Tour de Roundhay – a Tour de Force!

Celebrating the Tour de France coming to Leeds, the Tour de Roundhay set out to provide a fun and sociable afternoon for our local community. It certainly delivered this, drawing the praise of BBC Look North’s Amanda Harper who joined us to cut the ribbon for our Grand Départ. Ronnie the Rhino and the Garforth Jubilee Brass Band led an impressive procession of cyclists to the start line and the tone for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon was set as the first cyclists rode off to the tune of On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at!

Children’s cycling, led by Track Cycling and Bikeability, turned the school playing fields into a giant race track, with hundreds of youngsters safely developing their cycling skills. Music was provided by the Garforth Jubilee Brass Band, Los Camaradas, the Roundhay Ukelele Group and Roundhay students, and a delicious array of food came from local suppliers from our community, including Tasty, Manjit’s Kitchen, Setchfields Butchers and the school PTA.

See pictures of the event here.

The day was organised by Roundhay Live, a partnership of local community groups including, amongst others, REAP, OTRA and Leeds Cycling Campaign, and had financial support from Leeds City Council and organisational support from Roundhay School staff.

With Le Grand Depart taking over Yorkshire on Saturday 5th July, our appetites for all things cycling have certainly been whetted by a fantastic Sunday of fun and food!