HUNDREDS of cyclists joined the mayor on a charity bike ride.

Brighton and Hove’s Mayor Pete West led 140 cyclists on a 52-mile ride around the Sussex biosphere boundary yesterday.

Hundreds more families and children joined a shorter pedal along the seafront and undercliff path to Saltdean and back.

All the riders saddled up at Hove Lawns and, after only a couple of punctures and two riders pedalling off course, everyone had returned by 4pm.

The first cyclist to complete the route was not the mayor but keen cyclist Peter Grimley.

Organiser Brenda Pollack said: “We had a really good crowd of about 140 riding with the mayor.

“We have had such a great day and it’s all gone swimmingly. The last few people came in about 4pm and hopefully lots of money has been raised for charity.

“We had no rain and lots of people said they were interested in doing it again.

“We had some really lovely medals made by Barclays Eaglelab in London Road which they laser printed on to wood.

“Two lost riders who missed a sign had to be rescued. They went off towards Plumpton when they shouldn’t have.

“There were a couple of punctures but it was all fixed very quickly and no serious problems at all.

“On the family ride the children all had a really good time and they were also given bells and medals. It was a little but chilly on the seafront but the weather was great for the riders.”

The event marked the start of the mayor’s triple challenge to raise money for his 27 chosen charities.

Cllr West organised three events which he will complete himself. Following the ride he now plans to hike the 18-mile length of the new Brighton and Hove Way footpath on Sunday before riding a tandem bike from the Eiffel Tower to the i360 in May.

Yesterday’s ride followed the seafront cycle path and undercliff then took in beautiful countryside. Riders went through Lewes, Ditchling, Hurstpierpoint, Shoreham and back to Hove.