Over the years cycling has evolved, from simply being an efficient mode of transport into modern cycles that are super high tec examples of engineering. Featuring arospace design and affordable leisure machines for everyone, what ever you want to do there is probably a bike to help you do it.

Cycle sport has diversified into many different forms:

Road Racing, this is the side of the sport most people will be familier with from seeing the Toud de France on television. A group of riders set off together and the first to cross the finish line is the winner! These races can just be one day or over a number of weeks. Shorter town center races held around a closeds roads are known as Criteriums.

Time Trialling, known as the 'test of truth' involves cycling against the clock for a fixed distance, e.g. 25 miles, the winner is the rider who has the fastest time. The distances vary from 10 miles upwards to ultra long events mesuring how far a rider can travel in set time, usually 12 or 24 hours. This particular discipline is very popular in Britain because of the simplicity of organisation.In the Hilly North West events on winding roads are classified as Spoco (sporting course).

Audax, are none competitive challange rides usually covering fairly long distances. The rides take place over a set route and distance with everyone travelling at there own pace, the challenge being to complete the ride within a set maximum time. Rules usually stipulate the types of bike ridden must be fitted with mudguards and saddle bags. The most famous of the randonneur events is the Paris-Brest Paris, a distance of 750 miles to be compleated within 90 hours.

Track Racing, the name says it all, racing on a track. The 'track' being a purpose built banked circuit, the most well known being Manchester Velodrome home to the multi medal winning British track team. Track racing is composed of many different events, Sprints, Pursuits, Team Races, Time Trials and motorbike paced Dernys.

Hill Climbs, traditionally take place in the autumn up particularly steep hills. The riders race individually from the bottom to the top with the fastest time winning.

Mountain Bike Racing, has a shorter history then the road but has become equally diverse.

Cross Country (XC), is the only form of off-road riding that has become an olympic sport. Similar to the road race, all the riders start together, race around a course with first past the post being the victor.

Downhill, quite simply a race downhill. Competitors are timed down a set route aiming to go as fast as possible.

Enduro, the growing area of Mountain Bike sport, these are endurance events of between 12 and 24 hours. Using a set circuit riders try to complete as many laps as possible within the set time. The appeal of these events is that competitors can choose to ride as a team (some people ride solo), swapping over between laps, creating a more social event. Organisers often provide entertainments and the campers enjoy somthing of a party atmosphere.

Polaris/Trailquest/MTBO, Mountain Bikes and map reading. Derived from the running sport of Orienteering. There is no fixed route, instead riders navigate to checkpoints to score points, the less accessable locations having higher values. Competitors have to finish within a set time (usually 5 hours) or loose points through penalties. The Polaris is the best known of these events, taking place over two days, riders have to carry all there equipment for overnight camping to add to the difficulty.

CycloCross, began as a way to keep fit for cycling over the winter months and evolved into a sport in its own right. Racers ride and run around a set course, off-road, on bikes that are derived from road bikes, but with lower gears and knobbly tyres. Mud and meyhem ensue. Internationally famous is the super tough 'Three Peaks' Race, run over the Yorkshire dales three highest hills. Check out the North West Cyclocross website, all ages welcome. The North West has some of the UK's top Cyclocross riders.

Triathlon, a sport that includes cycling as one of the three parts; Swimming, Running and Cycling.

BMX/Trials, urban street sports. Much of the emphasis is on performing 'tricks', competitions are judged on the difficulty and acrobatic performance. Specialist bikes are built for strength with single gears, small wheels and big handlebars.

Challenge Events, have grown in the last few years. These are non-competative rides that contain an element of challenge. The variety is huge, some are charity rides on quite roads with an emphasis on fun and fundraising, some are testing events that require training and preperation to complete. Biggest of these is the L'Etape Du Tour attracting over 8000 cyclists from acrss the world. This event follows the route of the Tour De France, usually the most difficult mountain stage, the roads are closed to other traffic for the day (only in France!) and riders are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals if they finish before the cut off time.
The North West has its own answers to the Etape, The Fred Witton Challenge and the Etape De Dales. The Fred Witton takes riders over all the Lake District passes and the Etap De Dales is similar taking all the most strenuious climbs of the area.