With people looking for more ways to go green, it is perhaps no surprise that cycling is increasing. In fact, cycling in the UK has increased by 200% since the lockdown, with 47% of people in the UK now owning or having access to a bike.
As summer approaches, there is further impetus to get back on the bike – whether that’s avoiding hot, stuffy commutes, summer break traffic jams, or giving you a way to get out in the summer sunshine and see new places.
Charity Bike Rides :
Across the country, there are many charity bike rides to be a part of this summer. In London, there is the Nightrider event, while there is also the famous London to Brighton cycle event. Manchester is hosting a 100km bike ride in Wythenshawe Park. Whether a strenuous mileage or a more relaxing ride, there are many ways to pledge support to your favourite charity and enjoy a summer bike ride.
Bike Ride Day Outs :
Combine a weekend away with a bike ride tour to see more of the scenery. For example, the Rea Valley in Birmingham is a 10km bike route that takes you from King’s Norton Park into Birmingham city centre, which offers hillside views of the Midlands to get your bearings. To tour the villages of Essex, the Crouch to Blackwater circular route is an enjoyable ride, while the Essex Rivers can pass through Colchester and travels up to Brightlingsea.
Biking Holidays :
Taking your bike on holiday can be a fantastic way to skip the traffic jams and explore the lesser-known areas while travelling. In Cornwall, the Camel Trail is a beautiful cycle route that takes you from Wendfordbridge to Padstow, where you can reward your ride with fish and chips.
The Strawberry Line in Cheddar Gorge is a fantastic holiday bike ride that follows a disused railway track; when you arrive in Cheddar, there is plenty to see and do – and cheese to enjoy! Yorkshire is perhaps the holiday location of choice for cyclists; the Settle Circular is a great way to explore the Dales with hill climbs and river views.
City Travelling :
Escape the sticky heat of public transport and the sweltering traffic jams by breezing from A to B on your bike. To make cycling through the city more enjoyable, Protected Species have partnered with the iconic folding-bike creator, Brompton to create a capsule collection of functional yet sumptuously stylish city bike wear.
Whether you’re meeting friends for dinner and drinks, commuting to the office, or enjoying an alfresco picnic in the park, the Brompton x Protected Species collection offers a stylish, a womens lightweight waterproof jacket with cycling safety features as standard. The best waterproof jackets for women when heading out on the bike have a hood which is shaped correctly for full coverage but crucially doesn’t obscure your vision. The women’s waterproof Parka in this collection has just this type of ergonomically cut hood, comes complete with reflective cuff adjusters, and incorporates a two-way zip to allow complete freedom of movement for mounting the bike.