All this talk of cycling may just be reminding you to get the dust off your poor neglected bike in the garage and oil up the gears in readiness for some action!

Sustrans has been quietly working on developing cycle lanes and routes across the UK and Republic of Ireland. There are a couple of detailed route maps which cover two cycle routes for those amateur cyclists among us who cannot quite manage the 100 mile cycle around Inishowen! One is ‘route 92′, the Inis Eoghain Cycleway, a 55km loop connecting the river Foyle in Co. Londonderry with Lough Swilly in Donegal. If you have a look at the map, it is quite easy to pick off smaller loops within this if you don’t have the time or energy for the full cycle. This route is linked at Craigavon Bridge to ‘route 93′, the ‘Faughan Valley Cycleway‘. This area comprises 3 linked routes, each about 22-24 miles long. You can download and print pdf files from the Sustrans website or pick up the leaflets at most visitor centres.

There are also 12 cycle routes in the Sperrins, and of course you can easily cycle in Ballykelly Forest or in Learmount Forest cycle trail. If you want to go further afield, Ards Forest park near Dunfanaghy is also highly recommended. If you have any favourite routes you think others would be interested in, please comment!