Victoria Pendleton has launched a series of women-only organised rides taking place around the country this summer.
The news follows on the heels of British Cycling's aim to get one million more women riding bikes by 2013.
The Cycletta series has expanded on its 2012 programme and includes new rides in Scotland, Wales and Surrey in South East England .
There will be a range of route distances ranging from 20km to 82km at each event.
Pendleton, 32, who retired from professional cycling after the 2012 Olympics said at the launch last week: “The fact that the series has grown from two events to seven over the last few years proves that more and more ladies are taking up cycling.”
Pendleton, dubbed by some as the track queen for her golden Olympic success in Beijing in 2008 and in London last year, met the real queen yesterday when she picked up a CBE for services to cycling.
“It’s pretty surreal standing in front of the queen and being rewarded for cycling,” she told press after the ceremony.
Of her retirement she said: “It’s strange, its difficult readjusting to life without training. I’m used to having a six week, 12 month, four-year kind of plan going on. I’m looking forward to starting new projects and I’m hoping to continue encouraging more women into cycling.”
For a full list of venues and dates, visit the Cycletta website. The series started in 2011.