CYCLING to and from work can significantly reduce the risk of death from cancer and heart disease.

That is the strong message being sent out to the public this week.

The Mayor of Brighton Hove, Councillor Pete West - known as the cycling mayor for riding a tandem to mayoral engagements - has now taken the challenge to try out a Raleigh e-bike.

The Mayor is keen to encourage others to get about on a bike, particularly after the findings recently published by Glasgow University in the British Medical Journal about the benefits of cycling.

Cllr West discovered that an e-bike makes it a lot easier getting up the hills of Brighton, and has been able to travel further and faster without getting all hot and bothered.

Cllr West even found he could ride an e-bike in his splendid mayoral robes and chains.

He said: “Like many people I thought e-bikes were cheating but I now see how they can make cycling accessible to more people to feel they could get about by bike and to cycle more often.

“I live on Hollingbury Hill and cycling home can be more effort than you want at the end of the day.

“I have headed to a number of engagements across the city on a Raleigh e-bike and found it much easier and quicker, especially tackling the hills and wind along the seafront.

“I need to turn up in a suit and not glowing too much from exertion.

“Even with the robes on I could get around with great dignity.”

Graham Rowe of Electric Bikes Sussex, who asked the Mayor to try out the e-bike, said: “Most people understand that cycling is good for them and like to cycle but often don’t cycle as much as they want to.

“When asked why, the two most popular responses are struggling with hills and headwinds.

“An e-bike adds power to pedalling making a journey by bike easier and more achievable. Riding an e-bike definitely gets more people travelling further and making more journeys and getting more exercise.

“So if you’re cycling today and arriving at work needing a shower; or maybe worried about being too tired at the end of the day, maybe an e-bike could solve your problems.

“Of course, from a health point of view, we all know about the pressures on the NHS budget.

“Anything we can do to change our own lifestyle to include a healthier option will help”

“Words like pollution, congestion and parking all form part of the bigger picture.”