British Cycling

This is Leisure Cycling!

There are over 2 million bicycles sold in the UK every year � so what do they get used for? Well, some are raced in the many different forms of cycle sport. However, the vast majority are used for leisure (non-competitive) cycling of one kind or another. Here�s just a few of the things Britain�s cyclists get up to.

Commuting
Yes, believe it or not, thousands of people ride their bikes to work every day. Cycle commuting is especially popular in flat areas and university towns like York and Cambridge, where almost a third of journeys to work are made on bikes.

Touring
The cycling equivalent of a hike, usually using a mountain bike. All over the country there is a fantastic and extensive network of Bridleways which, unlike footpaths, are legal rights of way for cyclists. Forest Enterprise manage our commercial forests for logging, but they also create leisure opportunities in their forests. They are particularly good at creating safe and clearly marked cycle routes, often with leaflets showing the route. Similarly, some of the big reservoirs, like rutland Water in the midlands, have networks of off-road trails and cycle hire facilities. Local tourist information centres have maps and information.

Trail Riding
Want to explore an area and get fresh air and exercise at the same time? Well, you could walk, but cycling is even better. You can cover three or four times as far on a bike as you can on foot. Also, carrying your kit on carriers and in panniers is much more comfortable than strapping the whole lot to your back in a rucksack. Touring holidays are a great way to explore a country.

National Cycle Network
The charity Sustrans (short for sustainable transport) is building an 8000 mile network of cycle routes all round the country, which use only quiet roads. They are also working to help establish safe routes for children to use whilst cycling to school.

Trials
Although a sport in its own right, with world and national champions, Trials Riding on 20 inch wheeled bikes is also an increasingly popular leisure activity for thousands of kids around the world. Trials requires riders to tackle tough obstacles without losing balance � speed and time are usually irrelevant and penalty points are docked for loosing balance and putting your feet down. Trials is a great way to build skill when time and space are limited.

Freestyle
Freestyle is another �leisure� form of cycling which is also a sport with a growing army of devotees. Freestyle bikes are essentially very similar to BMX bikes � 20 inch wheels, single speed (i.e. one gear), minimal seat and wide handlebars. Although in its simplest form, it�s just having fun on a bike, Freestyle can be broken into several distinct categories � the most popular being:

Flatland - performing tricks or routines on a flat piece of tarmac or similar surface.
Half-pipe - using a large water or sewerage pipe cut lengthways, in which riders perform turns, jumps and other �tricks�).
Street � a combination of dirt ramps, rails, steps, and vertical jumping.
Dirt Jumping � simply doing stunts over a series of short, abrupt ramps or jumps.

The best freestyle riders are perhaps most skilful and brave of all cyclists � helmets are a must, as are knee and elbow pads. Freestyle is also a great way for cyclists to learn skills which they can use in mountain biking and even road racing.

Audax and Cyclo Sportif
Audax events are simply long distance organised rides where the achievement is to tackle set distances � usually 100, 200 or 300km � within a certain time period. Similar in nature, but more closely allied to Road Racing are Cyclo-Sportif rides. Although not races, these events often take place over the same routes as Road Races.

Perhaps the most famous is the French �L�etap du tour�, in which up to 7,500 riders tackle one of the mountainous stages of the Tour de France. The aim is to complete the route � usually between 150km and 200km within a fairly relaxed time limit. The roads are closed to other traffic like in the race itself and food and breakdown cover are provided for everyone. Most riders seem to tackle these events for the sense of achievement it gives them.

Polaris
Polaris and other similar events bring orienteering to the world of cycling. Participants spend weekends camping and riding off-road in some of the most beautiful parts of the country. Prizes are awarded to the riders who pick up the most points awarded for visiting check points, but the social side is just as important as the competitive side � it�s a great excuse to spend a weekend getting dirty with your mates.

Leisure Facts

Britain�s Steven Murray is a dirt jumping world champion. He was the first rider to successfully pull off a double back flip in competition!
3.6 million people use their bikes on a weekly basis in the UK.
Only 3% of journeys in the UK are by bicycle � in Holland 27% are by bicycle.

Download further info on leisure cycling with British Cycling's booklet.

� British Cycling 2002/2003