If you’re not a regular cyclist than you may have always thought that cycling is only for those who want to exercise and stay healthy, but cycling can simply be a fun leisure activity. Or if you’re a daily cyclist, you may have found yourself getting tired of the same old cycling routine, finding new ways to make cycling fun will help keep you motivated to cycle even more.

Think back to when was the last time you rode a bike? Was it when you were in primary school, high school or college? Then, why have you stopped? Or do you not cycle as much as you used to? Most of us don’t make a conscious decision to give up cycling, it just sort of happens. According to data collected by British Cycling, around over 50% of the population in the UK cycled in the past and now have all of a sudden quit their cycling regime. Behavioural scientists generated a few solutions in solving the lapsing of cyclists. One of their studies had revealed that, raising awareness to people that cycling is fun is a good strategy in encouraging people back on the pedals. So what are you waiting for? Attach a cycle carrier to your detachable towbar and ride your bike like a kid once again with these top ways of making your cycling adventures fun.

Plan destinations

Are you tired of the same old cycling routine? Then, why not cycle to new places and cycle around the UK’s most scenic spots, you’ll be surprised to discover many fascinating places. Before heading out to cycle, it’s ideal to plan your destination and you’re cycling route in advance. There are many places in the UK which include pre-set cycling routes for you. Go out on more green adventures, research has shown that cycling in these places creates a positive mindset and helps to avoid fatigue and increases your energy throughout the day. To make things simple for you, we’ve picked out the top 3 places to cycle in the UK, which are worth adding on to your bucket list.

The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire is the greenest place in the UK; you will feel so much closer to nature when riding along this trail, especially when there are longer days and a cool breeze during the summer season. So the next time you’re having a bad day, grab your bike and pedal your way into nature.

The Camel Trail situated in Cornwall is the ideal place to cycle for families, as the whole route is flat, it does not require any hill climbing and the entire route is a traffic-free zone.

The New Forest National Park is probably our most favourite pick because of its wide range of activities on offer such as vintage village tea-shops, pubs, local stores, horse-riding, walking routes, wildlife and of course there is a large choice of cycling trails to choose from.

Go for a bike ride with a group of people, whether that is your partner, friends or family.

Instead of spending your weekend for a typical meal with your friends why not opt for a cycling day out. Cycling in groups gives you more time to socialise and spend time together. An important thing to note when cycling in a group is to warn others of potential hazards and to not have headphones in when cycling as a group, as communication is important when cycling in groups.

Document your bike tour

If you don’t follow a specific cycling route you will be inevitably faced with new places and new cinematic views. When you take regular stops after cycling a long journey, take this opportunity to capture your surroundings and take amazing photos when travelling and record your bike tour on a GoPro or capture Instagram worthy pictures.

Cycling games

As soon as you head out for a road trip it’s all about having fun and making the most of the outdoors, putting an outdoor game in place can get everyone in a competitive spirit and we’ve got an adventurous and fun game fit for the whole family. A game taken from the book “365 Smart After-School Activities” known as ‘Bike safari’ and it perfectly ties in with photographing your bike journeys. Divide people into two or three teams and give each team a set of clues as to what items they need to take an image of and where it is located, set a time frame for the photos to be taken. Once the time is up, get everyone together and have a look at each other’s images. Bear in mind, selecting one winner may cause tantrums amongst the kids and that’s the last thing you want on your family trip. However, there is a solution to this, by providing each person with an opportunity to win a reward. This can be done by having certain award categories such as the most funniest, artistic or blurriest picture. Alternatively, you can simply just have a competitive race.

Attend a cycling event

Encouraging others to get into cycling is pretty difficult, in fact encouraging anyone to take on a new activity is challenging. Don’t worry if you don’t have anyone to cycle with, as you can always attend a cycling event and meet new people who share the same interest as you.

New for 2018, the Lake District 100 mile and 100 km challenge located in Eden Valley on Sunday 8 July 2018, is a great event if you want to challenge yourself against the clock. So if you’re thinking of spending your summer in the Lakes, be sure to give this challenge a try. You may be required to book in advance and the initial cost of the event is £12.50.

If you’re not up for a challenge and want to get the family involved, attend the Prudential Ride on Saturday 28 July 2018, you can ride through traffic-free roads of London and capture London’s iconic landmarks on the way. Best of all it’s completely free! But you will need to pre-register online to take part in the event.

Keep track of your cycling statistics

Every time you head out to cycle, monitor your progress with a cycling app. The Strava app is a functional app that keeps track of your ride statistics as you travel, including speed, time and distance and can be downloaded on the Google play store and Apple store. By monitoring your progress you can create your own personal records and when you beat your own record it will give you a great sense of achievement. It’s even better when you try and beat the record of your friends. 

Cycle for a cause

As well as motivating yourself to cycle you can encourage others to cycle by organising a small ‘charity cycling marathon’. It’s a good way to raise money for a good cause and at the same time you are having fun.  You can jazz it up even more by getting everyone in a fancy dress costume. As large numbers are required, it may be difficult to gather the required amount, if that’s the case then you can always attend charity cycling events.

All these ways on making cycling fun go hand in hand with each other and if you are motivated to try these tips out it will make cycling a hobby of yours once again. With summer approaching, get geared up and motivated to cycle outdoors and have fun with it.