Cycling vs Running – Which is best for you & your family?

If you have read some of my posts before then you will know I am a huge advocate of cycling. I tend to personally cycle for my mental health, leisure and for exercise purposes. My favourite type of cycling is off-road cycling through canal pathways and former railway lines. You will regularly find me cycling on the Trans Pennine Trail. A favourite route of mine as it’s easily accessible from my house in Wakefield.

But when it comes to fitness people who are wanting to get into shape always seem to default to running and those who don’t enjoy exercise will struggle to maintain running. The January ritual of showing intent and then losing interest continues.

So I’m here to throw my hat in the ring for cycling and why if you’re a family with young children it makes far more sense to become a regular cyclist than a runner. 

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Spofforth – Wetherby Railway Path Cycling for Families

As a family, we are always on the lookout for new safe cycle paths to explore. With a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old cycling is the perfect activity for the whole family. It’s free, safe and great exercise. Our little boy Barney loves sitting on the back taking in all the nature as we ride along.

We recently came across the Wetherby Railway Path which is a disused Railway line connecting the village of Spofforth with Wetherby and continues through to Thorp Arch. In the October half term we ventured across to take the bikes on the route.

This route was created by Sustrans who are a charity whose sole purpose is to make it easier for people to walk and cycle. The roads have become hell zones in the past 10 years with cyclists (literally) pushed to the side. The rise in SUVs has compounded this further and made road cycling a less safe place to be.

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