After a night when most of us were woken by a thunder storm, the sun was back today for the 7th Abingdon Cycle Festival, where the rides started to set off at 9am, and continued through the morning and early afternoon.

Rides were led by experienced cyclists from The OT Cycling Club (OTCC), Abingdon Freewheeling, and Sustrans (who led family rides down the Sustrans NCN 5 cycleway).

I was there between about 9 and 10, when two different rides left every 15 minutes and so the area in front of the County Hall was packed with cyclists, near the signing in tent.

Bicycling became a popular sport towards the later part of the 19th century, and at 11 there was to be a vintage parade.

The Tony Lewis quartet gave a mellow feel to the start of the day with their jazz.

It was a very successful event.