Cycling has been popular in the UK since the late 1800s, with millions of cyclists taking to the roads every day. But whether people ride their bikes for transportation, leisure, fitness, or competition, cycling is not without risk. In 2024, the UK government revealed there were 14,345 casualties among pedal cyclists. However, the actual injury rate is likely to be higher, as these statistics don’t count injuries arising from strain or overexertion.
To find out what 139,855 cycling enthusiasts in the UK's opinions were about cycling injuries, we utilised AI-driven audience profiling to synthesise insights from online discussions over a year, ending 4 August 2025, to a high statistical confidence level. This allowed us to analyse their views and provide insights into their experiences and attitudes regarding injuries, treatment, recovery, and how often and why they replace cycling parts and equipment.
Index
- 73% of British cycling enthusiasts' first response after an injury is to adjust their routine
- 80% of cyclists say that professional therapy was most helpful in recovering from a cycling injury
- 73% of UK cyclists said cycling shoes were essential gear for injury prevention
- 56% of cycling enthusiasts blamed overtraining for their injuries
- 35% of British cyclists experience strain frequently during winter
- For 53% of cyclists, a post-ride stretching routine helps them feel their best
- 100% of our audience uses cycling apps to track their recovery progress
- 37% of cycling enthusiasts turn to highly trusted blogs for injury advice
- 37% of UK cycling enthusiasts said trail riding was somewhat stressful on their bodies
- 43% of UK cyclists are motivated to keep riding by personal challenges
- 47% of cycling enthusiasts prepare for rides by planning their routes
- 55% of cycling enthusiasts change their equipment after they feel discomfort
- 50% of cyclists said London was a good fit as their main riding location
- Cycling in 2025 Focuses On Recovery, Routines, and Technology
- Methodology
What Is Your First Response After A Cycling Injury?
73% of British cycling enthusiasts' first response after an injury is to adjust their routine
Not all cyclists change their routine as a first response after sustaining an injury:
The nature and severity of injuries often determine a cyclist’s first response, with not all injuries requiring people to stop cycling indefinitely or for a set period of time. Proving that you can’t keep a good rider down, 73% of our audience said their first response was to adjust their routine. Understanding that they require more knowledge to make the best decision, 13% said they research their injuries online. 7% said they adjust their bike settings, while another 7% said it was essential for them to visit a physiotherapist.
Research published by the University of Edinburgh found the most common cycling injuries were those to the upper limbs, head, neck, or face, such as skin lacerations, abrasions, or lesions. Bone fractures were the second most common injury. While some of these, such as serious injury to the head or upper limbs or bone fractures, may require treatment and rest, others, such as minor abrasions, are unlikely to cause significant disruption, which explains the varied responses.
What Has Helped Your Recovery From A Cycling Injury The Most?
80% of cyclists say that professional therapy was most helpful in recovering from a cycling injury
Our audience disagreed regarding the helpfulness of professional therapy when recovering from a cycling injury:
Even though a small percentage of the cyclists whose opinions we analysed opted to visit a physio as their first response to injury, the majority (80%) said professional therapy was most helpful when they were recovering.
Their experience is in keeping with research by the UK Sports Institute. According to the Institute, a multidisciplinary athlete-health project, which included physiotherapy and soft-tissue therapy, saw the number of training days lost to lower back pain drop from 458 in 2019 to one in 2023. The project also saw participants’ international results improve.
However, not everyone in our audience was as enthusiastic about physio, with 20% saying they found it minimally helpful. Yet, they do admit to it being helpful to some degree, suggesting that it certainly contributes to recovery..
What Gear Do You Rely On For Cycling Injury Prevention?
73% of UK cyclists said cycling shoes were essential gear for injury prevention
Cyclists rely on different types of gear to prevent injuries:
The role of cycling gear is manifold, as good quality gear helps regulate body temperature and offers some protection from the elements and injuries. Of our audience, 97% of cyclists in the UK said they rely on cycling shoes to protect them from injury, going as far as calling them essential.
A study published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research found that some cycling shoes and accessories, such as a forefoot wedge, increased the ankle varus angle and knee internal rotation while reducing the ankle abduction angle and knee sway area. These effects help reduce the chances of developing musculoskeletal injuries related to overuse. That said, not everyone in our audience was sold on the efficacy of cycling shoes, with 3% saying they were unnecessary.
