Father and son bike ride photo seen across London

Robert Ayers and son Thomas’ picture was selected as the main image on this year’s poster to promote the event.

They will once again be taking part in the bike ride which takes place Sunday, May 10 with three routes, the 50 mile extended, 34 mile classic and eight mile family route.

Robert said: “Me and Thomas love cycling but we wanted a purpose. We wanted to have as much fun as possible but also raise some money for a good cause.

“We did the 34 mile classic ride as Thomas was old enough to do it and was determined to take part.

“We were half a mile from the end when he first said his legs were starting to ache. I think he is fitter than me. He loved it!

“It was a fantastic way of seeing London from a different perspective and not from on a bus or on the tube.”

The Thames Bridges Bike Ride was originally set up by the son of a stroke survivor and his friends who wanted to raise money for the Stroke Association.

Now in its 22nd year the ride sees nearly 3000 families, friends and keen cyclists from across the country take to their bikes to raise much needed funds to support stroke survivors.

Robert’s wife Tracy, said: “The organisers thought the picture of Robert and Thomas underlined the spirit of the event.

“Thomas took part for the first time as he was old enough and the two of them really enjoyed taking in London.”

Robert says he can see him and Thomas taking part in the ride for years to come.

Julia Selby, Events Manager from the Stroke Association, said: “The Thames Bridges Bike Ride is one of the Stroke Association’s most loved fundraising events.

“Every May, cyclists take to the streets of London to complete the bike ride, crossing London’s most famous and beautiful bridges along the way.”

Registration to take part in the Thames Bridges Bike Ride is now open. Contact the Stroke Association’s Events Team on 020 7940 1359 to book a place and beat the bridges.

For more information you can visit www.stroke.org.uk/TBBR