Brits may demand cycling trips on every continent

British holidaymakers are keener than ever to get on their bikes, a survey from Mintel has found, with British travellers taking 450,000 cycling holidays last year.

In 2006, Britons booked 30 per cent more holidays devoted exclusively to cycling than in 2005, while another 2.25 million holidays last year featured some element of cycling, such as hiring or touring using a bike for a day or two.

And with evidence showing one in five 15 to 24-year-olds is eager to take a cycling-based break, Mintel is calling on tour operators to offer more cycling-centric holidays.

"Cycling has been given a new lease of life by recent environmental issues...and cycling holidays should continue to see a rise in loyal followers," said senior travel consultant Richard Cope.

Saddle-top activity has great health benefits, too, with Bupa estimating that cyclists can cut their risk of heart disease by one-fifth.

Cycling holidays could be done anywhere, with air travel allowing travellers to reach distant locations best viewed by bike, such as the flat, calm vistas of the Baltic States, or a city break in wonderful Copenhagen.

On the other side of the world, responsibletravel.com even organises biking trips as far afield as Chile.