RideLondon event draws thousands of cyclists to capital - in pictures

Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Laura Trott poses for a photograph with cyclists at the start of the event Photograph: Luke Macgregor/Reuters

Cyclists of all ages set off on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, at the start of the Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle ride in central London Photograph: Luke Macgregor/Reuters

Former England rugby captain Martin Johnson at the start of the event Photograph: Alessio Fiori/Barcroft Media

A patriotic British cyclist Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Cyclists attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest single line of bikes Photograph: Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Cyclists on a tandem take part in the FreeCycle event Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Two youngsters cycle their wheeled sofa along the route while listening to music from their spealker Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Cyclists pass St Paul's Cathedral Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

'Wally' is spotted cycling along London's South Bank Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Cyclists pass in sight of the London Eye along the river Thames Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Participants enjoy a traffic-free ride through a tunnel Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

A man on a Penny Farthing style bicycle blows a horn Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

The Houses of Parliament and the Queen Elizabeth Tower are seen as cyclists take advantage of the eight-mile traffic-free route Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Participants ride along The Mall Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images