How to Get Involved in Cycling in Your Local Area

With the success of the Olympics this year and the absolute drumming we gave pretty much everyone else in the magnificently designed velodrome (otherwise known as ‘The Pringle’) it seems like Great Britain has once more fallen in love with the bicycle. The success of this year’s Olympics was built upon the magnificent display the GB cycling team put on four years prior to London 2012 in Beijing 2008, where once again, team GB dominated on the cycling track. This dominance shed a new found light on the mentality of British sport, and on the British public. Gone was the familiar taste of disappointment and discontent and instead there was a feeling of ‘actually, we’re not bad at this lets keep going’. This mentality, brought on through the success in of the British cycling team in 2008 filtered down into every other aspect of British Olympic sport. There was a genuine sense of belief within the camp and within the public that this would be our games. And what a games it was.

With Olympic cyclists Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Bradley Wiggins and Laura Trott all becoming household names in their own right it’s no wonder that the nation has taken to their bicycles to try and emulate their heroes success. Whether you’re just trying a greener way of getting to work, trying to get fit, or in training to be the next Olympic medalist in Rio, we’re all getting back on our bikes.  The British cycling industry has seen a remarkable turnaround in the past four years and now employs over 23,000 people in cycling industries such as manufacturing and training. Last year saw 3.7 million bicycles sold, a 28% increase on the year before and it is estimated that now at least 40% of households in the UK own a bicycle. So how can you get involved in cycling activities in your local area?

How To Get Involved With Cycling In Your Local Area

There are several ways to get involved with cycling within your local area, whether you want to try the sport for the first time or you’re a seasoned cycler, you’ll be welcome at your local cycling center and inaugurated into the local community.

What Kind Of Cycling Do You Wish To Participate In?

One of the great things about getting involved with cycling is that there are many different types of cycling and within those types there are many different styles.

If you’re looking for high octane action you could opt for BMXing or mountain biking. BMX cycling was only brought into the Olympics in Beijing 2008 but fast took off as one of the game’s most popular sports.  Intense, brutish and ruthless, this is not a sport for the faint hearted. The sport quickly gained attention for its fantastic cornering, jumps and spectacular crashes.

If flying through the air on a bike isn’t really your cup of tea, but you like to push your limits maybe track cycling would be more up your street. With the success of Sir Chris hoy and Vicky Pendleton in the velodrome this year, track cycling has seen a massive influx of potential Olympians hoping to emulate their hero’s success. Within track cycling there are a number of different events, with everything from the multi-disciplined Keirin and Omnium events to high speed sprints and tactically challenging team sprints, be ready to don the lycra and  the aerodynamically shaped helmet on the road to Rio.

If you’re not into your sprints, maybe the marathon is more your kind of thing. King of the road and the sideburn, Bradley Wiggins became the first man to ever win the Tour De France and an Olympic medal in the same year. After winning the yellow jersey in this year’s Tour he boastfully claimed that the hour long time trail around London would be “a piece of P**s” compared to the Tour De France. He was right to be confident as he finished almost a minute quicker than his nearest rival to take the gold for team GB.

Marathon events such as the time trial and the Tour De France demand a lot of training and commitment, putting your body through an enormous amount of strain and pressure to be able to climb mountains and fly through valleys all at high speed.

If you’re not really the competitive type and you just want to speak to some more cycling enthusiasts then there is still plenty of opportunity within your cycling community to get involved. There are a number of cycling groups across the UK promoting green transport or cycling to support a charity across the country which always welcomes new members to the fold. If you want to get involved in a charity bike ride then there are a number of places online where you can get involved, donate or help organize for the benefit of well deserving charities across the country.

Search online for your local cycling communities or go down to the local community center to see what kind of cycling opportunities are on offer for you in your local area, bring your bike, bring your helmet and enjoy. You don’t have to be super fit or super competitive, all you have to do is enjoy your cycling. Whether you’re aiming for Rio, looking to lose a couple of pounds or just find a cheaper, greener way of getting to work, you’ll be sure to find a community willing to help and support you on your cycling experience.