GOSSIP rides and beauty workshops are just some of the new initiatives to tempt more teenage girls onto their bikes.

The Beauty and the Bike project is being launched by Cycling City York and Sustrans in September, working with schools and beauty shops around York.

There will be Saturday morning bike rides/shopping trips, as well as workshops to design funky bike bags, sessions to solve “helmet hair” and beauty tips from Lush and The Body Shop.

Vicki Hill, of Sustrans, says that girls cycle an average of 24 miles a year compared with the 138 cycled by boys.

“It will be an exclusive girl thing and as glam and attractive as possible to that group as possible because girls of that age are among the lowest numbers of cyclists in the country,” she said.

“We want to target as many schools in York as we can reach.”

Alice Scull, 15, who cycles with Clifton Cycling Club, believes it is easy to stay glamorous in the saddle.

“I think in general girls are concerned about their looks, but I think most girls would enjoy cycling,” she said.

“It would be great to see more girls out riding; they just need a little push. You can make it look glamorous; you get a great tan in the summer.”

Alice took up cycling after wining a time trial and now rides at least once a week, often covering 80 miles.

“We go around Castle Howard, the Moors and around York,” she said. “You feel the wind on your face, it’s so exhilarating and you have such a good laugh. You get to the top of a big hill and it feels like a really good achievement then when you go down you can just sit down and relax.”

You do not need fancy gear, or to take it too seriously, she says, just be prepared to have fun.

“I think for my age group, you just have to be able to get on a bike. There are fun and easy rides in the club and you can just go out into the countryside and travel.”

Meanwhile, Cycling City York, The Press and Cycle Heaven have teamed up to offer the chance to win a girls’ bike during Bike Week – which runs until Sunday – see details on how to enter below.

Linda Capel, marketing group leader for Cycling City York, said: “Cycling gives you a huge sense of independence to be more sociable.

“We would like to ingrain that habit at school age so that when they leave school it’s an everyday thing to do. That’s why we are doing lots of fun, innovative workshops to tackle that.”

* For more information on cycling in York, phone 01904 551608.