TO mark the launch of Bike Week 2011, 80 Stourbridge cyclists took to the roads at the weekend for an epic challenge.

Cyclists from Stourbug (Stourbridge Bicycle User Group), aged between 12 and 73, set off from Mary Stevens Park and returned home victorious after completing 40-mile, 50-mile and 63-mile routes through the South Staffordshire countryside.

The event on Saturday June 18 was the culmination of many months of training following Stourbug’s plea at the start of the year for people to ‘get on their bikes’ and sign up for a 40-mile challenge.

The new ‘trainees’ spent the past few months building up their stamina - going on progressively longer training rides around the area in a bid to be at full fitness for the challenge.

And they did so well Stourbug put on extra 50-mile and 63-mile routes to cater for the rookie cyclists’ new found abilities.

Stourbug chairman, Russell Eden, said: “For most of the trainees who started in February this was the furthest they have ever cycled; it is a fantastic achievement.”

Stourbridge MP Margot James set off the teams from Mary Stevens Park between 9am and 10am and they arrived back at around 3.15pm.

The ride also raised more than £200 for Breast Cancer Research and Macmillan charities as the riders held a collection when they stopped for lunch.