F YOUR boss told you to get “on your bike” then it would be understandable if you had a few concerns.

But that’s exactly what has been going on at a number of Swindon’s biggest employers during the past month.

The first Swindon Workplace Cycle Challenge has been hailed a success with more than 870 employees hopping on a bike to record more then 32,000 cycled miles since the scheme launched earlier this month.

Organisers had only anticipated around 500 participants joining in, and although the challenge closed on Sunday there is still time for registered cyclists to tot up their miles and enter their final distance at the website www.swindoncyclechallenge.org.uk – as the final calculations will be recorded at midnight today.

And anyone who has cycled in the past two weeks, from Monday, July 14, could be in with a chance to win a number of prizes such as a new bike.

The challenge was set up in a bid to get more people thinking about cycling to work, and then doing so, with the winning businesses being those with the highest percentage of staff getting on to two wheels.

Thomas Stokell, challenge co-ordinator, said: “We had 873 people take part which is phenomenal, as we were planning on about 500.

“We had a total of more than 32,000 miles cycled, which adds up to around four times around the world, with 40 companies taking part.

“With petrol prices having gone up and the summer being here, I think that’s really helped.

“But there is still time for people to get their final figures in.”

The interim results will be published on the challenge website tomorrow with the final results announced on Friday.

Among those joining in with the challenge are staff from Zurich, Nationwide, Swindon Council, Swindon Primary Care Trust and Halcrow.

One cyclist, Claire Smith, UK procurement secretary at Zurich, said: “I haven't ridden my bike in well over a year so it was great to get back in the saddle.

“Luckily I'm not too saddle sore. “Anyway, I'm planning on riding my bike a lot more now the weather has perked up.”

For more information visit www.swindoncyclechallenge.org.uk.