But buying a bike can be a big investment, which is why leading industry magazine What Mountain Bike has organised a free demo day at Sherwood Pines on Sunday.

Whether you are new to cycling or an experienced rider looking to upgrade, the event will offer a wide variety of brands and styles and may make the decision of what bike to buy less complicated.

Bikes at the event will range from a few hundred pounds to more than £5,000 –– and all are available to test ride.

Said What Mountain Bike editor Jane Bentley: "The bike demo day is a great opportunity for people who enjoy cycling to test out the latest bikes on the market and for those who are thinking of taking it up to see how much fun cycling is, especially in the beautiful settings of Sherwood Pines."

Organisers are recommending using the on-line pre-booking system to decide which bikes you would like to ride as unless pre-booked they are unable to guarantee availability.

Said Sport Nottinghamshire director Simon Starr: "Cycling is a fantastic form of exercise and this event will give Nottinghamshire residents the chance to see for themselves how much fun it is too.

"The Shape Up Notts! campaign wants to show people how easy it is to incorporate activity in to your daily life. Having a bike opens up a whole new world of inexpensive exercise and transport options.

"Now that the weather is improving, cycling is ideal for getting around and shaping up at the same time."

And in celebration of the demo day, Shape Up Notts! members who log points during May will be entered in to a free prize draw to win a year's subscription of What Mountain Bike magazine.

In order to test ride a bike, you will be required to show a utility bill and a photo ID, for children this can also be given by an accompanying guardian.

To pre-book log onto www.bikedemodays.com.
Here's a few simple tips to help you get on your bike:

One of the single best investments is a comfortable seat and for a few pounds you can ensure bike rides are much more enjoyable.

Learning how your gears work will make life easier when you're going up hill, meaning you will be able to sit on the saddle and spin up hills rather than getting off the saddle and grinding your way to the top.

Usually gears controlled by your left hand select which chain ring you use, these are the big rings near your pedals, the biggest one is best for flat and downhill and the smallest one is designed for hills.

The gears controlled by your right hand are the small cogs in the centre of your back wheel. The smallest cog is the toughest gear and is for flat and downhill, the biggest cog is for hills.

Try to keep your legs moving rather than freewheeling as it will burn more calories and get you there faster.

Bikes should be serviced regularly to ensure the gears and brakes all work safely.