Cycling
An activity or sport where individuals ride a bicycle for recreation, transport, or competition.
Bicycles were first imported and sold in Australia in the 1800's, with the first cycling club established in 1878. Popular for both recreation and transport, sport events also developed quite early. 1, 3
Over the years different types of bikes have been developed to better meet the needs of different activities. These include BMX (bicycle motocross) bikes, developed in the 1970s primarily for young people, and mountain bikes that were first mass produced in the 1980s. 1
Discover more about cycling through the Clearinghouse evidence base:
- Modified Sports - adaptations that make cycling more inclusive and accessible.
- Australian Sport History - history and Hall of Fame information about cycling.
Evolution:
- Australian Cycling Federation [1993?-2015]
- Cycling Australia [1993?-2020]
- BMX Australia [1996?-2020]
- Mountain Bike Australia [1999-2020]
- AusCycling [2020-]
Participation
An estimated 2,005,000 Australians [aged 15+] participated in cycling (including BMX and mountain biking) at least once in 2024. 2
An estimated 133,500 Australian children [aged 0-14] participated in cycling (including BMX and mountain biking) at least once in 2024. 2
An estimated 767,500 Australian women [aged 15+] and 1,223,000 Australian men [aged 15+] participated in cycling (including BMX and mountain biking) at least once in 2024. 2
Explore further participation statistics for cycling through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab
Governing body
AusCycling is the organisation recognised by government at all levels as the National controlling body for the sport of cycling in Australia. They work across all aspects of cycling and riding in Australia, from grassroots to elite, representing all disciplines (BMX freestyle and racing, cyclo-cross, esports, gravel, mountain bike, para-cycling, road, and track). 4
AusCycling was formed in November 2020, bringing together 19 separate governing bodies including the national and state bodies for track and road cycling (Cycling Australia), Mountain Bike Australia, and BMX Australia. 4
The Australian Cycling Federation (ACF), trading as Cycling Australia, was created around 1993, although there may have been other cycling bodies prior to this. In 2015 the ACF transitioned into a Company Limited by Guarantee under the name Cycling Australia.
BMX Australia commenced operating in the 1990s and Mountain Bike Australia in 1999 taking responsibility for developing their sports in Australia although collaboration, especially for high-performance programs, sometimes occurred.
REFERENCES
- History of Cycling in Australia, opens in a new tab, Phil Jarratt, Australian Geographic, (24 May 2016).
- AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 15 October 2025).
- Bicycles, opens in a new tab, SA History Hub, (accessed 9 January 2026).
- About, opens in a new tab, AusCycling, (accessed 9 January 2026).
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
Annual Reports
- AusCycling Annual Report 2024[PDF • 5.56 mb]
- AusCycling Annual Report 2023[PDF • 4.21 mb]
- AusCycling Annual Report 2022[PDF • 5.29 mb]
- AusCycling Annual Report 2021[PDF • 21 mb]
Strategic Plans
- AusCycling United Strategy 2032: Horizon Two[PDF • 3.63 mb]
- AusCycling United Strategy 2032: Horizon One[PDF • 4.79 mb]
- AusCycling Inclusion and Diversity Strategy 2023-2032[PDF • 904.35 kb]
Annual Reports
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2020[PDF • 8.71 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2018[PDF • 4.03 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2017[PDF • 4.01 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2016[PDF • 4.51 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2015[PDF • 3.05 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2014[PDF • 1.71 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2013[PDF • 10.51 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2012[PDF • 11.23 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2011[PDF • 5.77 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2010[PDF • 8.09 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2009[PDF • 6.1 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2008[PDF • 7 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2007[PDF • 8.74 mb]
- Cycling Australia Financial Report 2006-2007[PDF • 1.19 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2006[PDF • 5.44 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2005[PDF • 4.97 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2004[PDF • 4.26 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2003[PDF • 4.2 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2002[PDF • 3.28 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2001[PDF • 3.03 mb]
- Cycling Australia Annual Report 2000[PDF • 3.5 mb]
Cycling Australia annual reports prior to 2000 and for 2019 are not held.
Strategic Plans
- Cycling Australia Strategy 2020[PDF • 862.62 kb]
Annual reports
- BMX Australia Annual Report 2019[PDF • 17 mb]
- BMX Australia Annual Report 2018[PDF • 14.02 mb]
- BMX Australia Annual Report 2017[PDF • 5.71 mb]
- BMX Australia Annual Report 2016[PDF • 4.95 mb]
- BMX Australia Annual Report 2015[PDF • 4.73 mb]
- BMX Australia Annual Report 2014[PDF • 3.97 mb]
- BMX Australia Annual Report 2013[PDF • 4.87 mb]
- BMX Australia Annual Report 2012[PDF • 3.59 mb]
- BMX Australia Financial Statements 2008[PDF • 3.63 mb]
- BMX Australia Financial Statements 2007[PDF • 686.96 kb]
- BMX Australia Financial Statements 2006[PDF • 493.79 kb]
- BMX Australia Annual Report 2002[PDF • 1.25 mb]
Strategic plans
- BMX Australia Strategic Plan 2015-2018[PDF • 443.93 kb]
Annual Reports
- Mountain Bike Australia Annual Report 2020[PDF • 12.45 mb]
- Mountain Bike Australia Annual Report 2019[PDF • 9.32 mb]
- Mountain Bike Australia Annual Report 2018[PDF • 7.7 mb]
- Mountain Bike Australia Annual Report 2017[PDF • 5.41 mb]
- Mountain Bike Australia Annual Report 2016[PDF • 1.7 mb]
- Mountain Bike Australia Annual Report 2015[PDF • 1.23 mb]
- Mountain Bike Australia Annual Report 2014[PDF • 4.47 mb]
- Mountain Bike Australia Annual Report 2013[PDF • 6.42 mb]
- Mountain Bike Australia Annual Report 2012[PDF • 5.61 mb]
Strategic Plans
- Mountain Bike Australia Strategic Plan 2016-2021[PDF • 14.16 mb]
- Review of Cycling Australia: Final Report (2013)[PDF • 1.66 mb]
Anderson Report (2004)
Report to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and to Cycling Australia of an investigation into doping allegations within the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) track sprint cycling program, Hon. Robert Anderson QC (2004).
- Cycling: Getting Australia moving: barriers, facilitators and interventions to get more Australians physically active through cycling (2008)[PDF • 3.12 mb]
- The Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010[PDF • 2.41 mb]
- Australia cycling: bicycle ownership, use and demographics: draft report (2004)[PDF • 941.41 kb]
