Ed Clancy leads MPs on central London bike ride

The streets of central London this morning saw the rush hour traffic parting for a procession of cyclists only seen once a year on the city's roads - the Parliamentary All-Party Cycle Ride.

A group of MPs, including Norman Baker, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Department of Transport, took to the streets on their bicycles for the annual ride organized by the All-party Parliamentary Cycling Group.

They were led by Olympic and World Champions Chris Boardman and Ed Clancy, who is in the capital ahead of tomorrow's Tour Series race at Canary Wharf.

The MPs' group exists to ‘promote the use of bicycles as a mode of transport and to raise both inside and outside the House the practice and status of cycling,' and has keen cyclist MPs as its members.

The ride departed from the London Eye at 9am and processed down the Thames to Blackfriar's Bridge before crossing to the north side of the river and proceeding through Trafalgar Square, along the Mall and to the Houses of Parliament.

The ride was preceded by an inner-tube changing race between teams of two comprised of MPs, schoolchildren, and one including Ed Clancy.

In case you're wondering, Clancy's team didn't win.

The ride leaves the London Eye

Ed Clancy and Steve Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandler's Ford, battle to replace an inner-tube

A parliamentary bike ride banner at the head of the procession

MPs Emily Thornberry and Julian Huppert celebrate victory in the inner-tube changing race

Related links

Tour Series 2011: Cycling Weekly's Coverage Index