PEOPLE in the South West are being encouraged to take on the virtual cycling challenge MyCycle launched by The British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Cycling has never been more popular and it is hoped the challenge will keep people cycling through the winter.

Earlier this year the Secretary for Transport announced levels of cycling in the UK has increased as much as 200 per cent in 2020 and global media company, Forbes revealed that between April and June 2020, bicycle sales increased by 63 per cent year-on-year.

But as the winter draws near how many of us will make our new hobby a healthy habit?

The BHF says that signing up for a challenge like MyCycle is a great way to help people stay motivated to keep cycling throughout the winter months and improve their heart health.

Figures from a BHF survey showed that setting a target, such as signing up to a challenge like a bike ride or marathon, has helped a quarter (25 per cent) of people get fitter in the past.

The BHF’s virtual cycling challenge, MyCycle, has three challenges suitable for riders of all cycling abilities. You can choose to ride 100, 200 or 300 plus miles over 30 days and raise vital funds for the BHF’s life saving research.

It doesn’t matter how you cover the distance – you can do it on the road or in the gym and on your own or as part of a team.

Cyclists who raise £150 or more for the BHF will receive an exclusive MyCycle medal to celebrate their achievement.

The BHF provides vital support to the 7.4 million people in the UK living with heart and circulatory diseases.

Research suggests Covid-19 has put people with heart and circulatory conditions at greater risk than ever. But the effect of the virus has also cut the BHF’s life saving research in half.

The nation’s heart charity needs the public’s support more than ever to enable it to continue its life saving research into preventing, diagnosing and treating heart and circulatory diseases. Slowing down now would put even more lives at stake.

Get on your bike and start riding to build up the miles and help raise vital funds for the BHF’s life saving research.

For more information visit: www.bhf.org.uk/mycycle .