This is Grimsby --THE triumph of Britain's cyclists at the 2012 Olympics, as well as Sir Bradley Wiggins's win in the Tour de France, has produced a surge in demand for cycling holidays in the UK, Europe and worldwide.
If 2012 was the year of the bike, then 2013 is the year of the biking holiday, as thousands take to two wheels for a summer break.
James Adkin at Explore, an adventure holiday specialist: "Over the past few years, people have realised they don't have to be a professional cyclist to enjoy a cycling holiday.
"Increasing numbers of people want healthier and greener lifestyles, so cycling holidays are growing in popularity.
At activity holiday specialist Macs Adventure, chief adventure officer Neil Lapping claims a 300 per cent surge in demand for cycling breaks in UK and Europe compared to this time last year. "In our ten years in business, we've never seen growth like this," he says.
"The 'Wiggo' effect has made cycling cool again."
Sustrans, a charity operating a network of scenic, traffic-free cycle routes throughout the UK, confirms booming demand for trips on routes in the north of England.
These include the Sea to Sea Cycle Route, from the Irish Sea off the Cumbrian Coast to the North Sea off the Northumbrian Coast; Hadrian's Wall Cycleway in the North East; and the Reivers Route in Cumbria.
After a 40 per cent leap in sales, Explore has added 18 more departures across its most popular tours.
It has doubled departures for the eight-day, moderately graded Southern Oasis cycling tour of Morocco, via kasbahs, tribal villages and oases, plus a camel ride to a nomad desert camp.
The package from £779 includes return flights, six nights' hotel and one-night camping accommodation (B&B); one other meal; bike hire; transport; and services of a tour leader. There are eight departures before February 2014.
Another popular tour is eight days of easy-graded cycling along tree-lined towpaths of the Canal du Midi in France, via the Minervois wine region to the Mediterranean coast. With 12 departures before October, the package from £905 includes hotel B&B, bike hire, and the services of a tour leader and driver.
For long-haul cyclists, Explore's 14-day Cycle Saigon to Hanoi tour – graded moderate – has four more departures, making seven in all.
It follows rural backroads to take in Saigon, Hoi An, Hue and Hanoi, via the Mekong Delta, the tropical beaches of Nha Trang, and an overnight cruise along Halong Bay. From £1,897, the tour includes return flights, 11 nights' hotel, one-night train and one-night junk accommodation (all B&B); three other meals; bike hire; and transport with tour leader, driver and local guides.
INFORMATION: Explore: 0844 499 0901 and www.explore.co.uk; Macs Adventure: 0141 530 1950 and www.macsadventure.com; Sustrans: 0117 926 8893 and www.sustrans.org.uk Reported by This is 6 hours ago.