12 things to do on a bike this summer

By Rebecca Armstrong
Two people are sitting down leaning against a tree in a park. They're both holding ice creams and there are two bikes on the ground in front of them
Summer is a great time to try something new by bike – if you bring the ice cream, we’ll bring the inspiration
Whether you’re looking for something new or are just in need of a reason to get out cycling, Content Officer Rebecca Armstrong has 12 tips for things you can do by bike this summer

Summer is a great time to try something new on your bike – whether that’s ditching the car to go shopping or packing your panniers and embarking on a multiday adventure.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, then we’ve got 12 ideas to get you out and about while the weather is still (mostly) good and the days are long.

1. Go on a (British Cycle) Quest

Cycling UK’s British Cycle Quest (BCQ) is an epic challenge encouraging you to ride to 402 checkpoints across Great Britain. You can plan any route to a checkpoint, but you have to arrive by bike. Once you find a checkpoint, all you have to do is answer a question about it, showing that you’ve been there.

With so many checkpoints to choose from, there’s sure to be at least one or two near you where you can start out. Or you use the online map to plan a longer quest.

You’ll also find a question book and you can submit your answers; certificates are available on completing certain numbers of checkpoints and for those intrepid cyclists who get all 402, there’s an engraved medal.

2. Go for a ride with a non-cycling friend

Summer is a great time to encourage someone to take up or get back into cycling: warm, dry weather, lots of daylight and the roads tend to be a bit quieter with people off on holiday or outside enjoying the sunshine.

Two women are standing astride their bikes in a park. They are laughing and chatting. A pram with a baby in it is just to the right-hand corner of the photo.
Encourage a friend to go on a bike ride with you

You can easily borrow or hire a bike if your friend doesn’t have one – many towns and cities across the UK now have bike hire schemes. Just make sure you plan a quiet route taking in some of the best local sites and a nice stop at a café for coffee and cake.

If your friend has any concerns, we’ve got some advice for supporting a nervous cyclist.

3. Try an e-bike

E-bikes are a game-changer for older people or those with mobility issues. They’re also great for anyone who wants to transport heavy or large loads by bike – we even know of a cycling stonemason!

They’re also a joy to ride, leading to a condition many of us describe as ‘e-bike smile’. If this isn’t something you’ve experienced yet, aim to go on an e-bike ride this summer.

Our Making Cycling E-asier project offers free taster sessions and cycle loans in Greater Manchester and Luton & Dunstable. If you live in one of these locations, take a look to see what’s available.

4. Tackle one of Cycling UK’s long-distance routes

From Great North Trail in northern England and Scotland to West Kernow Way in Cornwall, we have long-distance bikepacking routes across the country. They offer a mix of on and off-road cycling, gravel track, singletrack and technical trails, with distances from 200km to an epic 1,300km.

Three people are standing in a row astride their bikes. They are on loaded touring bikes and have a map. There is a valley spread out behind them
You could tackle one of Cycling UK’s long-distance routes, like Marcher Castles Way on the English/Welsh border. Photo: Robyn Furtado

You could complete a whole route over several days or ride a section. One group of women rode a section of Norfolk’s Rebellion Way with kids in tow.

Whether you tackle a route on that e-bike you tried out is entirely up to you!

5. Join a group ride

If you usually ride alone or cycle to work, school or the shops, riding with others can bring a whole new dimension to your cycling.

It will involve learning some new cycling skills – such as how to ride not too close but close enough to not lose each other, what to do at junctions, how to signal your intentions – as well as making new friends. Both of which are great ways to keep your brain young.

Cycling UK has a network of around 1,000 member and affiliate groups across the UK. Members can join any member group ride; non-members can join up to three before they need to join. Affiliate groups have their own rules, so check with them before showing up. We also have events and rides listings.

6. Support local – and not so local – businesses

Leisure and tourism cycling contributes a huge amount to the UK’s economy – around £650 billion, according to Sustrans. The average cycle tourist spends £84 a day on anything from a pitched tent to a pasty!

Every time you buy a snack from a corner shop, coffee and cake from an independent café or replacement innertube from a local bike shop while out on your bike, you’re helping keep those businesses going, generating money for the local economy and providing jobs for people.

