Cycling Facts & Worksheets

Cycling, often known as bicycling or biking on a two-wheeled bicycle, refers to using cycles for transportation, recreation, exercise, or sport. Cycling enthusiasts are known as “cyclists,” “bicyclists,” or “bikers.”

See the fact file below for more information on Cycling, or you can download our 27-page Cycling worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

• After bicycles were invented in the 19th century, cycling soon gained popularity and is still used by more than a billion people worldwide for sport, recreation, and transportation.
• The bicycle has been used to carry soldiers and supplies to battle zones and conduct surveillance. In this, it has largely replaced the roles that horses once played in combat. 
• Both sides of the Second Boer War used bicycles for scouting. Bicycles transported troops in France, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand during World War I.
• Japan utilized some 50,000 bicycle troops in its 1937 invasion of China; similar forces were crucial to Japan’s march or “roll” through Malaya in World War II; Germany again used bicycles; and the British used airborne “Cycle-commandos” with foldable bikes.
• During the Vietnam War, communist soldiers extensively used bicycles as freight couriers along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Switzerland was the last nation known to have a regiment of bicycle soldiers, and it disbanded its final unit in 2003.
• The first known cycling competition took place over a distance of 1,200 meters on May 31, 1868, at Paris’s Park of Saint-Cloud. James Moore, an Englishman living abroad who rode a bicycle with solid rubber tires, won it.
• The St. Louis Cycling Club is the oldest continuously operating cycling racing club in the United States of America. The club has sponsored races and timed distance events since 1887.

TYPICAL FEATURES

• Utility bicycles are the most popular form of motorized transportation in many nations. 
• These have frames with a slack geometry that cushion the rider from road shocks and make steering easier at slower speeds.
• Utility bicycles frequently come with extras like lights, pannier racks, and mudguards, which increase their daily utility.
• Due to the bicycle’s efficiency as a mode of transportation, several businesses have invented ways to move anything.

HUB GEAR

• When bicycles are equipped with planetary or epicyclic gears, the gear ratio shifting system is known as a hub gear, internal-gear hub, internally-geared hub, or simply gear hub.

ANGLED-BACK HANDLEBARS

• The handlebars, which are in the North Road design, have a slight rise and are swept back toward the body, allowing the rider to stand fully upright as if they were walking.

STABLE GEOMETRY

• The rider can ride with one hand while still having access to the other hand for signaling or securing cargo on the rear rack thanks to the stable, non-twitchy steering provided by the curved fork and inclined vertical tubing.

HUB DYNAMO

• A hub dynamo makes it possible to have an integrated lighting system without the bottle (sidewall) dynamo’s loud noise, high drag, the maintenance-intensive nature of batteries, and their unreliability, high cost, and environmental disposal issues.

FRONT SUSPENSION

• High-end, contemporary-styled European city bikes frequently have a front suspension fork. A coil/oil or air/oil suspension fork with adjustable compression and rebound is commonly used.

O LOCK

• An integrated O-lock is a bicycle lock that connects the back wheel to the frame (which can be locked independently), deters ride-off theft, establishes ownership, and offers a lock and slot for a cable. A wheel lock or ring lock is an additional name for an O-lock.

SKIRT GUARD

• A skirt guard, dress guard, or coat guard is a device that is attached to the back tire of a bicycle to keep a long skirt, coat or other trailing items or luggage from catching in the wheel.

TIRES AND WHEELS

• T tires are puncture-resistant for traveling without a pump and tools to fix a flat tire. Standard width is medium to comprehensive (1.5-1.75 inches; 38-44 mm), balancing speed with toughness and padding. These are road tires with a shallow tread pattern and are semi-slick, like Schwalbe Marathon tires.

