I’ve cycled 95miles this week, a mixture of mountain biking and commuting to work, and have enjoyed every mile,  - but I was feeling a little jaded by the end of the week as have been getting up at 5am.

While commuting I try not to put myself into dangerous situations and try and anticipate what other road users are doing as for me it makes for a far more relaxed ride, even though I keep up a good average speed of around 17mph.

I ride about 2ft away from the kerb, just to give myself some manoeuvring room, in case of potholes drains etc.

The majority of motorists are considerate and pass safely, and even let me in when I want to turn right, A friendly wave always helps, even lorries slow and pass when it's safe.

But you always get the "I must get in front" drivers who push their way past.  I ride away from the kerb for this reason - the worst are the coaches who don’t slow down and do get far too close. That doesn’t happen that often. Do I feel safe? As I ride with confidence yes I do.

Would I let my children cycle? Hopefully I’ve taught them well so yes I would. When I cycle with them (not often enough for my liking) they ride in front of me so I can see and give advice as we go along.

So as the school holidays start why not go out for that family ride.

If you or your family want to start cycling and want to gain confidence then Poole is running Pedal Again courses in Upton house (01202 262066) or email transportation@poole.gov.uk.

I would recommend cycling to families as around Dorset there are some fantastic routes, Castleman trail, Moors valley, the New forest (I know it's in Hampshire) and the Promenade (July and August its closed to cycling between 10am and 6pm but a family evening ride is just as fun).

There is even a Heritage cycle route around Poole. For downloadable maps visit this site , or visit your local library for cycle maps.

Another good family ride are the tracks around Badbury rings and Tarrant rushton - where else can you ride around a WW2 airfield?

Badbury Rings is a iron age hill fort, believed to have belonged to an ancient Dorset tribe known as the Durotriges. The site has never been excavated, and is a site for establishing wild herbs and flowers.

Tarrant Rushton is a former RAF base 1943 to 1947, it was used for glider operations, Horsa gliders were flown from tarrant to Pegasus bridge for the D Day landings and later to Arnhem for operation market garden. It was taken over in 1948 by Flight Refuelling and closed in 1980.

I cycle from home up the Castleman trail to Pamphill,but there are plenty of parking around Pamphill and Badbury Rings.

Turn left from car park in Pamphill and left again down a marked track called All Fools Lane (you have to be a fool to ride down here as its running water, you will get wet but its great fun)

At bottom turn right on lane and then left on the bridleway that runs behind Kingston Lacy . This is a nice undulating track that swings around to the right and comes out onto Blandford Road. 

Carefully cross the road and head to the right towards an old farm trailer and onto King Down drove, a nice open gravel track that winds its way towards the back of Badbury Rings.

At the junction turn left up the chalk track and then it's a nice fast run down towards Blandford Road again. Follow bridleway to the right that runs parallel to the road and up to the car park at Badbury Rings.

It's well worth a stop to walk around the rings.

Follow the track through car park and up towards the oaks, then left and right around the copse with the vivid blue of linseed greeting you.

At next track turn left then straight onto the roman road that runs between the hedges - a nice fast single track but don’t snag your handle bars! At a little coppice turn left and follow around to the right for a nice muddy splash, then up to a barn.

Follow the track up past buildings and onto a gravel track that emerges onto a concrete and tarmac perimeter track ( taxiway ) - then just keep riding! Listen out for the skylarks and see if you can spot them above the long grass.

You can still see where the runway was but you're not allowed onto it.

Around the top of the taxiway, pass all the poppies and head towards the large hangar, where just outside gate there is a memorial to stop and see.

Left onto road and right a fork in road to hog stock coppice and follow around to the right with nice views over blandford camp and Tarrant monkton

At fork turn left then right onto grass track between hedges and follow around to the right and a fast winding track that heads past grain silos on left and up towards bean hill,keeping up a nice fast pace but watching out for deer that seem to leap out of nowhere ,and out onto road,

Straight across road and up drive and retrace route back up roman road , Left at corner and past lambing cottage,which has a tiny shed outside that sells cakes.

Up hill and a fast but stony downhill past King Down, where you can stop and look at the burial mounds.

Hopefully you will see a pair of buzzards, always a wonderful sight.

Keep on track until Chilbridge farm and the go straight onto the road. At a sharp bend turn right up a gravel bridleway and right at end to head back to Pamphill where you will find a coffee shop for that well earned slice of cake - or keep going past the cricket pitch to the Vines pub.

You don’t have to do all this route but do it in sections. Here's the map.

happy cycling !