BUSINESSES have been encouraged to get their workers cycling in for the day in an attempt to get fitter and more environmentally aware as part of a national campaign.

National Bike Week runs from Saturday June 11 to Sunday June 19 and is an annual celebration of cycling, which aims to show how cycling can easily be part of everyday life by encouraging "everyday cycling for everyone".

This year Barrow businesses such as BAE Systems have taken up the national campaign and this has kept Bill Nickson and his colleagues at Topmark Cycles very busy.

Mr Nickson said: "We have been incredibly busy this week. There have been a lot of people from BAE interested in getting a bike and so the initiative must be working.

"There has been a huge increase in the popularity of cycling over the last few years, especially in road biking.

"We sell a lot of road bikes now and I imagine it is because cycling got so much more publicity in the media and the Olympics. We now have events like the Tour of Furness and the Tour of Yorkshire which have really built up popularity in the North of England."

This year’s Bike Week will focus on encouraging people to use their bikes to cycle to work.

A good idea is to try and get out for "buddy" rides with colleagues, scope out the easiest route to their place of work or take part in workplace challenges. This is a better way to start and the gentle cardio will burn fat and be easy on the joints too.

National Bike Week aims to demonstrate the social, health and environmental benefits of cycling. The week aims to get people to give cycling a go all over the UK, whether this be for fun, as a means of getting around to work or school, the local shops or just to visit friends.

Living in the Lake District, we also have plenty of opportunities to get involved in off-road and mountain biking which is especially enjoyable with the family.

Grizedale Forest is one of the most popular biking attractions in the North West and it is easy to see why.

Keith Bunney, a Grizedale volunteer, originally from Leicestershire said: "We have about seven varying tracks which are great for all ages with firm, gently sloping surfaces that are easily accessible for children

"They offer views of Coniston and Windermere and there are off-trail courses for the more advanced bikers too."