Increasing numbers of our members are turning to the benefits of cycling.
‘There are dozens of reasons why cycling is growing in popularity, from cost efficiency to fitness and freedom,’ says Marcus Waring, our cycling expert. ‘It’s small wonder the bike was voted the most popular invention of the past 200 years.’
Read below for a guide to some of the advantages of taking up cycling (or becoming more serious about it), then get in touch with us to request our guide to the best bikes. We can assist you in sourcing a new one, get you the equipment and accessories you need to become a bike commuter, or even help you to remodel your old bike to make it roadworthy again.
Cycling can save a significant amount of money on transport costs. A good bike will cost in the region of £200; a car at a similar level of quality will cost upwards of £4,000. Add to that the saving on ever increasing fuel prices and, according to Cycling Weekly magazine, the average commuter could save almost £75 per week by leaving the car in the garage.
Most car journeys are for distances of less than five kilometres, which is a distance easily covered on a bike. Cars are also at their most energy inefficient over short distances.
One of the most obvious advantages of a car is speed, but in many of the UK’s congested cities and towns getting from A to B can often be done fastest on a bike. In London, the average road speed is a meagre nine miles per hour, slower than even the slowest cyclist. Cyclists also avoid the nightmare of parking.
‘On a bike, there is hardly anywhere you can’t go, whether it’s cutting corners through narrow lanes or riding through parks or along canals. Cyclists feel free and exhilarated,’ says Marcus.
There is also the bonus of keeping fit – cycling is an excellent aerobic exercise and a healthy, low-impact means of losing weight. Members with little or no free time on their hands are combining cycling with shopping and commuting.
The health benefits of cycling can’t be overstated. Regular cycling helps to prevent heart disease and fights diabetes and high blood pressure. As a result, cycling can also be an ideal means to deal with a stressful job. A vigorous ride home after work can allow time and enough distraction to put problems into perspective.
These days, our members are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and help the environment. Cycling creates no pollution whatsoever, whereas cars are among the guiltiest parties when it comes to CO2 emissions.
‘There are a plethora of sensible reasons out there to attract us to cycling, but perhaps the most simple is that it’s just great fun. Everyone can cycle, it’s sociable and interactive, and everyone on the road is equal,’ says Marcus.
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