Surprisingly, no one said they relied on cycling helmets, despite the fact that studies show that the best helmets have a 56% lower overall modelled head-injury risk, a 43% lower linear-injury risk, and a 76% lower rotational (diffuse brain) injury risk, making it clear that every cyclist should include them among their essential gear.
What Typically Causes Your Cycling Injuries?
56% of cycling enthusiasts blamed overtraining for their injuries
Various factors cause cycling injuries:
56% of the British cycling enthusiasts in our audience blamed overtraining for their injuries, and they’re not incorrect in doing so. According to the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, overtraining syndrome develops as a result of a long-term imbalance between training and recovery. Affecting between 20 and 60% of athletes, the syndrome’s symptoms include fatigue, mood disturbances, and decreased performance.
The next most common cause of cycling injuries was improper technique, which was named by 30% of cyclists. The remaining responses were split equally between uneven terrain (7%) and poor bike setup (7%).
These opinions suggest that most cycling injuries could be prevented through better training balance and improved riding skills, with equipment and environment playing a smaller but still notable role.
What Time Of Year Do You Experience The Most Strain When Cycling?
35% of British cyclists experience strain frequently during winter
Whether frequently or infrequently, cycling enthusiasts experience strain at different times of the year:
Although cycling injuries can occur at any time of year, our audience’s responses show they’re more common during the colder seasons. More than half experience strain during winter, with 35% saying this happens frequently and 20% saying it happens infrequently. Others named autumn, with 11% describing their strain as infrequent and 7% saying it happened frequently. An additional 7% said they strained frequently during spring. Almost a fifth of our audience said their experience of strain was consistent throughout the year, whether it was infrequent (11%) or frequent (7%).
These findings are something of a departure from those published in BMJ Open Sports & Exercise Medicine, which found higher injury rates during racing periods and competition-heavy months (May through July). However, training-related overuse injuries were distributed throughout the year, even though they tend to cluster during high-load training phases such as pre-season/base build periods and high-volume winter blocks.
What Post-Cycling Routine Helps You Feel Your Best?
For 53% of cyclists, a post-ride stretching routine helps them feel their best
Cyclists rely on various routines to feel their best and avoid strain or injury after going for a ride:
Post-ride stretching is the routine of choice for slightly less than half of cyclists in the UK when it comes to feeling their best. Of these, 29% said the routine is essential, 24% said they found it helpful. There’s good reason for this, as a review of the effectiveness of recovery strategies after training and competition in endurance athletes published in Sports Medicine found that regular mobility work can support injury prevention over time and improve range of motion.
44% of our audience said foam-rolling was an essential routine for them, while only 1% found it helpful. Just 2% had an opinion on energy drinks, saying they were an unnecessary part of their routine. Overall, these statistics point to a preference for recovery methods that offer tangible physical benefits over quick fixes or performance-enhancing products.
How Do You Track Your Cycling Injury Recovery Progress?
100% of our audience uses cycling apps to track their recovery progress
UK cycling enthusiasts were unanimous in how they track their recovery progress after sustaining an injury:
For cyclists, tracking recovery progress after an injury is an important part of getting back into their regular routines. Our entire audience found cycling apps to be helpful for tracking their progress.
The cyclists whose social media discussions we analysed clearly have more faith in technology than many other people in the UK. A report by the Health Foundation found 51% of the public think technology improves the quality of healthcare, compared with 8% who said it worsens quality and 29% who said it had no effect.
Where Do You Go For Trusted Cycling Injury Advice?
37% of cycling enthusiasts turn to highly trusted blogs for injury advice
Cyclists turn to a range of sources for advice on injuries, with one source standing out:
For our UK audience, cycling blogs were the most popular source of advice about injury, with the level of trust in them ranging from high (37%) to moderate (23%). While 16% moderately trusted their physio specialists for advice, 12% said they rarely did so.
Our audience also expressed some trust in online forums, although the level of trust in these ranged from rare (3%) to moderate (2%) or high (1%). Among those who mentioned their local cycling club, 2% said they rarely trusted the advice they received, while 2% said their trust was only moderate. Another 2% said they had high trust in their training books.
It's worth noting that our audience’s sentiments are somewhat at odds with the findings of the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer. The barometer revealed an eight-point drop in the number of people who believed that an average person who did their own research could be just as knowledgeable on most health matters as doctors (44% to 36%). On the other hand, 83% said they trusted their doctor to tell them the truth.
Which Part Of Your Ride Puts The Most Stress On Your Body?
