GOOD weather encouraged a record turnout for an annual cycle ride. Mayor of Stevenage Simon Speller and TV sports commentator Phil Liggett - who is also the Cyclists Touring Club president - were among the 359 people who took part in the Emitremmus cycle

GOOD weather encouraged a record turnout for an annual cycle ride.

Mayor of Stevenage Simon Speller and TV sports commentator Phil Liggett - who is also the Cyclists' Touring Club president - were among the 359 people who took part in the Emitremmus cycle ride from Stevenage to Saffron Walden and back on Sunday, beating the previous record set last year by 118.

Borough council leader Sharon Taylor, who had ridden the event, helped get the latest one started.

Emitremmus is summertime reversed and the event, which has been held 12 times, marks the end of the sunny season.

The 101 kilometre route took the riders from Fairlands Valley Park and through Aston, Benington, Dane End, Aspenden, Buntingford, Hare Street, Clavering and Newport to Saffron Walden. Then it was back via Wendens Ambo, Chishill, Barkway, Reed, Therfield, Rushden, Luffenhall, Weston and Great Ashby.

The riders were of all abilities and they took between four and eight hours to complete the trip.

The next big ride, the Stevenage Start of Summertime Special, is on March 25, but in the meantime there's a very varied programme of cycle rides, usually two or more a week, right through the autumn and winter.