You've got the bike, now let's go riding...
You may think that as Britain becomes ever more packed with cars that there's nowhere left to ride. But you'd be wrong. Within our crowded shores we have a massive variety of cycling resources - city streets, rural roads, canal towpaths, dedicated bikepaths, byways, lanes, not forgetting some great off-road rides as well...
Linking the whole of Britain is the 6,500 mile National Cycle Network - rising to 10,000 miles by 2005. This is great for experienced and new cyclists, with a third of its route free of traffic. As it's a resource often shared with walkers, you still have to take care and bear their needs in mind. The NCN is coordinated by the charity Sustrans in partnership with hundreds of organisations (www.sustrans.org.uk, 0117 926 8893). It's not just for leisure riding either, but in places can provide your ride to work or school. Maps of the NCN are available from Sustrans, as is an official guide book book featuring 29 one day rides (£10.99).
On a similar note, the 4,000 mile National Byway (www.thenationalbyway.org) is a leisure oriented cycling route based on quiet country lanes. The route concentrates on national heritage sites - prehistoric, geographic, historic, rural, industrial and social - and is an attempt at a sustainable development. National Byway area maps are available for £3-£4 each.
Urban cycling
The capital has its own cyclists' organisation, the London Cycling Campaign (www.lcc.org.uk, 0207 928 7220 ) - its ambition is to make London a world class cycling city. Not only does it campaign for improved cycling facilities, though, it also offers free route maps and can offer advice on cycle training.
If you're really new to cycling and want lessons and advice there are some organisations that can help. Bristol's Cycle West (www.cyclewest.org.uk) trains children and adults. London has both Cycle Training (www.cycletraining.co.uk, 020 7582 3535) and the London School of Cycling - run by Patrick Field (0207 249 3779, www.londonschoolofcycling.co.uk).
Britain's biggest cycling organisation is the CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club, www.ctc.org.uk, 0870 873 006). Apart from campaigning, they offer insurance, legal advice, route guides - off-road and on - home and abroad ,and organise numerous local rides.
Those who plan to race in just about any cycling discipline should join British Cycling (www.bcf.uk.com, 0870 871 2000), but don't worry, if you just want to try it once you can take out a 'day' licence. BC also have a list of local clubs and coaches.
Guide books
There are huge numbers of maps and guides available for cyclists of all levels. Lonely Planet have published Cycling Britain (£12.99), while Nick Cotton (not of EastEnders fame) has written numerous cycling guides in the Cycling Without Traffic series (East Anglia, Midlands, South East etc), and is Editor of the Ordnance Survey Cycle Tours range of guides (Bristol & Bath, North Wales etc). Collins also publish numerous area based guides: Mid Wales, the North York Moors, South Downs etc (available from Sustrans).
It's not just Britain's roads you can ride on - our packed islands have a lot of off-road routes, for all riding levels. The Forestry Commission (www.forestry.gov.uk) has trails graded from Easy to Severe. The Ernest Press (www.ernest-press.co.uk) produces numerous Mtb route guides from around £7. Welsh trails are amongst some of the highest regarded in the world, there is also world class off roading to be had in Scotland and many fine routes in places like the Lake District, Quantocks and in many of the forests around UK cities. So whether it's the Cheviots, the Brecon Beacons - or even East Anglia - there are always some trails to hit...