37% of UK cycling enthusiasts said trail riding was somewhat stressful on their bodies
Cyclists in the UK have different experiences when it comes to which part of their ride puts the most stress on their bodies:
For 37% of British cyclists, trail riding places the most stress on their bodies, although 21% disagreed, saying this part of the ride wasn’t at all stressful. However, this may be because they are either more experienced or stick to easier trails.
Among those who mentioned long distances, 33% (29% and 4%) described them as somewhat stressful, while 9% said they did not experience physical stress when riding for long distances.
Clearly, individual experiences vary widely here, but what is evident is that for 70% of cycling enthusiasts, there is some stress involved.
What Motivates You To Keep Riding?
43% of UK cyclists are motivated to keep riding by personal challenges
Various factors motivate cyclists in Britain to keep riding:
Among the various factors mentioned by our audience, personal challenges were the greatest motivation to keep riding, with 43% giving this as their reason. Only 2% said they were neutral regarding this factor.
The next most motivating factor was the mental clarity experienced when riding (37%). Some cyclists disagreed here, with 8% saying this did not motivate them and 4% saying they were neutral. Other motivators included group rides 93%), fitness goals (2%), and scenic routes (1%).
Some of these factors are in line with the 2023 National Travel Survey, which looked at the purpose of cycling trips in the UK. The survey found 40% of rides were undertaken for leisure (this includes health and fitness), while 29% were for commuting, 13% for education or escort education, and 9% for shopping.
How Do You Prepare Before A Cycle Ride?
47% of cycling enthusiasts prepare for rides by planning their routes
Cyclists have different ways of preparing for rides:
Every cyclist has their own way of preparing for a ride. Route planning was the most popular method among our audience, with 47% reporting that they used this method. 32% preferred to inspect their bikes and ensure that everything is in good working order. For 21%, checking their gear was the most important thing to do before going for a ride.
These stats suggest that preparation tends to be a mix of logistical planning and ensuring equipment is in top condition, with inspections and checks being just a bit more of a focus.
How Often Do You Change Your Cycling Equipment?
55% of cycling enthusiasts change their equipment after they feel discomfort
Cyclists have different opinions about when cycling equipment should be changed:
Cycling gear doesn’t last forever and should be changed from time to time. However, cyclists have different approaches to this, and as can be seen from our insights, no one in our audience has a set time for changing their gear. Instead, 55% said they only did so after they experienced discomfort. 27% swapped old gear for new when upgrading to better options or getting a new bike. 12% admitted to gear changes only on the rare occasion, while 6% said their decision was based on wear.
This is concerning, as it’s crucial for cyclists in the UK to use reliable protective gear. The importance extends beyond personal safety; failing to wear appropriate gear could also reduce compensation in personal injury claims due to contributory negligence. This principle holds that the injured party’s lack of protective measures may have contributed to the accident or the severity of their injuries.
Which City Best Describes Your Main Riding Location?
50% of cyclists said London was a good fit as their main riding location
Not everyone in our audience had the same opinion about London, with some preferring another city:
Looking at official counts from the City of London Corporation, a significant number of cyclists might share the views of the 50% of cyclists who appreciate it. According to the official figures, the number of people cycling in one day across 30 locations increased by 50,000 from 89,000 in 2022 to 139,000 in 2024. This increase of more than 50% means there are almost twice as many bicycles as there are cars on the roads during the day.
Among those in our audience who discussed Edinburgh as their main riding location, 1% said the city was a perfect fit, while 2% were slightly less enthusiastic, saying it was a good fit. Only 1% said the Scottish capital wasn’t ideal. Like London, Edinburgh has seen an increase in the number of cyclists.
Data from Cycling Scotland shows that 219,070 bike journeys were made along the Leith Walk route between January and the end of May 2024 – almost double the number recorded during the same period in 2022.
Cycling in 2025 Focuses On Recovery, Routines, and Technology
On the whole, these findings offer a clear idea of how cyclists in the UK respond to injuries in 2025. From changing routines as a first response to using technology to track recovery and find advice, the statistics reveal how cyclists approach their hobby and injuries related to it.
Methodology
Sourced using Artios from an independent sample of 139,855 United Kingdom cycling enthusiasts’ opinions across X, Reddit, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, and BlueSky. Responses are collected within a 75% confidence interval and 5% margin of error. Results are derived from opinions expressed online, not actual questions answered by people in the sample.
About the representative sample:
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40% of cycling enthusiasts in the UK are between the ages of 25 and 44.
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66% identify as male and 34% as female.