Cycling most popular outdoor activity amid UK coronavirus lockdown

Cycling has been voted the most popular family activity for outdoor exercise during the UK’s ‘lockdown’ to fight COVID-19 in a new poll of 2,000 Britons.

The new research conducted during the lockdown by OnePoll for Black Mountain, the company behind the world’s most advanced kids’ bikes, quizzed a sample of parents with children aged 3 to 14 located across the UK about their favourite outdoor activities and attitudes towards outdoor exercise. The poll is part of a larger study on how the coronavirus lockdown is impacting outdoor exercise and activities for families.

Cycling tops poll as most popular family exercise activity

With most children now spending more time at home than ever before, 35 per cent in the poll voted cycling as the outdoor exercise they’d feel most confident in doing during the lockdown, followed by walking (29 per cent), wildlife trails (25 per cent), jogging (20 per cent) and climbing (16 per cent). The survey also found that 82 per cent of parents feel ‘confident’ in taking their children outside for active pursuits such as cycling in the current environment.

89 per cent of children eager to do outdoor exercise

With most children now spending more time at home than ever before, the poll also reveals that almost 9 in 10 parents believe that their children are currently eager to do outdoor exercise such as cycling. Of those parents who said that their children are showing notable interest in physical outdoor pursuits, 59 per cent claimed that their children are ‘very interested’ in outdoor exercise. This finding contrasts with studies published in the months prior to the lockdown, including research published by Bristol University in November 2019* warning that Primary School children are becoming more inactive with each year that passes.

“With children cooped up at home due to the coronavirus restrictions, physical outdoor exercise such as cycling is more important than ever to help families protect their physical and mental health. Getting active outside can improve cardiovascular and muscle health, and can have unexpected health benefits for the body and mind, such as decreased stress levels and improved attention span, sleep and vitamin D levels,” comments Andy Lloyd, Founder of Black Mountain Bikes.

Launched in 2018, Black Mountain Bikes, the world’s most advanced kids’ bikes, are the brainchild of engineer and entrepreneur Andy Lloyd. After struggling to find good bikes for his kids, utilising his experience as a motorsports engineer, Andy spent the best part of a decade designing and creating a range of bikes for children that are safe, lightweight, and most importantly, that grow in size as children develop their cycling skills and get bigger.

4 in 5 unable to size a child’s bike correctly

Although cycling is currently the most popular outdoor activity for families, the study also suggests that many parents are less confident when it comes to their ability to fit a child’s bike, with 4 in 5 unable to do so properly. Poorly fitted bikes can lead to a lack of confidence in children, poor performance, less enjoyment and an increased likelihood of accidents.

By contrast, Black Mountain have a unique approach to the sizing kids bikes. To solve the problem, Black Mountain has developed a collection of children’s bikes with a unique adjustable frame that grows in size as children age and develop their cycling skills.

For more information about the study, please visit https://blackmountain.bike/pages/coronavirus-lockdown-driving-family-outdoor-exercise/