NAKED bikers pedalled around the city during a weekend celebration of cycling.

Participants in the fifth York World Naked Bike Ride turned the other cheek as they got in the saddle to take a one-and-a-half hour trip aimed at raising awareness of cycling and encouraging people to choose more environmentally-friendly modes of transport.

Some of the cyclists chose to don colourful costumes, daub themselves with body paint or show only a certain amount of flesh along the route, which began at the Memorial Gardens on Saturday afternoon and took in Petergate, Parliament Street, Clifford’s Tower, Millennium Bridge, Knavesmire, The Mount, Micklegate and Coney Street before finishing at the Museum Gardens.

Meanwhile, about 10,000 cyclists from across the UK and beyond converged on Knavesmire for the York Cycle Show, which staged an array of events including a trade show and exhibition.

The weekend-long showcase of cycling also featured cycle club displays, a mountain bike stunt show, grass track racing, veteran cycles, a cycle auction and live music on Saturday night, together with organised rides, a service for cyclists at York Minster and a grand parade.

Paul Hepworth, who chairs the organising committee, said: “The show has been running since 1945 and it’s been another great event, with the sunny weather on Sunday bringing more people along. The Nave of the Minster was packed with lycra for the service and about 1,000 cyclists enjoyed the ride back along a new route. We have also had a visit from a group of disabled cyclists from Sheffield, and attracting exhibitors from Belgium, Italy and South Africa means the show is developing a real international flavour.”