Olympic cycling success inspires more people to get on their bikes

Some 1,000 people were surveyed before and after the 2012 Olympics to look at the impact of the event on cycling participation and awareness.

Around half (52 per cent) have been encouraged to cycle more as a result of the achievements of Team GB cyclists, up from 20 per cent before the Games.

Just over a quarter of respondents (28 per cent) say that the so-called Olympics effect inspired them to buy a bike before the Games started.

Three times as many cyclists are now more likely to get on their bike because of Team GB achievements, according to the research by London School of Economics for Sky and British Cycling.

The proportion describing themselves as frequent cyclists (those who use a bike once or more a week) increased from 28 per cent before the Games to 66 per cent afterwards.

But it is not just enthusiasts who were inspired by the Olympics. The proportion describing themselves as occasional cyclists rose from 19 per cent beforehand to 33 per cent after the Games, while the proportion of regular cyclists (those who have cycled 12 or more times in the past year) increased from 42 per cent to 64 per cent after the Games.

The Olympics, which had the slogan “inspire a generation”, also saw more people taking up cycling for fun with family and friends, up from 37 per cent to 48 per cent, the research suggests.

Almost nine in 10 (87 per cent) of those inspired by the Olympics to get on a bike are also encouraging their children to do the same.

Some retailers saw an increase in spending on bicycles and accessories during the Games.

Cycle Surgery, which has 28 shops across the UK, reported record turnover for the second week of the Olympics and online retailer Wiggle said UK traffic to its site jumped 71 per cent during the Games.