What is it?
Cycling is the practice of riding bicycles - although it originated as a practical means of transport, it is now one of the most popular recreational sports in the world, with over one billion bicycles present in the world today. Cycling can also refer to the riding of unicycles, tricycles and quadracycles, but those are much less common.
What does it involve?
The physical technique to cycling involves sitting astride the bicycle to operate the pedals, which in turn rotate the wheels and provide the forward movement of the vehicle, while the handlebars give the cyclist control over direction. While the basic form of the bike stays the same, sports bikes are often more lightweight and are designed to be as streamlined as possible, while mountain bikes have different gears the rider can switch between to assist with movement on steep slopes.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Cycling is a great form of exercise - it builds up general stamina and strength, and is greatly beneficial for the cardiovascular system. It's widely considered to be an excellent form of transport over short distances, and learning to cycle can save a lot of money on other means of getting around.
What equipment do we need?
Beyond the obvious need for a bicycle, you will need safety equipment that should include a helmet at the minimum. If you are taking a group of students to a specific activity provider then it's likely that they will provide a majority if not all of the needed equipment - make sure to check with them beforehand.
Who is it suitable for?
Cycling is suitable for all ages! Very young/inexperienced cyclists can have stabilizers attached to their bikes to assist with learning, but everybody should have a go - the overwhelming popularity of the bicycle means its almost guaranteed one will have an opportunity to ride one in their life, so to learn the skill young would be a great idea.
Costs?
The hire of cycling equipment may not be the cheapest, but the lessons themselves shouldn't cost too much money at all - the larger a group, the cheaper it will be per person.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Beginner cyclists will need careful supervision, especially if practicing near roads!
How do we include?
There is a fair amount of independent movement in cycling, so those with severe physical disabilities may not be able to have a go on the traditional bike; check with your provider to see if they have modified bikes that you can use!
Doing it abroad?
Cycling is often one of the main methods of transport in many countries around the world due to the low operating costs and easy operation! Going on cycling trails abroad could be a fantastic idea, and a great way of travelling between places and admiring the landscape.
Main Organisations:
National Cycle network run by Sustrans
More Dirt (Mountain Bike trails listings)
Beautiful lakeside park offering, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, water skiing, wakeboarding, cycle hire, fishing, miniature railway, mini golf and playground! Wow!
There are beginner and improver tuition sessions available for every kind of activity, plus taster days and other options so you can try your hand at several new skills before deciding which to pursue with full gusto!
Big park with historical features, plus playground and fitness trail, Abington Park Museum and also features a specific garden for the blind.
Abington Park sits on the site of a medieval village, with some buildings surviving over seven centuries.
Lanhydrock is the perfect country house and estate, with the feel of a wealthy but unpretentious family home.
This winter take a stroll around the extensive gardens and enjoy the year-round colour. There are beautiful herbaceous borders, a fabulous formal parterre and colourful higher gardens.
With 3,800 acres of parkland, gardens, woodlands and a lake, 20 miles of cycle routes and bike hire, plus a Discovery Centre, and a Woodland Play Park. Visit the Discovery Centre to see what children's activities they are offering during the holidays. This National Trust managed Estate offers lots to do.
Two nature reserves, a huge open field, busy Countryside Centre with cafe facilities, adventure play area and easy access from the city or the motorway, make this site very popular with a variety of visitors. Whether you are looking for birds, swings, coffee, flowers, footpaths or all of these and more, you've come to the right place at Worcester Woods Country Park.
Harting Down nature reserve in West Sussex is one of the largest areas of ancient chalk downland cared for by us. A tapestry of pristine downland blends beautifully with scattered scrub and woodland.
Holnicote Estate makes up 12,000 acres of Exmoor National Park and is a contrasting landscape with everything from wild, rugged moorland and shingle beaches to ancient woodland and charming thatched villages.
The Mendip Hills run east-west across Somerset from Frome to Brean Down. Inside they are hiding fascinating secrets such as underground caves and rivers, making the hills a popular centre for caving.
From the outside they reveal centuries of history from the pre-historic at Cheddar to the Iron-Age at Brent Knoll and a Victorian fort at Brean Down.
