Mountain highs, West Glamorgan

Afan Valley near Port Talbot has added a 4X track, or dirt park, where four mountain bikers race around a track, to its roster of MTB trails. For fast and furious riders the track has huge jumps, corners and drops but also "chicken runs" for the less experienced. It's owned by the folks who run the nearby Bryn Bettws Lodge.
• A day's riding on the track costs £10, (+44 (0)1639 644037, afanmtb.com). Bryn Bettws Lodge has cabins sleeping up to five people from £410 a week or £280 for a weekend or midweek break. +44 (0)1639 642040, brynbettwslodge.com

History in motion, Dumfries

Scotcycle has launched a new self-guided road tour for 2010. Rated as an easy ride, the Origins of Cycling route takes riders through areas around Dumfries where blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan is credited with inventing the pedal-driven bicycle in the mid-19th century.
• A seven-night trip costs £420pp, including bike hire, route notes and B&B accommodation. +44 (0)1250 876100, scotcycle.co.uk

Coast- to-coast trail, Cornwall

Adding to its list of cycle holiday itineraries around Cornwall, Cornish Cycle Tours has launched a 91-mile coast-to-coast trip, between Wadebridge in the north and St Just in the south (you can go either way). It's self-guided and easy, covering from 15 to 23 miles a day, with stops at the Eden Project, surfers' beaches and more, and overnights in foodie inns and guesthouses.
• Four nights £375pp; six nights £525. +44 (0)1637 880710, cornishcycletours.co.uk

Family thrills, Lake District

Cycle Active tailormakes cycle trips in the Lakes for all ages and abilities, including high-level tuition and guiding. On a new, seven-day Lake District Family Adventure, private groups can sign up for as many days' skills instruction, guiding and touring around Ullswater and Ambleside as they need. Guests also learn navigation skills, go hiking, and get tips on the best pubs and picnic stops from the guides, many of whom have been leading outward-bound trips in the area for years. It's very flexible, so one half of the group can hoon it on the downhill, say, while the other enjoys a long lunch.
• Open to children of all ages; dates and activities can be tailored to the group. Prices based on four people riding cost from £395pp, including two full days of guiding and instruction, B&B accommodation in country inns, maps and advice on routes and places of interest. Bike rental is extra. +44 (0)1768 840400, cycleactive.co.uk

Paddles and pedals, Herefordshire

A new Cycling and Canoeing safari combines two days on wheels touring the "black and white" villages of north Herefordshire (24 miles), with a third paddling down the river Wye to Hay (for lunch). Accommodation is on a working farm and there's time to visit cider farms, water meadows, Croft Castle and Berrington Hall.
• Adults £195, children £150 including two nights' accommodation. +44 (0)1568 770755, wheelywonderlfulcycling.co.uk

Heli-biking, Ross-shire

Highlands and Islands Adventures, known for its technical routes and lack of fear, is offering the UK's first heli-biking mountain-bike trip in Torridon, taking you deep into the remotest terrain without the hard work of cycling up it. World MTB champion Steve Peat has already given it a test run.
• Half-day guided heli-rides based on six people riding are £350pp; the ride is usually added on to a longer trip. +44 (0)1463 239716, handiadventures.co.uk

Bike festivals, Bristol and London

Bristol hosts its inaugural community-organised bike festival (bristolcyclefestival.com) from 11-26 September to celebrate all things two-wheeled: bike building, bike decorating, bike races, bike films, bike workshops and bike games.

London's Bicycle Film Festival (bicyclefilmfestival.com) runs from 13-17 October, and combines art with exercise, kicking off with a performance by electro-pop band Metronomy set to their own film. Showings of cycle-related films and artwork at the Barbican will have something for all ages, including a screening of ET, an open-to-all BMX street Jam on the Saturday and a Roller Paloozer on the Sunday, where you can compete in time trials on static bikes.