OXFORD Bike Week got under way with a women’s group ride through North Oxford in pursuit of tea and cake.

The Isis cycle ride saw a group pedal from Broad Street on Saturday through the city and along the cycle route behind Mansfield Road before cutting across to join the canal towpath at Wolvercote.

From there riders followed the waterway towards the direction of Cassington, stopping at Worton Organics Garden for a spot of afternoon tea and shopping.

Bike Week volunteer Lucy Tennyson, pictured front left with the group, said the blustery weather had not dented the cyclists’ enthusiasm for the ride.

“We had three people who hadn’t cycled with us before and a big spread of ages – people in their 20s right through to their 60s.

“We want to show people that there are other routes and that they can avoid traffic such as on the Banbury Road with some alternatives.

“We also wanted to show that in about 40 minutes or so you can be outside the city and there are lots of nice places to go to.”

With a full programme of events planned for this week highlights include two Summer Solstice rides at 6am and 6pm on Thursday.

For full listings see www.oxfordbikeweek.co.uk