Boris recruits Kelly Brook to promote London’s Skyride

Mayor of London Boris Johnson teamed up with actress and model Kelly Brook this week to launch what is expected to be London’s biggest ever mass participation cycle day.

Skyride will see 10 miles of London’s busiest streets closed to motor traffic on 20 September in a bid to get Londoners on their bikes.

The route will cover Trafalgar Square, St James’s Park, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the Embankment.

Festival activities are planned to give the route a carnival atmosphere.

“I’m going to be there, Boris is going to be there, Chris Hoy is going to be there, it’s a really exciting event, it doesn’t matter if you’re not a professional,” said Ms. Brook.

“I’m not really feeling that athletic but I do ride my bike on a regular basis, I do love cycling.

“It’s just a fun day out, it’s for everyone of all ages and all standards of cycling.”

Johnson added: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for people across London to come down to parts of central London they cannot normally cycle through without encountering traffic.

“It’s going to be absolutely wonderful, so I hope to see as many people as possible.

“Not only will you see thousands of people from city hall, but you’ll also of course have the opportunity to see Kelly Brook. How about that?”

For potential participants worried about their fitness levels, Boris offered a word of advice.

“Remember you don’t have to go too fast,” he said.

“I always cycle in a suit, I barely break into a sweat, I scarcely perspire I go so slowly.”