The , to be branded Skyride, will run in four city centres: Manchester, Glasgow, Leicester and London from August 2 to September 20. The London event was formerly known as the London Freewheel.
and British Cycling are also planning around 400 guided-rides around the country. Experienced riders have been recruited as guides with the aim that people of all abilities can join in.
Speaking about the initiative Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch said: "We want to get as many people as possible to pick up their bikes again this summer; for fun, for fitness, with friends or family.
"This is just the start of our five-year campaign to get a million more people cycling by 2013."
Skyride is just one of a number of cycling initiative underway including the Sky+ HD track cycling team featuring Victoria Pendleton and Sir Chris Hoy. But the centrepiece is next year's launch of a multi-million pound professional .
The principle aim behind the project is to create a British Tour de France winner inside five years. The team is set to launch for the first time at the Tour Down Under in Australia early next year.
Sky and British Cycling are currently in the hunt for secondary sponsors for the team.
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