Wigan Bike Ride goes global as cyclists sign up for 50-mile challenge

Joining Jack’s popular Wigan Bike Ride was due to be held on Sunday, starting at Mesnes Park, but has become a virtual event due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead of cycling 50 miles through Wigan and into Lancashire on the event’s main route, riders can cover the distance wherever they like.

They can also choose to do the total distance over several rides throughout July, if they do not want to do it all at once.

So far hundreds of people have registered to take part - and there is still time to sign up before entries close at midnight on Saturday.

Melanie Whitehead, from Joining Jack, said: “The response has been so positive. Everybody has been really good.

“We have just gone over 200 riders, which is pretty good considering it’s a virtual ride and we are not actually having the event itself at Mesnes Park. We have riders from all over the world.”

Among those taking part in the Wigan Bike Ride will be a team in Brisbane, Australia, a mother and son in Wyoming, USA, a father and son in Chile and a Joining Jack supporter in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

South African professional cyclist and triathlete Hannele Steyn will also be taking part.

While organisers had been using the slogan Wigan On Wheels, they are delighted that the virtual event is seeing people in many different countries get on their bikes for Joining Jack.

Closer to home, eight-year-old James Johnson, whose brother Jack was the inspiration for the charity, will also be taking part. Their parents, former Warriors start Andy Johnson and wife Alex, founded Joining Jack to raise money for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy after Jack was diagnosed with the condition.

People are being encouraged to take on the challenge and give their support to the charity, with previous participants asked to wear their Joining Jack jerseys while cycling.

Melanie said: “If you are still thinking it over and you are not sure if you can do the 50 miles, remember that anyone can do it.

“You can ride two miles a day and that would still qualify as having completed the 50-mile Wigan Bike Ride.

“It would be good to have as many people as possible out on their bikes for Joining Jack in July.”

Riders can complete the 50 miles between Sunday, July 5 and Friday, July 31 and are asked to send proof to the organisers, whether it is a screenshot from Strava, a photograph or a video.

Everyone who covers the distance will be sent a T-shirt and medal in August.

To sign up or find out more, go to wiganbikeride.co.uk.

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