The RideLondon - Essex 100 taking riders around some of the county's beauty spots.
This weekend will see 25,000 cyclists taking place in the third edition of the Ford RideLondon - Essex 100
The showpiece event of one of UKs greatest cycling festivals takes place this weekend, with the return Ford RideLondon - Essex 100 on Sunday, seeing cyclists taking part in 30, 60 or 100-mile rides.
With the current route debuting 2022 it begins in the centre of the capital, riders from leave the city and head to some of Essex's most picturesque towns including Epping, Ongar and Great Dunmow before returning to the finish line at Tower Bridge.
Over 25,000 cyclists will take part with many riding for charities, the event has raised over 85 million pounds, since its first edition in 2013.
Emma Kay from Exmouth in Devon is one rider taking part in Sunday’s 60-mile event alongside her husband Andrew.
“It’s just for my own personal sense of achievement that I could actually cycle 60-miles,” she said.
“It was quite a big deal for me to enter, I don’t do many sportives.”
Events will take place on closed roads which will course significant disruption across Essex and East London, to allow for races to be completed smoothly and to keep cyclists safe. Something Emma believes is a good thing.
“I really like cycling work and I like cycling with my daughter to school,” she explained.
“we’re always conscious that we’re on the roads, don’t always feel 100 percent comfortable on them.”
Being able to do something on closed roads is a really good opportunity.”
Only the second sportive Emma has entered, she urges people to give cycling a go.
“The first one went really well,” she said.
“I entered it by myself and made a cycling buddy which I though was really great.”
I would just say do what make you happy and just go for it do what makes you happy and don’t be afraid.
Elsewhere across the weekend there will be the three stages of the Ford RideLondon Classique, part of the UCI Women’s World Tour and the Freecycle also taking place on Sunday.