A man and a woman a sitting at a table outside a café, eating and drinking. A small boy is sitting on a wall which has a bike leaning against it. They are all wearing cycling kit
Treating yourself to coffee and cake is good for the local economy! Photo: Joolze Dymond

You’re also raising the profile of cyclists. Every time you use a local business, especially if you let them know you cycled there and if there’s anything they can do to make their shop, café or whatever more attractive to cyclists, you’re helping to improve what businesses offer. After all, it’s in their interests to provide what potential customers want.

This is true whether you’re riding close to home or have embarked on some long-distance cycle touring.

7. Try something new

If you’ve so far stuck to just one type of cycling – whether that’s riding to work, getting off road or road cycling with a friend – get out of your comfort zone and try something new this summer!

There’s so much to cycling, and while all the different disciplines use the same basic knowledge (how to ride a bike), they will require different skills for you to learn.

If, for example, you only ride on roads, a trip to a forest for some off-road riding or a pump track to indulge your inner 10-year-old will be huge amounts of fun, as well as teaching you new tricks which will no doubt improve your performance on the road too.

8. Go on a night ride

Summer is a great time to go on a night ride. While daytime temperatures will drop, making the riding fresher, it won’t get so cold you need to wear winter gear.

You can choose whether to go at sunset, sunrise or a midnight ride – whatever you go for, the roads will be lovely and quiet and you’ll get to see your local area from a whole new perspective.

Three men are fixing bikes in a room with a big dust sheet on the floor to protect the carpet
Learning some basic maintenance will improve your confidence and ultimately save you money. Photo: Julie Leonovs

However, make sure you plan your route carefully and don’t go through any unsafe areas. This could be a good one to take a friend or two along with you. You could even take some homemade cake and a flask of coffee or hot chocolate to share at a nice stop along the way. Also, don’t forget your lights.

9. Learn to fix your bike

Learning some basic maintenance – how to fix a puncture, replace an innertube, adjust brakes and gears – is one of the best ways to increase your confidence on the bike. It can also save you some money.

Cycling UK has a series of guides covering the essentials. We also have video guides and loads of tips and advice. Many local bike shops run short courses on basic maintenance – get in touch with them to find out what’s on offer.

Our Big Bike Revival programme runs free learn-to-fix sessions for adults who want to learn how to look after their bikes. The sessions are aimed at beginners – you don’t need to know anything about bike maintenance.

10. Go somewhere new and explore

Pick somewhere you’ve never been before, get on your bike and go there! You can be as adventurous – or not – as you like. There are loads of places in the UK that are accessible by train and most operators allow bikes. Provision is far from perfect, though, so do check with train operator before going.

A big group of people is cycling on a paved path in a park. They are wearing a mix of cycling and normal clothes and are wearing helmets
Organising a mass ride can highlight that people in your area want to cycle as well as any barriers they face. Photo: Simon Ayre

You can go for day trip or have a few days away. Exploring by bike is much more fun than driving to a destination and you’ll see so much more from the saddle than you would from a car. You’ll have opportunities to get off your bike and get to know a new place better, treating yourself to coffee breaks and lunch along the way.

With a bit of planning, you could even venture further afield, heading across to the continent on Eurostar or a ferry and taking full advantage of the train network.

11. Run some errands

If you usually drive to the shops or to pick up the dry cleaning, why not go by bike instead? It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to do a whole week’s shop – unless you’ve got a cargo bike, in which case go for it – but a few bits and pieces will be possible with a decent-sized backpack or, even better, a couple of panniers.

You’ll save petrol money, get some fresh air and improve your fitness. If you’re prone to buying too much whenever you go shopping, this could help cure you – you’ll only be able to get what you can carry.

12. Help make cycling better

Have you long lamented the lack of safe cycling routes in your area? Or maybe there’s a dangerous junction you always avoid on the bike. You’ve always thought there’s nothing you can do about it. But you don’t have to be seasoned campaigner to affect change.

People just like you are making a difference all over the country, helping to make cycling better for everyone. You could invite your local councillors on a ride to show them what cycling is like in your area and how a network of cycle paths would improve things.

Or you could organise a mass ride across that unsafe junction to highlight the dangers. If this seems too much to start with, writing letters to local press and councillors will bring attention to the issues – especially if you get others involved.

If you’re looking for more ideas and support, you can join Cycling UK’s Cycle Advocacy Network. You’ll find all kinds of free resources, as well as groups and representatives all over the UK who can offer help and advice.

Summer cycling How to guides

Further reading