Cycling in the district

Cycling has many benefits. They include:

• It helps you stay active, and maintain a healthy weight
• It is environmentally friendly
• It is cost-effective
• It reduces risk of some illnesses (for example, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke)
• It boosts your mood
• It is low impact exercise

The recommended minimum amount of physical activity is 150 minutes per week. By cycling to work or school - or by planning longer rides - you can achieve this.

Start cycling

There are local cycling clubs, and community cycling clubs, that you can join. These clubs arrange regular group rides (known as 'ride outs').

If you would prefer to cycle on your own, there are many routes that have been put together:

• Discover Suffolk have an interactive map that show you cycle routes across Suffolk
• Google Maps have a cycling button that shows you cycle-friendly routes

Local cycling clubs

• Great Blakenham Cycle Speedway (link is to their Facebook page)
• Somersham Cycle Speedway (link is to their Facebook page)
• Stowmarket & District Cycle Club

National cycling organisations

• Cycling UK run campaigns on safe cycling, and support community cycling clubs
• British Cycling are the national governing body for cycling, and give advice to all riders
• Tour of Britain

Cycle safety

To cycle safely, we suggest:

• wearing a helmet
• wearing bright or high-vis clothing

Suffolk Road Safety offer training courses - for all ages - which teach you about road safety when cycling.