With more than 1.3 million bikes (and only 20,000 cars) sold in lockdown many of you may have re-discovered your love for cycling.

As lockdown is lifted we’re being asked to walk and cycle instead of using public transport and our cars.

So, how’s about giving your daily commute a two-wheel test run? Cycling to work is a great way of building in the regular exercise you need to get fit and stay healthy. It saves you money too. For journeys of up to three miles it's almost always quicker than driving and especially in Worcester’s so-called ‘rush hour’!

So here’s the challenge… Cycle to Work Day this year takes place on Thursday, August 6. You can pledge to ride at .cycletoworkday.org. The website has lots of useful information on cycling too.

To help plan your route Worcestershire County Council has produced some excellent cycle maps for all the other main towns in the county. You can usually pick up a copy at your local bike shop or tourist information centre, but they’re also downloadable from worcestershire.gov.uk.

Search for ‘Worcester Walking & Cycling Guide’.

Another excellent website is cyclestreets.net. It's like Google Maps, but selects routes on cycle paths and quieter roads that are more suitable for cyclists.

It’s also worth asking your employer if they’re signed up to the Government’s Cycle To Work Scheme.

It’s a salary sacrifice scheme that can save you up to 39 per cent on buying a bike and all the kit. All of the major independent bike shops in the area are signed up with Cyclescheme.

Their website, cyclescheme.co.uk, explains how it works and offers lots of useful tips on commuting by bike.