South Woodham Ferrers, with an I Spy challenge and ideas about where to stop along your route. You can start your journey at any point along the map and there are short, medium and long routes for riders of all abilities.