LONDON, UK — Creative agency Leo Burnett UK and vehicle brand Škoda UK have launched a new social-first campaign, “Ride With Me,” to encourage women across the UK to jump into cycling this summer.
Škoda Auto, proud sponsor of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, is on a mission to double the number of female cyclists in the UK, as new research shows that while almost eight million women own bikes in the UK, only four million regularly ride them. Furthermore, there’s a significant gender imbalance, with men making nearly three times as many bike rides as women. With a huge number of bikes gathering dust, “Ride With Me” seeks to bridge the gender gap in cycling by mobilizing current female cyclists to inspire their female friends and family back onto their bikes and join them on a ride to rediscover the joy of cycling.
Targeting both cycling enthusiasts and novices, the 45-second launch film features Olympian and Paris 2024 Bronze medal winner Elinor Barker taking TV presenter Angellica Bell out for a bike ride. The two discuss their favorite cycling routes and what motivates them to cycle. The hero spot is accompanied by a call to action, with Barker urging women to discover the magic of cycling and get on their bikes to cycle with a friend, family member, or colleague.
Launched at the height of the UK’s summer of sport, “Ride With Me” will run on Instagram and TikTok. The campaign also features a #RideWithMe Strava Challenge, encouraging participants to share their journeys and progress for the chance to win the “ultimate cycling bundle.”
Cycling influencer Chanel Dowsett will lead a high-profile Ride Out through London to further boost the movement. This 20-strong peloton aims to raise awareness and inspire women across the city to join the cycling revolution.
Graham Lakeland, Creative Director for Leo Burnett UK, said, “The creative simplicity of Ride With Me is immediately appealing. No one will make a more convincing argument to try cycling than an already passionate cyclist, so turning the problem on its head and talking to cyclists rather than non-cyclists is as clever as it is effective.”
Kirsten Stagg, Marketing Director for Škoda UK, added, “Škoda has supported elite cycling for over twenty years, and in the UK, we have been committed to empowering women in the sport for nearly a decade. The “Ride With Me” campaign is an engaging, creative way to encourage women to get interested in cycling at a grassroots level. It’s about the love of getting out on your bike and finding a community, whether you haven’t cycled for years or are getting out there for the first time.”
CREDITS:
CAMPAIGN TITLE: ‘Ride With Me’
CLIENT: Škoda UK
ADVERTISING AGENCY: Leo Burnett UK
MANAGING PARTNER: Liam Hopkins
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR: Tobias Dahlhaus
SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER: Lona Price Jones
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Charley Fryers
PLANNING PARTNER: Henry Gray
SENIOR PLANNER: Joe Crust
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Graham Lakeland
SOCIAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Beth Manning
CREATIVE: Clementina de Ruiter
CREATIVE: Anna Wilkins
MEDIA BUYING AGENCY: PHD
MEDIA PLANNER: Naomi Flaherty
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Prodigious
DIRECTOR: Yianis Andrikidis
PRODUCER: Emily Slupecka
EDITOR: Daniel West
DOP: Dominic Hinde
DOP: Charles Mori
POST-PRODUCTION COMPANY: Prodigious
POST PRODUCER: Hannah Gant
COLOURIST: Matty Lee-Redman
MOTION DESIGN LEAD: Karolina Alvekrans
AUDIO POST-PRODUCTION COMPANY: Prodigious
SOUND DESIGN AND MIX: Michael Powell
PHOTOGRAPHER: Scott Cross
ŠKODA HEAD OF MARKETING: Kirsten Stagg
ŠKODA NATIONAL COMMS MANAGER: Peter McLeod
ŠKODA Social Media Manager: Jess Charles
