Why a going on a family bike is a wheely great idea!

Cycling is one of the UK's most popular outdoor sports, boasting many physical and mental health benefits. It's a great way to improve fitness and reduce stress. And if you have children, then cycling with the family can be even more rewarding, a chance to spend quality time together, to explore new places and, of course, give everyone’s activity levels a boost. 

What are the benefits?

As well as the obvious exercise benefits, cycling with the family can be a real bonding experience – not to mention an adventure! You could cycle to a park or take a bike ride along a trail or cycle path, or venture further afield to explore a new destination. Cycling is a very mindful experience; it gives little ones something exciting to focus on and gives teenagers a break from screen time. Cycling also increases a child's concentration levels at school and enables them to become familiar with their local area. Cycling to school or to the shops instead of driving is also eco-friendly – saving money and helping to save the planet!  

Cycling alone or with the family?

If you are serious about cycling or training, then solo riding is the best option. You can set training targets and push yourself to go that little bit further or faster. But family biking is a far more relaxing and enjoyable exeperience it's lovely to be out with your children discovering new places and learning new skills. Plus, these mini adventures are ideal for building road safety awareness and confidence. 

Do I need any special equipment?

You should always ensure that everyone is wearing a helmet. If your children are just starting out, then they should also wear knee and elbow pads for better protection, plus long sleeves and trousers or leggings. And don’t forget the sun cream when the weather is warm – it is amazing how quickly you can catch the sun, especially if it is windy too. 

If you are cycling with a baby aged up to two years, you’ll need a bike seat or a baby trailer. For toddlers who are just learning how to ride, a training bike is the best option. If you want to keep everyone together, or your children haven't quite built up enough confidence yet, then a tandem or tag along is a great way to bond and learn together. Confident riders aged six years will prefer the freedom of having their own bike. 

Lots of equipment can be picked up quite cheaply second hand or even hired. Many hire centres that offer family rates fand have all different bike sizes and options to choose from, including helmets. Perfect for a family day out 

Family-friendly cycling routes in Dorset:

We love this first-hand account of what it is like to cycle on the North Dorset trailway: https://www.visit-dorset.com/blog/post/discover-dorsets-countryside-on-a-family-bike-ride/ 

 Dorset Council has a fantastic array of cycle routes and maps for routes right across the county. Find one near you: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/sport-leisure/cycling/cycle-routes-and-maps 

 If you are looking for a peaceful, safe trail, this National Trust route at Kingston Lacy near Wimborne, is perfect: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy/trails/the-woodland-trail-at-kingston-lacy-in-dorset 

Looking for more fitness inspiration?

Sign up for support to get more active - we'll help you discover a fitter, healthier you. Just click to register.

 

 

How does this work?

The tailored approach LiveWell Dorset uses to come up with solutions to the things that are stopping us achieving our goals, is based upon work done by University College London developing the COM-B model of behaviour change. In this model, all behaviour is influenced by understanding a person’s capability to change, their opportunity to change and their motivation to change. By understanding which of these is the biggest barrier to change, we can tailor support accordingly. This model of behaviour change is at the centre of the support we offer, online and in person.

Your Favourites?

or register, to favourite activities that you want to try.

Welcome!

Is this the first time that you've used our services, or have you already registered with us? To allow us to best serve you, please confirm whether you're new to LiveWell Dorset, or if you've spoken to us before and may have an existing account.

Welcome back, it's good to hear from you again!

To speak to one of our dedicated team and get the help you require please request a call back. All call backs from this service are free of charge to both landlines and mobile.

Request a Call Back

Do you provide your consent to share your information with the LiveWell Dorset team – part of Public Health Dorset ?

When you register with LiveWell Dorset, we ask you some questions about you and your health (how much you smoke, how active you are, how much you drink and how much you weigh). We store that information and use it to shape our service offer to you – such as the advice we give or the extra services we connect you to. The only people who will see this information will be those involved in the delivery of the service and management of the data. If you would like to use extra services (such as slimming clubs and pharmacies) we have to share this information with them. For us to be able to put you in touch with these services, we must have your consent to share that information with the service (we’ll ask for that later, when if you sign up for extra services).

Before we can sign you up any further, we need to know:

  • You're happy for your personal information to be shared with LiveWell Dorset.
  • You understand what information may be shared and why, and that at times, our contact to you may be supported by technology partners, who have the same data protection standards and safeguards as we do
  • You acknowledge that you can withdraw your consent at any time by informing LiveWell Dorset.
  • You understand that if you do not give consent or withdraw consent then it could be difficult for us to connect you some of the services we offer.

If you require any more information to help you make your choice then please contact the LiveWell Dorset team on 0800 840 1628. All telephone conversations at LiveWell Dorset are recorded for quality and training purposes, and stored whilst you are registered as active within the service.

Yes I consent

Sorry we can't continue at the moment

Unfortunately we need your permission to store your personal information to help us to assess the best support we could provide or signpost you to. If at any stage you change your mind and are happy to provide your personal information please come back and visit us again.