There are few silver linings in a cost-of-living crisis. But here’s one: you may already be saving thousands of pounds by cycling to work regularly. Cycling is the cheapest form of transport other than walking, and that’s only practical for the shortest of journeys.

Cycling saves you money twice over. It saves on fixed costs, because a bike is cheaper to buy than a car or a season ticket for the train. And it saves on variable costs, because bikes and e-bikes are so cheap to run, costing mere pennies per mile when you factor in wear and tear and battery recharging. As cycling is so much cheaper than other forms of transport, the more you ride – instead of driving or using public transport – the more you’ll save. 

Even commuters who cycle five days a week can up their bike mileage by using their Cycle to Work bike for non-commuting journeys as well. This is endorsed by the scheme’s guidance, which says:

“The employees must use the cycle or equipment mainly for qualifying journeys… ‘Qualifying journeys’ can also include journeys that do not strictly fall within the definition of qualifying journeys, such as a journey made on a working day between the workplace and shops or other amenities where the distance is no more than 10 miles one-way (20 miles return journey).”

Some of the suggestions below may therefore count as qualifying journeys. Those that don’t are still permitted, so long as commuting makes up 50% or more of your Cycle to Work bike’s usage. You don’t need a spreadsheet to track this. The guidance says: “Employees are not expected to keep detailed records of time spent cycling or miles travelled for the purpose of this ‘main use’ test.”

In other words, you’re free to use your Cycle to Work bike for all sorts of trips. Here’s some that can put money back in your pocket.

1 Everyday errands

Jump on your bike whenever you need to head into or across town to go the newsagents/doctors/post office/library/café/friend’s house or any of countless other reasons. It will cost you nothing in fuel – or almost nothing if you ride an e-bike – and you won’t have to pay for parking. The main provisos are that your bike has mudguards and pedals you can use in normal-looking footwear, so that you can wear everyday clothing that won’t look out of place at your destination. You’ll also need a good lock.

2 Shopping

The panniers you already own for carrying your commuting gear can also be filled with groceries. How much will they hold? You can get an idea by comparing the capacity of your bags in litres with the following:

Small basket: 5-10 litres

Large supermarket basket: 20-30 litres

Small supermarket trolley: 60-100 litres

Large supermarket trolley: 180-240 litres

Broadly speaking: you can get a few items in any bag (even a backpack); a large supermarket basketful will require two rear panniers; and a small trolley-load will need four panniers (two rear, two front), plus careful packing. A large trolley-load requires a cargo cycle or a trailer, which could be a dedicated cargo trailer or a child trailer. All of these are available through Cyclescheme.

3 Family taxi

Doing the nursery run or school run with small children is straightforward. You’ll need a child seat or child trailer. Transporting older children or adults is more difficult. The cheapest way, if you’re dropping someone off or picking them up, is to tow a trailer with a folding bike in it. You ride the bike with the trailer; they ride the folder. The other option is to invest in a longtail e-cargo bike such as a Tern GSD or Estarli L20 2.0. These come with optional bench seats, footrests and passenger handlebars, enabling you to transport one adult passenger or two or three children.

4 Gym

Gym memberships cost around £50 per month, which is more than £5 per hour if you do two one-hour sessions a week. You can make similar fitness or weight-loss gains for essentially nothing by spending that time outside on your bike instead. Focused training using a phone app will yield better results. The Strava app is a good place to start, while TrainerRoad and TrainingPeaks are more comprehensive. If you want to train indoors as well, you’ll need a turbo trainer. You can pick up a basic magnetic-resistance trainer for around £50, either new or secondhand. Smart trainers that measure power start at a little over £200, which is a saving of around £400 in just the first year, compared to a gym membership.

5 Days out

Family visits to the cinema, zoo and other attractions often cost upwards of £50. A family bike ride to a park or beach might cost no more than the picnic and the frisbee you take with you. Plot your route on quiet lanes and traffic-free tracks for peace of mind, especially when children are riding their own bikes. Want something more adventurous? Go for a local mountain bike or gravel ride. An app like OS Maps or Komoot will show you local off-road options and can be used for navigation.

6 Holidays

Going on holiday by bike is a bargain, particularly if you start and finish your ride at home. You already have the essentials: the bike you commute on and the panniers you use for work gear. If you’re camping, you’ll obviously also need a tent (from £50), a sleeping bag (from £20) and a sleeping mat (from £10). But this opens the door to cut-price overnights thereafter. Wild camping is free in Scotland, while campsite stays can cost less than £18 per night.

If you want a roof over your head, bothies – basic accommodation in remote countryside – are free to stay at. The experience is more like indoor camping, so you’ll still need that sleeping bag and mat. Too basic? Join warmshowers.org, an organisation where members arrange to stay in each other’s houses for free; there’s a one-off joining fee of $30.

Hostels, whether independent or run by YHA, are another good option for inexpensive overnight stays. Expect to pay from around £25 for a bed in a dormitory and from around £60 for a basic (bunkbeds and sink) private room, depending on the location and time of year. Youth hostels usually have self-catering kitchens, enabling you to make further savings.

Rooms at Travelodge and Premier Inn can be good value if you stay mid-week and out of season. They have dependable facilities and allow you to take your bike into your room.

Whatever accommodation you choose, start with a single overnight. Find somewhere that’s close enough to ride to comfortably, then ride out to it one day and home the next.