A bike ride from Brighton seafront in support of the campaign to save Preston Park Cycle Track had such a big response that organisers had to move the meeting point.
They set off from Steine Gardens to the cycle track – Britain’s oldest velodrome – mid morning today (Saturday 5 September).
The campaigners also reached an initial fundraising target of £2,000 this week to help pay for the campaign for the track to be modernised.
They now aim to raise at least £5,000 as their efforts gather pace.
The track falls short of safety standards for competitions at a time when cycling is growing in popularity.
It is estimated that it will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to bring it back up to a suitable standard.
The campaigners are looking at other ways to make a modernised velodrome more viable, perhaps making the space available for other sports such as cricket or tennis.
In the meantime the campaigners have gathered thousands of signatures on a petition which can be reached through the Save Preston Park Cycle Track Facebook page.
And a public meeting is to be held at 7.30pm on Monday 19 October at Knoyle Hall, in Knoyle Road, Brighton, just round the corner from the cycle track.
Presto park velodrome full of cyclists today #savethetrack pic.twitter.com/2yAvF9y374
— Paul Hutchings (@KindleResearch) September 5, 2015
Nice to see all ages in the ride out #prestonpark #Brighton #savethetrack pic.twitter.com/c7LSrZUCbo
— The Hairy Cyclist (@lonelycrow41) September 5, 2015
Astonishing turnout for the mass cycle to #savethetrack at Preston Park Velodrome #brighton pic.twitter.com/a45fCRLv4M
— Emily O’Brien (@EmilyLincOBrien) September 5, 2015
#saveprestonparkcycletrack #savethetrack rally pic.twitter.com/F3WtkV13GI
— Jo Cocker (@TheVividFrenzy) September 5, 2015