HEALTH BENEFITS

• When compared to a sedentary lifestyle, cycling has more health advantages than disadvantages. According to a Dutch study, cycling can increase life spans by up to 14 months, but the dangers resulted in a lifespan reduction of at least 40 days.
• Regular cycling has several health advantages, including:
  • improved cardiovascular health
  • enhanced flexibility and strength in the muscles
  • increased joint flexibility
  • reduced levels of stress
  • enhanced alignment and coordination
  • reinforced bones
  • lower body fat percentages
  • illness management or prevention
  • it decreased stress and despair

CYCLING ASSOCIATIONS

• Some bicycle clubs and national organizations became prominent supporters of repaving roads and expanding highways. During the latter half of the 19th century, the League of American Wheelmen was established and served as the impetus for the national Good Roads Movement in the United States.
• Internationally, cycling is administered by the Union Cycliste Internationale in Switzerland, USA Cycling (which amalgamated with the United States Cycling Federation in 1995), and the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (for upright bicycles) (for other HPVs, or human-powered vehicles). 
• The European Cyclists’ Federation, which has affiliated members from Great Britain, Japan, and other countries, promotes cycling for transportation and touring on a European level. Under the auspices of Velo City, periodic conferences on cycling as transportation are held; Velo Mondial organizes international conferences.

FAMOUS CYCLISTS IN THE WORLD

• Peter Sagan is a Slovak road cyclist. He is at present with Bora-Hansgrohe, a well-known UCI World Team. Peter Sagan is widely recognized as one of cycling’s best talents, having won multiple significant titles. He has won the UCI Road World Championships and the European Championship, among many other achievements.
• Eddy Merckx is a retired Belgian road and track cyclist. Merckx is widely recognized as the most successful rider in competitive cycling history, having won 11 Grand Tours, three World Championships, and all five Monuments. He is also widely regarded as the greatest cyclist of all time. He coached his national cycling team for 11 years after retiring.
• Greg LeMond is an anti-doping advocate and former road race cyclist from the United States. LeMond is considered the best American cyclist of all time, having won the Tour de France three times and the Road Race World Championship twice. Greg LeMond is also recognized as a symbol of the sport’s globalization and is regarded as one of the greatest all-around riders of his generation.
• Lance Armstrong became one of the most inspiring stories after overcoming illness and winning seven consecutive Tour de France events from 1999 to 2005. He was regarded as one of the greatest road racing cyclists of all time before being stripped of his accomplishments beginning in August 1998 owing to his involvement in a doping scandal.

Cycling Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Cycling across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Cycling, often known as bicycling or biking on a two-wheeled bicycle, which refers to using cycles for transportation, recreation, exercise, or sport. Cycling enthusiasts are known as “cyclists,” “bicyclists,” or “bikers.”

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Cycling Facts
2. What’s My Role?
3. Label the Bike
4. Let’s Go!
5. Bike Talk!
6. My Own Bicycle
7. Cycling for Fun
8. Cycling Now!
9. Bicycles Then and Now
10. Safe Cycling
11. Cycling Safety Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cycling?

Cycling is the act of riding a bicycle for transportation, recreation, or sport. It involves the use of a bicycle, which is a human-powered vehicle with two wheels that is propelled by pedaling. It is an environmentally friendly and efficient mode of transportation, and it also provides health benefits such as cardiovascular fitness, weight management, and muscle strength.

What are the different types of cycling?

There are several types of cycling, including:

• Road cycling: riding on paved roads, often in a group or race setting
• Mountain biking: riding on rough terrain, such as dirt trails, rocks, and mud
• BMX: a type of off-road cycling that involves performing tricks and stunts
• Cyclocross: a type of off-road racing that involves a mix of pavement and off-road terrain
• Touring: long-distance cycling, often with camping gear and self-sustenance

What are the benefits of cycling?

Cycling offers many benefits, including:

• Improving cardiovascular fitness
• Building muscle strength and endurance
• Weight management
• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes
• Helping to reduce traffic congestion and pollution
• Being an environmentally friendly mode of transportation

What equipment do you need to start cycling?

To start cycling, you will need a bicycle, a helmet, and appropriate clothing. Depending on the type of cycling you plan to do, you may also need additional equipment such as cycling shoes, gloves, and a repair kit. Additionally, it is also recommended to have a good lock to protect the bike.

How can I learn to cycle safely?

Learning to cycle safely involves understanding the rules of the road, traffic laws, and basic bike maintenance. It is recommended to take a cycling class or to participate in a cycling club, which can provide instruction on proper cycling techniques and safety tips. It is also important to practice safe cycling habits, such as wearing a helmet, using hand signals, and obeying traffic laws. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to plan your route and to be aware of the road conditions, traffic, and weather.

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