St Neots: Downton Star Peddles Cycle Message

28 August 2013, 06:00 | Updated: 28 August 2013, 12:11

Jim Carter, star of Downton Abbey is taking part in a bike ride from St Neots to Bedford to celebrate Pedal On UK.

Until the 7 September, Pedal On UK is a 1,000 mile UK-wide cycle tour and series of community festivals organised by charity Sustrans and backed by the Big Lottery Fund’s Keeping the Spirit of 2012 Alive campaign.

The event marks the successes of 84 new walking and cycling routes which help over four million people to travel around their communities on foot or by bike, keeping the Olympic spirit alive.

Starting at the Riverside Park in St Neots today (Wednesday), Jim Carter will lead Pedal On UK along new cycle routes accompanied by a group of volunteer cyclists.

Jim said: "The hardest part of riding a bike is getting it out of the shed! The minute I'm on my bike and start pedalling - the world suddenly seems a much better place.

I support the wonderful work of Sustrans and can’t wait to join in the Pedal On UK bike ride. 

I would urge anyone who has been thinking of getting their bikes out of mothballs to pump up their tyres and join in. 

You are guaranteed to feel better afterwards. I promise."

Sports journalist Alec Wilkinson will also be joining Jim on the bike ride said today said: "I love sport and I love travelling. 

What better way to combine the two than on a bicycle. 

I'm definitely not a sprinter; I enjoy the access cycling gives you to little corners you wouldn't normally get to see. 

I can't wait to get going from St Neots to Bedford. 

We need more and more cycling and walking routes in Britain and that's why Pedal On UK is such a great way of highlighting this."

After the bike ride, Pedal On UK then will continue around the country and set in motion celebratory events in cities and towns including Birmingham, Belfast, Newcastle and Glasgow.