Open to everyone – including non-UK residents – the scheme was expanded earlier this year to include more of East London. There are now 8000 bikes and 560 docking stations.

Cycling is a great way to see the city whilst getting some exercise - plus it can often be quicker than other forms of public transport. I’m guessing cycling will become even more popular in London following Team GB’s stellar London 2012 Olympic performance!

Have you tried the bikes? Tell us about your best journey?

 

Two teams of charity cyclists arrive in London today having ridden all the way from Europe to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A group of 150 orange-clad Dutch cyclists will pitch up at the Oranjecamping site in Walthamstow at 3pm this afternoon. They’re sportive cyclists on a tour organised by The Royal Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) that saw them ride from Utrecht, via Hoek of Holland and Harwich to London. Their arrival heralds a week of Olympic celebrations at Heineken House in Alexandra Palace. The cycling team is led by Olympic snowboarding champion Nicolien Sauerbreij and accompanied by the illustrious Dutch umpa band Kleintje Pils.

Another group of 20 cyclists from the Austrian Tirol will reach London Bridge today after their eight-day, 1,300km charity ride from Innsbruck. The ride was in aid of British charity Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK).

Supporting the Tirol cycle team at the start was the UK’s Heather Mills, hopeful for the Paralympic Games in Sochi 2014 for the British Disabled Ski Team, who joined them as they set off from the Bergisel stadium. During the ride’s final stage from Ramsgate to Tower Bridge, British sport personalities will join including BBC Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell and ex GB ski racer Konrad Bartelski.

The Tirol team’s arrival coincides in with the official opening of the Olympic hospitality house, Austria House Tirol, at Trinity House.

After my old faithful flip flops breaking and Karen Pickering lending me hers, we got off the Eurostar and braved the Metro in Brussels much to the bemusement of the locals. A quick walk and we were there.

To say the bike part didn’t go well for me is an understatement!

Having not been on a bike for the best part of a year, I was wondering whether I should have invested in some stablisers!

12.40 and we are off. Six laps, 40km in total of quite a technical course and a cut-off time to add to the pressure. We have to ensure we get the next Eurostar train back to London. (And oh, London, how I missed your flatness and straightness as I cycled round!)

By lap 2, the cramp has set in on my left calf. And then through came Alistair Brownlee, lapping me already! (I had to remind myself that he does this for a job).

Onward I went, cramp in toe. Lap 4 saw my chain come off my bike, but through pure grit and determination, I made it to the end. I wasn’t last, but almost.

We’re now enroute to London on Eurostar, just having had a massage on the calf and waiting for my dinner.

Looking forward to the last leg in Regent’s Park and determined to finish so hoping the good British public are there to cheer us on. There are lots of tired and achy bodies aboard along with a few injured but everyone is in high spirits and thoroughly enjoying the day.

See you all in London, home sweet home.

Read about the first leg, swimming in Paris, here

I love this video of the fantastic Blackheath Bike and Kite Festival, taking place this weekend. It really captures the brilliance of this fantastic free London event.

Are you planning to go? Let us know…

The Olympic road cycling route will start and end in Central London, crossing the river Thames and travelling through South West London and the Surrey Hills in between.

London landmarks along the new 138-kilometre route include:

• Westminster - the route begins in this historic area of London
• Crossing the Thames at Putney
• Bushy Park
• Richmond Park
• A 12.5km circuit of Westminster, Chelsea and Fulham
• The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace – where the race finishes

Read more about this on www.insidethegames.biz