A mass cycling event aims to get more women back in the saddle.

Hundreds of women and girls are expected to join in a huge, free female-friendly bike ride around Bradford’s Lister Park on Sunday, June 23.

Bradford is joining other cities up and down the country by getting involved in British Cycling’s second annual Big Breeze Bike Ride. British Cycling is hosting the event at Lister Park from 10.30am to 2pm, with help from Bradford Council and transport authority Metro.

Bikes will be available to hire for free, local bike shop Firth Cycles will be giving free maintenance check-ups and refreshments will be provided thanks to a bicycle-powered smoothie machine.

Olympic silver medallist and Breeze ambassador Jess Varnish is backing the nationwide bike ride.

She said: “The best thing about cycling is that anyone can do it, and in whatever form they like.

“I’m looking forward to seeing more women riding bikes and, most importantly, enjoying every moment.

“The Big Breeze Bike Ride is a great opportunity to get that confidence on two wheels, whilst having great fun with your friends. Ladies, don’t miss out. Make sure you get on your bike on Sunday, June 23.”

Cycling is enjoying a surge in popularity across Britain, thanks to the high-profile success of Team GB at London 2012, the ‘Wiggins effect’ and the excitement mounting ahead of the Tour de France’s Grand Depart from Yorkshire next year.

But British Cycling, the national governing body for cycling, believes women are being left behind, as the number of female cyclists is shrinking.

In the UK, three times as many men as women currently ride bikes, with only one in 50 women saying they cycle at least once a week.

The organisation hopes its Breeze initiative will redress the balance. The scheme aims to double the number of women nationwide who regularly go cycling for fun by 2020.

It has trained up local women to become ride leaders, called ‘Breeze Champions’, who will run guided bike rides for women.

For more information, visit breezebikerides.com.

e-mail: claire.armstrong@telegraphandargus.co.uk