One in ten people in UK have forgotten how to ride a bike, survey finds

“It’s just like riding a bike,” goes the saying when describing something that once you master it, you never forget – but a new survey has found that doesn’t hold true for one in ten British people who say they wouldn’t know what to do if they got back in the saddle.

A further one in five of the 2,047 respondents to the survey by Censuswide, commissioned by the British Heart Foundation, said that they have not got on a bike in more than ten years.

The survey was commissioned to tie in with the launch of this year’s London-Brighton bike ride, and Elizabeth Tack from the charity said: “It’s surprising to learn that while there is a clear appetite for cycling in the UK, there is still a vast amount of us who are not getting on our bikes often enough, or even at all.

“Cycling is a fantastic way of keeping your heart healthy, which is why we’re encouraging everyone to dust off their bikes this year and challenge themselves to take on our London to Brighton Bike Ride to help support our vital research into heart disease.

 “We can provide all the support you need to get you back in the saddle this year, with free training guides and advice available for all registered cyclists in the run up to the big day.

She added: “It’s a fantastic day out for all the family and every pound you raise will help make a difference to millions.”

Many councils throughout the UK now provide free or subsidised cycle training to first-time adult cyclists or people who are returning to riding a bike after a break of several years.

The charity Cycling UK also encourages lapsed cyclists to get back in the saddle through its ongoing Big Bike Revival initiative.

This year’s London-Brighton Bike Ride takes place on 18 June and you can find more details, including how to sign up, here.