7 time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong went for a bike ride in the Phoenix park last night with over 1000 other cyclists for company.

Early Tuesday morning Armstrong tweeted “Good morning Dublin. Who wants to ride this afternoon? I do. 5:30 pm @ the roundabout of Fountain Rd and Chesterfield Ave. See you there..“

The story spread with various websites picking it up including the Irish Times and Bike Radar in the UK to name but two.  Armstrong had done this last week in Scotland with 200+ showing up despite the rain including track legend Graeme Obree.

Despite a last minute tweet which had the crowd in Phoenix Park wondering would he show up (“I’ve decided it’s too nice and sunny (perfect) to ride. I think I’ll just sit around. Kidding!! On my way to phoenix park. Hell yeah“) over 1000 riders awaited Armstrong at the roundabout just before the zoo at the city end of the park stopping traffic.  The Texan cruised up the middle of the road with a big grin on his face at the appointed hour and the ball rolling, heading towards a closed 4km circuit flanked by cameras and news crews including Sky News.

‘For me, I like to ride my bike anyway, so on a very simple level it’s a very sunny, beautiful day in Dublin and I’d be going for a bike ride anyway.  The story is, it’s a great city and it’s a great park. It’s a great evening to go out - it’s really sunny, but it wasn’t just about the cycling here” he told the waiting media.

For two hours a large peloton rolled around with many opting to pull in and simply watch the riders as a smiling and chatty Armstrong cruised around talking to riders in the bunch.  It was a rare moment of complete accessibility with the Tour de France champion who was visibly relaxed and enjoying himself.

The Guards told us that he was expected to leave after an hour for a dinner engagement but he kept going spurring the riders on on every lap as you can hear in the video.

Speaking of the riders it was a very mixed bunch with commuters in suits, road racer in tight lycra, mountain bikers, fixed wheel fans and kids, both on baby seats behind a parent and on small bikes flying around.  It was an amazing sight and a great atmosphere.

After the ride Armstrong headed out on the town and was seen pulling pints in Doheny & Nesbitts after tweeting “Thanks Dublin!! What a great park and a cool ride w/ all of you. I heard a 1000+ came out. I’m speechless. Gotta love a good bike ride!!”

Thanks to Colm Ahern for the photo and Stuart McBride for the video.