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More than 43 per cent of women who cycle would happily give up watching TV, going to the gym, or the football World Cup in favour of getting out on their bike, according to a survey by the national cycling charity, Cycling UK.
The survey also found that 11 per cent would give up alcohol, eight per cent would give up shopping and two per cent said they’d give up going out with friends before they would give up cycling.
Six women questioned even said they’d rather give up their partner or family than their bikes.
The charity quizzed more than 1,000 women who cycle to kick off its Women’s Festival of Cycling, a whole month of rides and events for women which launches this week.
The survey also revealed some of the main reasons women chose to cycle, such as for health and fitness, transport, the sense of freedom and their mental health.
Julie Rand, Cycling UK’s coordinator of the Women’s Festival of Cycling, said: “All too often we hear the reasons why women don’t cycle, but it’s a fact that thousands of women are enjoying the benefits of getting out on their bikes and absolutely love it.
“It’s encouraging to see that although more than 31 per cent many of the women we questioned cycled regularly for exercise and fitness, a large number said they cycled simply for the sense of freedom it gave them, while 11 per cent cycled for transport and ten per cent cycled just for fun.
“The benefits of cycling, particularly for women, shouldn’t be underestimated, which is why we want to get many more women out on their bikes.”
(Picture courtesy of the good people at Cafe Du Cycliste)
