A MAJOR study by the University of Glasgow has shown that cycling to work can cut the risk of developing cancer and heart disease by up to 50 per cent.
But are there too many barriers standing in the way of the everyday person who would like to cycle, but can't manage because of the trials of modern life?
We spoke to Ulverston bike company Velo about what they thought of the study, and what people can do to get started with pedal power.
The team at Glasgow University monitored 250,000 people across the UK, looking closely at the health benefits of regular exercise.
It found that the participants who cycled to work had a 45 per cent lower risk of developing cancer, and a 46 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Stuart Hines, online sales manager for Velo has seen more people come in recent years, wanting to change the way they get to work. He said: "We see a lot of people coming in buying new bikes on a regular basis.
"There are more people getting on bikes and cycling to work."
Since the late 1990s, the government-backed Cycle to Work scheme has seen hundreds of thousands of people benefit from a reduced cost in buying a new bike.
People can get up to 25 per cent off the cost of a new bicycle, removing a pricey stumbling block from getting on the saddle.
Mr Hines wants more to be done to support smaller businesses when it comes to work cycling schemes.
He said: "People think you have to use your voucher at a big chain, but there are lots of independents that people can go to."
Even though the health benefits are clear and schemes can reduce the costs, many people are deterred from buying a new bike by squeezed budgets.
However, Mr Hines thinks new bikes are affordable, and that a good bike will prove a sound investment for years to come.
He said: "You can buy a bike for £200 but if people are going to ride them regularly, in two years' time they could be in trouble. Most bikes start at around £400, but they will last."
Safety on the road can also be a concern when weighing up the pros and cons of taking up cycling. Horror stories from London almost every week show the dangers cyclists can face on busy roads. Mr Hines said, however, that people do not need to pay hand over fist to make sure they are protected.
He said: "Our attitude is to get a good helmet that fits, is comfortable and does the job. They can start at £35."
In the university study, cycling was found to be more beneficial than other exercises because riders, on average, covered more distance and were more intense with their movements compared to runners or walkers.
Dr Carlos Celis-Morales, from the University of Glasgow, said: "Walking to work was associated with lower risk of heart disease, but unlike cycling was not associated with a significantly lower risk of cancer or overall death.
"This may be because walkers commuted shorter distances than cyclists, typically six miles per week, compared with 30 miles per week, and walking is generally a lower intensity of exercise than cycling."
Fortunately, in the South Lakes we are spoiled for choice when it comes to cycling. There are routes which can cater to all abilities, from the gentle Barrow to Rampside trial, to the intense 50-mile circular route from the town to Coniston.
Mr Hines said: "We get people coming through doing the Coast to Coast, and there are routes that are so low in traffic, I suppose that is encouraging."
With the wealth of opportunities to cycle in the area, the government has been called on by medical experts to break down barriers, so more people than ever can enjoy the health benefits of cycling.
Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Commuting to work by walking, or better still, cycling, is a great way to combine physical activity into your normal daily routine.
"It is paramount to make physical activity easier and more accessible if we are to reduce the burden of ill health caused by inactivity. Local authorities and workplaces should support this by making using active transport as a means to get to work an easy option."
To find out how you can save when cycling, visit www.cyclescheme.co.uk
Read more:
Cumbrian schools have chalked up thousands of hours through cycling
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