When you think of cycling, you probably don’t imagine dogs being a part of that hobby or mode of transport, but, more of us than ever have a dog at home.
In fact, according to the 2024 Dogs Trust National Dog Survey, about 40% of households in the UK own a dog. So, statistically speaking, there’s going to be a crossover between people who own dogs and those who cycle, and incorporating them into our sport is a natural step for high-energy breeds.
Now if you’re on social media you’ve probably already seen the likes of Demi Vollering and Alexey Vermeulen taking their dogs for rides in their backpacks, and maybe you’ve even seen the feline Sigrid being chauffeured around London in her basket.
But have you ever thought about taking your own dog on a ride with you? While it might sound like a lot of hassle, there are several ways you can get your dog involved in your cycling, whether it’s to kill two birds with one stone and exercise both you and your pet, or as a method of transport to avoid using the car – there are plenty of options.
And luckily for you, we’ve got some resident ‘experts’ here at Cyclingnews that have experience in almost all ways of getting your hound to enjoy cycling.
Bikejoring
If you’ve not heard of bikejoring, you’re in for a treat. Bikejoring is a dog sport originally from Norway, but it has grown massively in popularity in recent years and now, there are even competitions in the UK.
The premise is simple. You get your dog, attach them to your off-road bike via a lead and let them run in front, pulling you along. You’ll need a bit of specific kit to do this one – particularly if you plan on doing any competitions. Firstly, you’ll need a pulling harness, which is one that doesn’t obstruct your dog’s movement or breathing when they pull. Then, a bungee lead, and ideally an antenna which mounts to your bars or head tube and extends the lead over the front wheel so if the dog is running with the lead slack, it doesn’t go into the wheel and cause issues.
Bikejoring is an excellent way to get your dog’s brain working as well as their body, as they’ll need to learn certain commands and directions to keep you both upright as well as trundling along safely.
The added bonus is…
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