In a beautiful valley of the river Frome, on the border between Wiltshire and Somerset and only nine miles from Bath, stands the remains of Farleigh Hungerford Castle.
Started in the 14th century, it still has much for visitors to enjoy and provides a great day out for families to enjoy the beautiful surrounding countryside.
As well as two working farm visitor centres (Sandwell Park Farm and Forge Mill Farm) there are nature areas, an aerial assault course (managed separately), an adventure playground, an RSPB Visitor Centre, woodland, meadows, farmland.
Thornton Reservoir is a peaceful and picturesque location that offers a network of trails and footpaths around the reservoir and through the neighbouring woodland areas. There are also links with longer trails including the Leicester Round and various other public footpaths. This scenic reservoir also has a popular fly fishery, attracting anglers from all over the midlands.
Well kept parkland with play centre, light railway, splash pool, pitch and putt golf, stunning horticultural displays, a fishing lake and football pitches.
This scenic park has over 207 acres of parkland and is one of Derby's largest parks attracting over one million visitors a year making it one of the most popular parks in the East Midlands.
A fortified farmhouse with thick stone walls, of a type distinctive to the troubled 16th century Anglo-Scottish borders. The living quarters were only accessible at first floor level.
Set in splendid walking country, on the Reivers Route cycle trail.
Venturing Out is a mobile adventurous activities provider offering high quality, affordable outdoor activity experiences to a broad client base. We are based in East Lothian, close to the magnificent city of Edinburgh.
We are Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre located in the heart of Cairngorms National Park. Learn, develop or qualify in an adventure sport of your choice. Our goal is to inspire adventure by teaching beginners, coaching intermediate/advanced and delivering training and assessment courses for leaders and instructors.
Wilderness experiences has been registered with Ofsted as a provider of education for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) since 2001 as a mobile children's Home, based in Carlisle, Cumbria on the edge of the Lake District National Park and just south of the border with Scotland.
Venture Scotland UK runs an outdoor-based personal development programme for young people aged 16-30, who face complex and difficult problems.
We build the confidence and skills of young people and aim to empower each individual we work with to make positive and lasting changes in their lives.
Wilderness Scotland is Europe’s No.1 Adventure Travel Company specialising in offering an inspiring range of holidays, journeys and wilderness experiences in the most remote and beautiful regions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
Activities include Tri Golf fun course, adventure playground, the visitor centre where you can pick up trail maps for the circular walk and sculpture trail, plus plenty of open space to ramble and explore.
We are Warwickshire’s newest indoor extreme ramp park providing facilities for freestyle BMX, skating, inline and roller skates, scooters and skateboarding, as well as balance bikes, micro scooters and trikes.
Progressive climbing 'cub course' starts at age 8: the courses focus on safety competence, equipment, basic indoor climbing skills, centre etiquette and above all having fun!
Schools using Wolf Mountain
It is now common practice for schools to actively encourage experiential learning to promote healthy lifestyles and positive attitudes.
360 hectares of parkland to enjoy, with plenty to do, from a gentle stroll to wakeboarding! Rare habitats to discover and plenty of wildlife to spot. Also great for cycling and the site of the Chasewater Railway. Free to visit.
Birches Valley Forest Centre is an excellent starting point for an exhilarating day out on Cannock Chase. From the midlands best bike trails and woodland walks to adventure play and Go Ape we’ve got a great day out just waiting for you…
Schools have been coming to Stanley Head for almost 60 years and this is still our main customer group hosting between two and ten schools almost every week of the school term and during school holidays. Most schools visit us for 5 days making the most of our full-board accommodation. However, we can design a programme to suit your needs starting from three-hour sessions up to full weeks.
Join in with on this totally kid friendly working family farm.
Oak Farm Animal Park is a traditional organic working farm, home to a variety of animals, many of which are rescued for a second chance in life.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A viral video shows a black girl being assaulted by a white woman in a corridor.
Police in Iceland are investigating after a British schoolgirl was slapped and chased by a tour guide in a hotel corridor.
The schoolgirl, 13, who attended Harris Girls’ Academy, was assaulted whilst on a school trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. The incident occurred at Hotel Örk, Hveragerdi on 13th October.