With winter nights being long, and days being short, now is a good time to plan your summer holiday. Traditionally, we think of a holiday as a place to laze about in the sun. Often however, it is far more rewarding to choose a holiday where not only do you get to explore a new location and sample a different culture, but you get an opportunity to learn something new and to do something different as well.

Cycling holidays fulfil this nicely, and their popularity is increasing. The combination of good exercise, camaraderie, and a sense of achievement, has seen an increase in cycling across the world.

Ever since Bradley Wiggins rode to glory in the Olympics and the Tour de France, cycling fever has been sweeping the country.

The health benefits of cycling are well documented. Cycling is a low impact sport and exercises and strengthens the heart muscles lowers blood fat levels, reduces stress and builds up a stamina that promotes more energy levels and an overall sense of well-being. Cycling is also the most energy efficient form of transport invented by humankind.

Another aspect of cycling is that it is inclusive rather than exclusive. You are never too old to cycle, and the sport has been taken up by people in their 70s. Providing you can sit on a saddle and turn the pedals, the cycling world will be open to you.

Cycling also provides a good social group. Being part of a cycling holiday means you will always have a topic to discuss before, during, and after rides. The better cycling holidays provide structured rides and have plenty of stops. This allows you to refresh and chat with your fellow cyclists.

Good cycling holidays cater for all your needs. That is to say, that if you are looking to leisurely explore a location, then all you need is to hire a bike and follow the guide. If you want to learn about riding on roads, pace lines, positioning, controlled effort, and the huge benefits of group riding, then hopefully your cycling holiday provider will provide that too.

Location is everything on a cycling holiday, and this is probably why the better holiday companies are based on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca in Spain. It has truly adopted a car free culture, and offers cyclists endless winding roads. It has a very good climate for cycling and is only 90 min flight away from the UK and Ireland. So much so that pro peloton groups such as Team Sky use it for training in the off season. As well as the perfect cycling environment, Mallorca offers holiday makers golden beaches, exciting nightlife, and excellent shopping. Some cycling holiday providers are based in Alcudia on the North coast. This is a picturesque part of Mallorca, and its beating heart.

One of the most popular providers of cycling holidays in Mallorca is SportActive. They are perfect if you want to sample a good cycling holiday, and you are not sure what to expect as they cater for beginners. They also provide guided leisure cycling for those that just want to cycle around the island, taking in what it has to offer. This approach also makes them ideal for couples, even if you both want different things. Imagine if 2015 is the year you learn to ride as part of a peloton, the year you learn to use your brakes and gears effectively and the year you conquer the challenging and spectacular climbs of Mallorca, considered to be one of the best places on earth for cycling. Or simply the time you explored Mallorca by bike.

Whether you are a single enthusiast looking to improve your cycling or a couple with different levels of ability looking to enjoy a sporting holiday together, SportActive can cater for all your needs.

For full detail: check out http://sportactive.net/en/Landingpage/cycle-your-way-to-health-wellbeing-and-fun.html Call Martin at 028/7136 5997, or e-mail flora@sportactive.net